In some respects, now that we are back in Puerto Lucia, it is as if we never left, but our visit home filled us with renewed spirit and energy to ready ourselves for the next leg of our journey. Our Ecuadorian friends, Alex, Daniela, Mario, and Gallo, all graciously greeted us, and no matter how much toxic dust there is in the marina, we have an ocean view, an old little refrigerator plugged in to shore power below Sidewinder, and the intense sun is shining. Alex has prepared some beautiful salads and yummy meals of meat for us, welcoming us back to life here.
Our memories of special times connecting with family and friends remain a vital part of who we are today and help us to be the best we can be.
What an amazing time we had back in California! Sister Jane welcomed us with warm hugs and a comfy ride to Norwalk where the dear Honda CRV awaited our arrival. Jumping onto the 5 freeway, we were swept into the incredibly fast moving pace of Southern California. The art of multi-tasking is perfected in America and you feel lucky if you can fit into anyone's busy schedule. Fortunately for us, we were embraced by everyone we visited, and our hearts and souls were continuously nourished. David and I were so fortunate to have lovely Lynnie's house in which to drop our bags and take a deep breath. She and wonderful Brad welcomed us royally, and the entire time we were in the area, we always had a place to go without feeling like we were imposing. David spent hours gathering the information needed to get boat supplies; thank goodness for his tenacity, as I had a difficult time doing anything other than getting my fill of being with my beloved friends. We managed to hike, seriously talk, giggle, hug, discuss vital issues, eat, drink, and just enjoy the warmth of being together. I have missed my girlfriends soooo much. Having time with Kris, Margo, Paula, Marolyn, Jo Jo, Cindy, Kate, Nancy, Lynnie, Tessa, Julie, and Judy gave me such an overwhelming burst of love and left me spinning a bit. I was blessed with attending the Christmas Seminar at the Yoga Center and enjoying some quality time with friends there, whom I also miss. Being with Guruji helped intensify all that is good about Being. This was also a time to reconnect with family.
What a fantastic family time! Thanksgiving at the ranch was even more special than ever because we enjoy everyone in the family so much. On our way to Tahoe it was so wonderful to spend more quality time with Lauren, Darrell, Conor, Cara, and the doggies on the top of the hill in Las Gatos, celebrate with Billy, Laura, and Sky on Billy's real birthday, and enjoy a pre-birthday dinner with Willie and Pat. We were so fortunate to be with David's niece and family for two days on the way to Tahoe. It was a perfect time to get to know Allison and Courtney, daughters of Jayme and Craig, visit with David's sister, Carol, brother-in law, Jim (who is finally reading the blog again :)) Jimmy, and Susanne. What a special treat! Christmas with Casey and Julie was sooo wonderful. We skied, while Casey snowboarded, and thoroughly enjoyed having a chance to meet Liz and see Haven, Casey's cousin. We stayed with Barb in Tahoe City; Catfish and Larry joined us for two days, and we had an amazing skiing tour of Squaw Valley with Jon L. What a perfect way to end a very adventurous year and bring in the new. Our journey back south included a family reunion and memorial for David's beautiful mom, Barbara, who passed away last spring. Bobby and Lisa opened their house to us and it was great for David to reconnect with such a longtime friend. We stopped at Rincon on the way down the coast, and the waves were cranking bigtime; we smiled, so full from our venture.
Our last two weeks went way too fast but we filled our time enjoying our most special friends. The early New Year's Eve party at Kris and Marc's was a way to say good-bye to Paula and Tom, David's coveted orthopedic surgeon, and a chance to be with everyone. We enjoyed dinner with Jo Jo and Fergie in our upgraded house (now surrounded by lovely gardens created and nurtured by both of them), and Judy hosted an amazing gathering of our talented friends from school who all, except Paul and Ellen, arrived after a full week of those crazy kids. We had a wonderful afternoon and evening with the Wacholder family, on the edge of paradise. Our last evening was spent with our dear friends, Marc and Kris, and we relished every moment of time together. The warmth of friendships remains in our hearts, and we feel nourished and whole.
Overall reflections: We slept in many beds and we vote Cindy and Mickey's bed to be the ultimate; of course, it also helps to be nestled in the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean inside a magical space they have created. Sunsets in Laguna are as good as it gets. Michael and Kate give the most wonderful massages and haved helped heal our physical and spiritual beings, readying us for our next adventure. We are so lucky to have such great family members who are also friends, and we now realize what wonderful friends we do have. Words do not adequately describe our experience at home. What a paradise we live in. We carry with us the intense love and thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts!
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