Before my first sunset on the Caribbean I spent the day floating. Face up, eyes closed. In this bathwater sea. And floating today I thought about my mom holding me. Floating me. In that over-chlorinated YMCA pool on Broadway. Oakland, California. 1988-ish. She told me I could always come back to there if something was wrong and I needed to rest. She was talking about swimming but I took that place, bookmarked it my mind and visited many times.

28 years later, still floating. But today I didn’t think of nothing but the sound of the sand rolling around on the ocean floor. Dragged in, pulled out. Same as me. Same as sand. I guess you end up where you end up. And you have so much energy more, for important things if. You. Just. Stop. Fighting. I’m so grateful for having the courage to say “Yes”. Nahhh. More accurately it’s been my courage to realize I don’t have a better reason to say “No”. “¿Por que no?” has become my short answer to pretty much everything. And so far, “Why not?” has done me good.

So here I am. On the Caribbean coast. In this beach town outside Santa Marta, Colombia. Floating. Remembering. Being one with the sand and shit. Getting burnt. And I don’t even mind a sunburn. ‘Cause it means I’m also warm. In and out, all the way through. Feel me? And sunburns always make me think of that Counting Crows song, “Raining in Baltimore”. You know that one?

http https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=crN0eCTlueI

I can’t relate today, but I remember when I could. So now I have something else to be grateful for. Another reason why “¿Por que no?” is making me a winner, and I may never say “No” again. Watch out now.

So despite having replaced Biting Midge(t)s with the most aggressive mosquitos I’ve ever seen, I refuse to put the pants (back) on. I have taken off all the layers, all the clothes, and they will remain there. Stripped off, stepped out of. I don’t need those anymore. Freedoms calling. ¿Por que no? Really though. Give me one reason. Tracy said it…but I don’t know if I’d turn right back around. Unlikely.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fpmN9JorFew