renewal

well, it hit me. it was in the mail - not sure if it was posted prior to my trip to ecuador or not... but it hit me. maybe it was the 3 different continents, the 8 different time zones or 8 different countries, the 9 different flights, or the elevations ranging from sea level to + 462 meters, to sea level to +2,850 meters, or perhaps it was traveling from 43°54′47″N 69°57′13″W to 47°22′N 8°33′E to 71°1′8″N 25°47′50″E to 0° 15′ 0″ S, 78° 35′ 0″ W... maybe it was the diet (and water!!) shift from stale bread, pasta and cheese to soups made from locally grown veggies with quinoa, rice and beans ... whatever it was i fell asleep and didn't wake up for a day. (OK, i awoke to have some of annas rockin' chili!) in all honesty i think it was finally the realization that it is over (for now) and that i'm home. i was back at work so quickly that i was still in some sort of partially removed, dream-state in which i was executing actions but wasn't here or there or anywhere. it has happened before, but i think that my voyage this summer was quite different from previous adventures. i feel full - satiated. this, of course, is not to be confused with content (which i am!) but i am currently working on a winter get-away. i use the word full in the sense of volume or mass... that i have been rinsed and replenished -- maybe it is spiritual. heading to the nordkapp gave me a renewed sense of self and independence; that, more or less, "its me, here and now and thats it and its grand!" mentality. i could feel it creeping up on me during those long, sleepless nights coated thickly in a non-stop solar buzz and journal ramblings that still leave me winded and baffled. ecuador (even more so the beautiful mystics and unearthly natives at yachay wasi) took that new (or renewed) sense of self and guided it further down the rabbit hole -- (evidently that hole runs from the tip of europe to a small andean nation... ) they introduced me to a better sense of self, faith, community, hope for tomorrow, pride in today and the ability to regress to a childlike state when it comes to believing in dreams. so, is it spiritual? is that all that exploration is -- a prolonged glimpse into ourselves wherein we discover strength, wisdom and.... (dare i say?) god? i guess the true beauty is that it is all individual. what i consider bliss is someone elses agonizing 2-hour wait on the tarmac of miami international. what tastes of sweet enlightenment in my mind is anothers sleepless night drenched in whiskey, sun and frigid winds in the back of a van en route to the end of europe...

matt, i am glad that youve arrived at your new home for the next month. are you settling in? getting the feel for the place? i think i asked you, but what was your project proposal? did you have to submit something in writing or is that worked out upon arrival? i hope that you return with a similar feeling and sense of renewal that i've been graced with, my friend! (i hear you're the front man for "master destroyer" with ryan and me! save your lungs, you'll need 'em!)

molly, looks like we are working together next week... weird, eh? cant wait to sit and share stories of adventure and discovery! i wish you a safe journey back! as i'm sure you already know, reverse culture shock can be an amazing thing! buckle-up! :)

i want to have a sol-hush-fandango party when we're all state-side! i think a re-watching of "euro trip" is a must! :)

miss you both!