Feliz Navidad

Blessings of joy from Mexico - Ajijic, Jalisco - to be exact.
It is a beautiful 70+ degrees, with clear skies and blooming flowers. Our nights have been a bit chillly (high 30's) and since houses here do not have heat, I was grateful I brought a couple of cashmere sweaters and my sweats.

The past month has been a grand adventure. Driving down took 5 days (the first being the longest - as it was the Sunday after Thanksgiving and people between San Francisco and LA drove rather than take airplanes to visit families. Interstate 5 was quite literally a parking lot, with the speed no more than 30 for about 2 1/2 hours. Took ll 1/2 hours to just get to San Bernardino!) The terrain from Nogales south was beautiful and I am so very grateful I drove. Especially from Mazatlan over to Guadalajara through the Sierra Madre mountains - simply gorgeous.

A friend accompanied me and was my fantastic navigator. I had downloaded a mile-by-mile guide from a website called, "On The Road In ...." (in this case Mexico) and it was simply invaluable as it told us of upcoming sights, pertinent turns, Pemex gas station locations, the OXXO (kind of like a 7-ll), etc. etc. Even a description of the terrain we were nagivating through replete with locations of a specific and colorful cemetery. Along with this info, were the locations and approximate cost of the tolls - we only took the toll roads, which were excellent. Knowing about the tolls ahead of time made it so much easier to have the pesos ready - and there were many, many tolls, each increasing in amount the closer to Guadalajara we drove.

Met a road "angel" in Mazatlan prior to the drive through Guadalajara and I will be forever grateful. He pointed out the single most inportant turn we had to make to avoid driving thru the middle of the city - which we found - and so driving thru GDL was very easy, just like driving in any other major city in rush hour traffic. Once I passed the airport, I knew where I was and felt "home".

The adjustment to being in a foreign country hit me about a week after I arrived when my friend returned home. I felt very sad and suddently thought, "Oh My - What Have I done?" Plus my body needed to release all the tension from the 5 days of driving, I needed to adjust to the 5,000ft elevation and my body was working overtime, which was energy depleting, I have a new roommate (someone I had just met a couple of months before), the apartment needed a thorough cleaning, the food was different, etc. etc. So, finally, I gave myself permission to simply BE - to be with what I was feeling and experiencing - to cry a little - to talk with my spiritual practitioner - to make many Vonage calls home to friends and family and slowly, my attitude and feelings have begun to shift.

It is so lovely here and today, I just sat in a chair next to this huge lake contemplating the beauty, peace and tranquility of life and feeling the warmth of the sun on my body. Feels pretty much like Heaven.

Will write more consistently now that I am close to getting my internet connection up and running on a regular basis.

In the interim, be well, smile and spread kindness wherever you are....you are the GIFT.

Love to you,
Lynn