Day 65

Well, it’s been over two months of jungle living. What a goddamn pleasure it has been. Olga and I spend a lot of time together. There is something to say about first impressions, however. Don’t trust them, for they are fleeting and usually inaccurate. Her feminine touch and display of empathy is truly refreshing. We walk a lot of beach together.

We have grown a close community of friends in our sweet little town of Punta Banco. We share most sunsets with this crew, an arrangement of travellers, yogis, surfers, long term visitors and locals. Many sunsets turn into beach parties, or dinners or night swims. Last night a bunch of the guys that went fishing created a beach bonfire feast. . Everyone is lovely and shares a common bond… we all really believe this right here is the best place on earth. I came home recently from four days in Jaco. Drove straight into Punta Banco where I was greeted with the warmest hugs and a familiar comfort of being back in our secret place, away from the rest of the world. Jaco is very different from our home. So many people and developments, a place built on tourism. It created a small fear in me that our home would one day look like this.

Despite this, my time in Jaco was one I will remember forever. I got to wrap my arms around Lisa, a lady I had not seen in a decade. We both cried tears of joy, grieved our past relationship and honored what we meant to each other now. For those who don’t know, Lisa was a mentor to me as a teenager, when I was in my darkest place. She was a beacon of light when I was drowning in hopelessness. We were able to share ourselves on a level that only deep love and respect allows. I realized many things in my time with Lisa. But the greatest realization of all was to stand beside a person that has my highest respect in life and feel completely and totally equal to her.

My last days in Jaco were spent in Sheila’s bed, running back and forth to the toilet. They call it Montezuma’s revenge. Sheila had it first, then Lisa, then me. 48 hours of purging and not able to move. I was so grateful to be with them, in a home with walls, in a beautiful bed and shown the kind of care only a mama can show. Sheila was an absolute angel. She talks to me a lot about truly living as the kind of person she wants to be… you know, walking the walk. Well, this woman is among the heros in my world. She has overcome hardship with grace and lives an amazing and simple life designed with integrity and bravery. I know Sheila and I will be friends forever.