Puerto Rico Sunday Morning And Me

Sunday morning leisurely spent looking out bedroom window where trees dot undulating shade and sunlit pastures silent save the dove hooting in the big orange Flamboyant tree. Yesterday’s mown lawn smells green and rico enticing me to breathe more deeply, savoring the richness. I am loathe to lumber to the kitchen to make coffee. Did I say coffee?

Soon the scent of freshly ground coffee stirs me to take care of Kirt’s morning needs. The amputation wound is healing, looks like a great big circular scab. To be more precise it looks like somebody slashed him with a knife. I guess it looks like what it is; hmm, why that feels like a big revelation is beyond me, but so it goes. We have so much adjusting to do. It sneaks up on me sometimes. Usually I am busy enough and focused on a variety of things that I don’t allow myself to think too much about the changes in our lives. Well, this isn’t the first dramatic change in our lives, so as always, its one day etc, etc.

Still disciplined with many chores each week, but Sunday morning is my time. Here in Guajataca communing with the creator comes naturally. This, I believe, is some of God’s loveliest work. Landscape making me smile on a difficult day is priceless. Thank you, God. And thank you for the kind loving people of Puerto Rico. I have my difficulties with the language and the differences in our cultures, I love the way people go out of their way for one another. It isn’t universal. All the shit that happens in society is here like any place there’s people, but we receive so much kindness our hearts thrive and smile in gratitude to the people we meet on an average day. Yes, Cheryl, there is a reason we stay here and, no, we’re not stupid. ;)

Time to assist my darling with his shower so we can enjoy what man has made. We’re going to the mall. Enjoy your day!

Adventures in Paradise

A hen cackled, “I laid an egg. I laid an egg.” Funny, at the same time a rooster crowed. I wonder if the cock a doodle was, "I laid a hen. I laid a hen." The most minuscule brown birds swarmed the Royal Palm Tree near our front door. Once their nest was in that tree, perhaps they’ll build again; I hope. The sun stroked the tops of trees promising more to come.

About 8 am we were sitting in the living room having a cup of coffee, enjoying a slow start to the day. After being out all night the dogs jumped up from a dead sleep. When dogs bark low in a certain tone and growl, it’s human and close; if the growl turns into a growly whine, we like the person, so we knew it was our friend and neighbor, Geri coming up the driveway.

“Good morning,” he said in English with a big smile on his face. “Buenas dias,” we replied.  Geri held up a big bag of yams, smiled, as he told the story of how he came upon this treasure while cleaning his land. The words in Spanish flew past the little window to my brain before I could catch a one, but Geri’s expressive body language gave us the whole picture.

When I asked him how to cook this, he laughed. The idea of a woman who isn’t a good cook is incomprehensible to him. With great pride Geri told us that he was indeed an excellent cook and then how to cook the yams.

Geri frequently tells me stories. He laughs so heartily when he gets to the punch line that I laugh with him even though I don’t understand the words. Having a friend, who doesn't speak the same language, is an adventure. When the person is someone as dear as Geri, it’s a lovely journey. Geri embodies old school Puerto Rico, the heart and soul of La Isla del Encanto. On a personal note he reminds me of the old school farmers my grandfather would take me to visit when I was incredibly young.

For years I’ve been afraid of retirement. Not having a schedule each day, or a to-do list left me feeling flaccid, wasted. All right, I’ll say it, “Useless.” What regimented thinking! I am learning to enjoy my day, especially a serendipitous moment like a neighbor dropping by unannounced with gifts.   

Enjoy your day, Tricia

Good Morning Puerto Rico

Dew still hangs in the air, while the morning sun brushes the tops of the trees, roosters crow and the doves coo. The smell of coffee brewing calls me gently awake, as the other birds begin to announce their intentions for the day. Puerto Rico is lovely in the morning.


My husband’s birthday is in a couple of weeks, usually we have friends over for a party, but this year we’re searching the island for an inexpensive little gem of a getaway place like the one we found in Patillas, which is also in the running for birthday spot.

It’s funny because when you first get to the island you realize how much you stand out with pudgy white legs and feel like the sore thumb; it weirds you out, which means I get shy and go into people watch mode. When I manage to get over myself, laughing and talking with people is just the best, you never know where people are really from, so you start talking, only to find out the people were really your neighbors from two towns over in Illinois and then the no shit effect takes over so you settle in comfortably.

Adventure hunting will have to wait; kirt needs to fix the handle on the screen door and alas, I need to mop the floor; perhaps this isn’t paradise. ;)