Feliz Año Nuevo

January 5, 2020:

For me it is more than just a new year, because as of yesterday I have been in this beautiful Intag Valley for one year. When we left Agato for Apuela, we had no real knowledge of what to expect, but to hear that it was quiet was enough a reason for us to take a chance. I truly love it here, and give my thanks everyday by the river for the gift of being allowed to heal in this incredible place.

As you will have read in previous posts, I have been planning to leave due to financial restrictions. It also seems to me that in order for me to fulfill my journey, I must travel to Bolivia, see the locations seen in my dreams where my father died and was buried. When I arrived in Ecuador, and during the months while I worked on my book, the idea of going to Bolivia did not seem possible. Emotions were high for me as I worked on the stories, and I did not think I could face the the tragedy surrounding these locations. The Intag has done much to heal my spirit.

I was fortunate to spend my Christmas Day and New Years Eve with Jenny and her family, thereby ending my year in a warm embrace. We went to Los Lagos which is a well known tourist location, one that I have passed many times on the bus, but have never had the chance to visit. So it was a nice surprise to discover this was how we would spend our Christmas Day. It is an amazing place when you consider the islands are formed from a volcano. It is as if a giant just decided one day to place these 3 pieces of land on the lake for his pleasure. I was quite fascinated by them, and it got my imagination going. I have heard there are no fish in the lake because it is too deep and there is no vegetation. However just today, I learned from Javier there is talapia in the waters. So I am unsure which is true, but in the end does it matter? It is just a beautiful place to visit.

I had also spent the morning adding color to the picture I drew for Marina and Vincente. For them the black and white image was not finished – Marina wanted color – pink lips in particular. So as they watched I gave it new life, something they seemed happy about. Now it could be framed…….

I rode the bus home with David who had spent the previous few days with friends in Cotacachi. So all in all, it was a day of friendship, with no presents expected, although I did bring some small. Gifts as a way of thanking them for inviting me to their home ensuring I would not be alone.

I tried to remember the last time I had brought in the new year with love and affection, in the company of friends or family, and couldn’t. It was a realization of how lonely my life has been, so this change, to be with friends, to dance, laugh and be wrapped in warm embraces, meant positive change was here.

Life is always about change, so I do not pretend that there has not been much in my life, but to have such obvious good change is very welcome. I remember hearing many years ago, the way you bring in the new year indicates how you will spend the year, something I have always thought about as I spent it alone most years, even when I was married.

In the morning, I stood on the balcony watching the rain, it had rained most of the night I think, so it was kind of cold, although not as cold as Canada. Marina came to stand beside me. With the help of sign language on her part, she gestured that the year had been brought in with tears – indicating the rain. It’s took me by surprise, but it did not take me long to realize the truth of what she was saying. There was an air of sadness suddenly as the reality of what is happening in the world is acknowledged for what it is. The merriment of the previous night did not erase the difficulties of today.

It seems to me as the days pass, on the heels of the new year, Marina was indeed right in her assessment, confirmed by the headlines – the year beginning with hate, loss and the possibility of war. I added the duo Strunz and Farah to this post because their music is really amazing, they are so talented. That they are from such different cultures has not been an obstacle for them, and once again I find a lesson for us all in the union of musicians. We tend to paint a country and it’s people with one brush when we are afraid or do not understand them. I love that the music can be a bridge eliminating such things allowing us to accept individuals. So it is very sad we begin this year with such violence and fear, when for me I continue to hope the music will penetrate through the destructive forces to create a new world.