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Sunday, January 2, 2011

Let's close with a golden key

Vamos fechar com um chave de oro...what a way to end my golden encounter with myself and with a new sliver of the world.

I've been back 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-now TWELVE days. Every day I do remember something. Sometimes it's this moment:



And sometimes it's keeping up with my "classmates" in Brasil or reading their blogs.

Usually it's the church I passed on my daily bus ride, and sometimes it's a song that I found irritating once upon a time but now, like my sister's toothpaste blobs in the sink, is a much missed thing:
Toma Negona

I wrote my new years conclusion a little early on the plane home from Bahia:

This year I've seen what I'm entitled to-- and it's not much. This year I've seen what i have--and it's too much. Today, at least, I felt how much I'm loved--and it's so much.

I wish to stay a little longer...after I've already paid the check...lingering in this realization.

I'll call on Brasil from time to time this semester in San Diego when I have the patience and humility to play with my new friend peace.

And a few days later, on a different continent and wearing very different clothes, I feel much the same way:

I've travelled before, so I know that my life, my trip, my pictures are always more exiting to me than to anyone else. So, I at least 90% of the time manage to keep my mouth closed about Bahia when it's not relevant to the conversation. But, it's oh-so-good when people ask and really want to hear. In between friends and family, I've found some air time. And I've began the task of integrating (because I've scrapbooked, I've moped a little, and I've almost mastered my one-minute-version of my semester
for people who ask but don't care too much) my Brasil life with my real life. Because, although travelers are often tempted to lead several lives (or escape from one or two into another one or two), I'm realizing I just want one.

Happy New Year...may a moment or two in 2011 surprise you with sneak-up-on-you delight.