We had rain last night, the dust has settled, the gardens will be fresh and happy. I’m pretty sure it’s because Willak washed the car and Matilda watered the garden, that we at last got more rain. There is a sense of happiness here, at least for me. Laughter is such wonderful medicine and I love to hear people laugh. Many times coming home from work I would be filled with a sense of accomplishement because of the wonderful conversations I had with customers or with fellow workers, or both. These conversations were so important in my day, I suppose because I have gone home to a quiet and empty house for many years. It was what I came to expect would be my way of life for however many years are left to me. Sometimes it was difficult to realize just how alone I have been, but I was content because of the many wonderful conversations filled with laughter and new ideas that came to me each day. It’s often the little things that change us.
Yesterday I was sitting in the car while the family was busy making arrangements for the tile they were getting to put on the roof of the house I may be moving into soon. The conversation was all in Spanish which I could not follow, I was not needed, and it was a bit cool, so I decided to just sit in the car and wait. I took the opportunity to work on some stories for the book while I waited, taking a break after each one to just look around, watch the sky as it threatened to rain. It was during these moments that I realized how happy I was, just this wonderful feeling of joy in the pit of my stomach. I still do not have what most would call a “normal” life, I have no posssessions, no permanent home, yet I feel happiness. But then it is all about perspective.
I am living in someone else’s home (something I never thought I could do), and enjoying their company each day. There is a great deal of laughter in this house. They talk very fast in their native language of Quichua, so I don’t understand anything they are saying, but there are lots of smiles and laughter in their conversation which is contagious. Willak will interpret once in awhile so that we can join in and often we have conversations in English with him that are always filled with positive emotions. He has a wonderful sense of humour and great wit, so we have many moments of this gift called happiness.
I know it must seem strange because most people know how to have fun, but this is a skill I did not learn growing up. I was taught to hide and be unnoticed, not to make a ripple in the water. So I am learning to be my true self and live outside of that bubble I have lived in most of my life. The great conversations I have had over the years with people are moments when I stepped over the line of that bubble I was in, but always at closing time, I would retreat back into the safe environment called “home”. This is how I believed I should be, this was my normal, enjoying conversations of other peoples adventures, something I never expected I would have. Always the bridsmaid…..
Here I never know what to expect when I get up and greet the sun on my perch outside. Each day brings an unexpected surprise, some very small, some very big, all accepted and wonderful.
The last of Satcha’s puppies have gone, and so she has had a beauty session on the day the last two left. I will miss the little fur balls and I know Satcha is a little sad with her litter gone, yet also a little happy for her freedom. I could relate. The cat Moishe is expecting babies though, so soon there will be a litter of kittens to enjoy. The geese have three goslings which are still bundles of yellow fluff following mama around. There is life all around me, just simple, wonderful life.
Satcha and Miguel the day the puppies left (before her salon treatment).
The last two puppies curled up at my feet the night before they would leave.
Fat, adventurous and happy 🙂 Mali was a little intimidated by these little ones, not sure what to do with them and I think a little concerned about mama’s protectiveness. They loved her though and followed her around, nipping at her heels.
Wherever you go, whatever you do, I will will follow you……
It was great fun to watch them tour the yard and check everything out on this day of freedom from their cage. Something else Mali was unsure about having never seen a goose before.
Just another day of my life in Ecuador, simple but very satisfying. My goal is to stay outside of the bubble now that I understand it is a good thing to live a life that is full. I do not have to be afraid of who I am, it is good to be me…..
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