Collective Grief

Dear Friends, I have been awake for several hours. The prolonged silence of the early morning allowed me to try to focus my thoughts in darkness. My brain searched for the words that would adequately form sentences and short paragraphs to offer my weekly readers in light of the state of the world right now. …

Lessons from Ants

Dear Friends, It's the time of the morning when the birds are full of energy! The sun is hot and it feels good on my shoulders as I make my way (broom in hand) to the terrace to sweep away the debris that's dried after this week's lawn mowing. The air is sweet with the …

Small Strip Malls

Dear Friends, On my way home from errands yesterday, I noticed the lightheartedness in the air as people are emerging from confinement in great numbers! As I sit and write to you now, I am aware of the music coming from the birds outside the window, the gentle breeze that sways the distant bamboo and …

A Sunday of Celebrations

Dear Friends, The birds flying and singing all around me this morning fill my heart with joy. It is a wonderful day. Today is Mother's Day in a lot of places, including the U.S. Here in Costa Rica, today is the inauguration of our 49th president. The optimistic energy is in evidence everywhere with people …

A Beautiful Inauguration

Dear Friends, A gorgeous morning awoke me. A sense of calm and serenity is all around me. The birds' dawn chorus is varied, loud and lively. I close my eyes and try to identify the species before looking. That has become a recent hobby! Yesterday's strong rains left my terrace sparkling, a benefit I am …