viaje tranquilo

i'm winding down after a gorgeous, relaxing weekend in the islands. after what felt like a long distorted few weeks, this was a much needed respite.

with each mile north i was breathing out the stress brought on by too many frantic days and nights. as we set sail on the ferry, i was breathing in the calmness of the island air. i cast my concerns out to sea. the water could carry them, absorb them. the waves encircled them, the undercurrents drew them in and released their hold on me. my spirit cup now empty, was filled with laughter, whispers, shared stories and the melodic, almost seductive sounds of the spoken spanish i listened to amongst my friends.

we journeyed inward on the island, up the winding road to our weekend oasis. isn't it incredible the power of the elements? the wisdom you can find in rocks. the peaceful sense of being small, (so much smaller than our personal dramas build us up to be) as you stand between two tall evergreen trees. the simplicity of days that just unfold and find you drinking coffee around the fire in the morning mist. the indescribable happiness delivered in the arms a little one wrapped around you. the complete satisfaction you experience as they place their small hand in yours. the tug you feel as you hear their small yet exuberant voices calling out to you..."come play with me".

3 beautiful little boys and i'm easily separated from my coffee. i lead them on a dirt path and an adventure is created -- nature's treasure hunt. a pine cone clue, wishing flowers, magic rocks, jumping stones and finally, the discovery of the sought after treasure...wild blackberries!

an early afternoon spent dragging bare feet through the sand. the welcomed warmth of the fall sun blessing us with its vanishing presence. we of course, relish in it. splashing through the water, naked toddler bodies running free on the beach, their bodies soaring through the air...right alongside my heart.

a late lunch at the local farmers market. fresh veggie samosas, watermelon slices shared from the kind vendor, guitars playing as we wander through and just as it's all closing up we happen across the best find yet, homemade ice cream bars...pure decadence.

each day ending as it began, under the sky, only now the cups of coffee have been replaced with vino rojo.

today the wind and rain blew us home. and now as i sit on my couch back in my loft, my little dude sleeping in his bed...i tell myself, i will hang on to the simple, prevailing magic of the weekend. i attempt to retain it, though i know it has already transformed into something else. i burn nag champa, type by candlelight, sip wine and listen to a spoken word poetry show, "spicy words and voices" performed by a variety of northwest bilingual latinos. it competes with the sounds of the city out my window. i look around at the 'comforts' of home and though it is indeed a comforting place, nothing here was missed, because nothing of true value was left behind.