valentino amor

Me sweatheartos,

I cannot imagine any other travelling companions than my two favourite sweethearts that are with me now. I am so happy with our rhythms and the way we balance each other. It is nothing but a small miracle that we can spend so much time together day in and day out and come out liking the journey more each day!

Andy in his gracefully easy way guided us from our hideaway to a more remote beach hideaway about an hour and half south of here for a day trip. He navigates so amazingly the buses, (which I am becoming addicted to; the rattling, bouncy, breezy vehicles that deliver us across so much beauty to even more beauty!) He tells us which camione (truck with tarped cover, bench seating in back that we ride along with locals in order to get off the beaten paths) we need to take and how to find the cool places the lonely planet lists, like the old hippy thatched pasadas and trails along the cliffs looking down at the ocean. He has these superpowers of navigation and I find myself marvelling at his skills, even if I forget to say so out loud sometimes. For some reason I think of one of the few Gandhi quotes that I have always remembered “There go my people, I am their leader I must follow!” I adore most how Andy leads me often from THAT spirit. How else could you lead a rebel?
It makes me shout out with gratitude again and again as is the daily ritual here. The universe has matched us so well. If I had been given a wish of 1000 qualities in a companion I would have come up short in comparison to what the universe delivered! I am gratefully for my guy who balances my world.

I have to say the same for this kid of ours. How could I even think to ask for a child with all the positive qualities Zarha possesses? It would seem unfair and unrealistic to ask for so much! She is a sensational traveller, she has been very tolerant and self sacrificing of her needs in many tiring travelling moments. She rarely complains and demands so little. She is thoughtful about our budget and does not ask or long for expensive things. She graciously takes the photos that I request and does a terrific job! She is adventurous and always willing and eager to try the next thing. You should see the kid with these waves! (and she is asking to sky dive when we get home! Yikes.) She observes and learns so quickly she consults us with her great ideas! She is strong, brave, independent and confident. You should see how she navigates a menu and speaks in confident Spanish to get a vegan meal! She loves reading and shares such interesting topics of interest with us! Of course her tenderness with animals and nature is so touching and gentle. It’s so cute to see her dog friends trailing her on the beach. She is so musically gifted that she can buy a dollar whistle on the streets here and make relaxing music for us or start humming or singing a song to bring the tense energy down. She is funny and likes to tell jokes. She is really goofy! Check out the weird self portrait face series! She has more qualities than I can list, but I have to ask how does a mother like me get a kid like that?? Again shouts out the universe for all this goodness!

These are my valentines and the humans that can make my heart swell like no others!
I love you guys!
Thanks for everything!