I wander. I check
things out. I wait patiently and
sometimes impatiently for things to work out, for the big picture to
appear. I daydream, I look at the world
and make connections to tell my story; a beautiful fairytale full of ups and
downs, twists and turns, full of mystery and discovery. If I feel uncomfortable or feel the need to
control a situation I try and give it space, give it breath and life works its
self out. My intuition tells me where to
go, I listen and watch and learn. The
story unfolds. Not all who wander are lost.
This last month in Roatan has had its ups and downs. She, the island, is sometimes called Temptation
Island (the show was filmed here) and she can eat people up and spit them
out. She has a lot of dark energy and a
lot of bright energy. Gossip spreads
like wildfire, smiles can make your day, beauty is all around, it’s anything
goes, facades crumble and temptation is abound.
Life unfolds at a speed I’ve not seen anywhere else. This beautiful island has always been a
healing place for me through the ups and downs she shows me who I am.
This last month a good family friend died unexpectedly. Joe Davis was a mentor, he got me my first
job in a bank, I helped raise his two beautiful children, and he always
supported my adventurous spirit. He and
I had a special connection and his death hit me hard. His death reminded me how short life can be
and how quickly it goes by. People make
their entrances and exits, frame by frame.
Jenny and Captain Nemo also made an exit this month. It is bittersweet and I have learned a lot
from them and about myself. I wish them
a beautiful adventure. My adventure is
still here in Roatan for the moment. I
have been diving for fun and sometimes for work; the feeling of neutral
buoyancy, the colors of the reef and interactions with fish bring me great joy
and clarity. I’ve been hanging out with
good friends; couch surfing and now staying in a peaceful valley with my
friends Ruth and Dave and their two cats and two dogs. I know that if there are dogs and cats and in
my life things are going good. Buster
the cat, Smarty Jones the big pup, Big Brown the OG dog and Peter Parson the
growing kitten fill my days with happiness and entertainment. I am so thankful and fortunate to have them
in my life. Dave runs a non-profit here called
the Sol Foundation, “SOL (School of Life)
International Foundation is working to initiate and support community-based
programs designed to promote education and increase the quality of life in
developing areas.” To learn more check out http://www.solsite.org I will be volunteering this month with the
SOL; hanging with the kids and spearheading the kid’s corner of a festival that
will be here in late March. The
inspiration given to me is like the Kokua Festival in Hawaii started by Jack
Johnson. Children, like the dogs, cats and ocean make
me happy and fulfilled. They keep it simple,
remind us of the beautiful mysteries of life and the importance of how to
connect with one another.
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| Peter Parson |
My mama also had full knee replacement surgery this
month. I am so thankful for
technology. The technology that she can
get a new knee and will be out of pain and more active. And the technology that allowed me to see her
in the hospital after surgery, to talk with her and see her daily chats as she
heals and to connect with my dad too. I
have amazing parents and a beautiful connection with them, they support me with
their unconditional love and freedom to be who I am. And the mystery of love goes both ways.
Oh and there is a lot of magic, mystery and fairytales in
Roatan.
Shhhhh, don’t tell anyone but there’s pirate treasure
here. Oh and I may have discovered the
fountain of youth, keep that one to yourself, definitely. There are Peter Pans who can fly and Lost
Boys getting into mischief. There are
mermaids and sirens singing Calypso’s song.
There are tiger lilies natives going back to their roots and tinkerbells
spreading light as they go. There are
pirates searching for gold with mutiny on their minds. I’ve found oracles and sorcerers and
warriors, explorers, navigators and adventurers.
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| Jungle hike |
I went for a jungle hike to discover the fountain of youth
with a native, a warrior and an oracle. The
legendary fountain of youth is said to be in the Caribbean island of Beimeni
which people believe to be in the Bahamas but I think that Juan de Solis, a 16th
Century navigator and explorer might be right that it’s on an island in the
Gulf Coast of Honduras- Roatan. Legends
say that the struggle for eternal youth is the battle between the skeleton
(fear/death) and the angel (hope/life).
Water from the fountain of the angel mixed with a mermaid’s tear in a
chalice will grant eternal youth (or as I like to think great healing). The four of us women hiked through the enchanted
forest with large sticks along a not so beaten path with silver spiders weaving
their webs, lizards underfoot and birds cawing above. We hiked along a mountain
stream leading to this fountain of youth.
As we approached the fountain 6 boys were collecting water. There was trash strewn about and our leader;
the native protector spoke to the boys about littering and plastic waste. They huddled around with open ears and
hearts. The warrior and native drank the
water, I did not. We journeyed on to a
mountain top above the jungle where we could see the east and west views of the
waters surrounding this island. A
magical mystery tour to the itsy bitsy diamond well.
Roatan is like neverland.
Like neverland, some people do age and some refuse to grow up. It’s the second island to the right (of the
Bay Islands) and people party on until morning.
Time does slow down and no one moves to fast- one can lose track of
time, days, weeks or even years. There
are crocodiles in the mangroves and golf courses and mermaids diving
underwater. I am staying in a tree top
house with a Peter P. (Peter Parson the kitty who I hope never grows old) in
magical Pixie Hollow valley where fairies may roam free. I’ve seen butterflies, lizards- Monkey Lalas
and iguanas and geckos, parrots, vultures, hawks and two white owls. And there are mermaids and mans diving with
fish of every color, eels, dolphins, whale sharks, and turtles. There are submarines that want to go 20,000 Leagues under the sea too.
There are lost boys still here including my friend Pete, who
is definitely a Peter Pan. I have made
friends with other boys too, who aren’t so lost and love exploring and seeking
treasure. A few of them played pirates in search for treasure in the town of
Port Royal. The pirate Henry Morgan’s
treasure is believed to be on this island, back in the day Captain Morgan among
other pirates used Old Port Royal as a pirate fortress. My friends went hunting and found a coin, a
sword and a belt buckle above and below the water in an afternoon. What a beautiful world.
I’m learning to see the world for what it is, through my interpretation
and perception, and observing the people around me. It’s true Plato's cave is full of freaks, and sometimes
they demand refunds for the thing's they've seen. No demands and no refunds in my life. Do I move through life too fast? Shortcuts don't really make me get there any
faster, but sometimes they are pretty fun rides. I’m slowing down here remembering the moments,
looking at things I may have overseen. Trying not “to rebound off of we"-
fighting shadows, mirrors and getting angry with each other, instead
appreciating my voyage, myself, everyone, and every second. Frame by frame of
all the fairytales burning like brushfire around me, my own brushfire fairytale.
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| following Smarty Jones |
