Wonders of 2011

There were many comings and goings, miracles and migrations, gatherings and reconnoiterings, celebrations and seasonings in 2011.  

Here are just a few of them.

Bluff Drive

Established 275 years ago, Isle of Hope celebrated its anniversary with a parade of vintage cars and golf carts, an art show, tours, and neighborliness.  Young and old enjoyed the beauty of the day and the appreciation of the deep history of a place known for providing health as well as hope, home as well as happiness.

It was especially meaningful to enjoy the proceedings with my parents in their cottage and to be reunited with family and old friends.

 

I Love Paris in the Fall

Paris in the fall is full of beauty, wonder, art, and life. In celebration of the publication of the Letters of Samuel Beckett, Volume II, my Emory colleagues and I re-discovered literary haunts on the Left Bank and a certain Parisienne savoir faire within ourselves. 

There were a few parties and receptions as well!

Waking Up at Isle of Hope

Serenity: currents of family, history, tides, and local passersby. All these and more make up the drama that unfolds each day on Bluff Drive at the Isle of Hope.

Summer Migrations

After a summer of globe-trotting, it was wonderful to return to Florida to visit with family and friends.

A Whale of A Whale

There are many legends associated with the sighting of a whale. One Costa Rican morning at Playa Flamingo we awoke to the sight of gatherings on the beach where clumps of early beach crowds had discerned a whale and her calf in the distance. Dark spots on the horizon captured our fascination as well.

But it was later in the day, on our return from a snorkeling expedition, that the boat crew on the Lazy Lizard detected some of those same kind of dark spots, but this time nearby. Cutting back the engines of the boat, we all waited quietly, seeking the presence of these awe-inspiring creatures. All the same, we were startled when the mother whale breeched within 30 yards or so of the boat. One of our fellow passengers had the presence of mind to catch the rapture of the moment.

And we all took that whale's appearance among us as a sign, an omen, a signifier that we were somehow, despite our differences, at one with her nature. The whale became part of us.

There is, one knows not what sweet mystery about this sea, whose gently awful stirrings seems to speak of some hidden soul beneath. . .
Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

Pura Vida

Living life to its fullest, that is the loose translation of the common Costa Rican greeting pura vida.  And there is something about the fullness of nature and beauty that inspires a complete immersion into this way of being. We ziplined, hiked, body surfed, dawdled along the beach, went snorkeling, and became nearly expert at stand up paddle boarding.

Oh, and did I mention, had more than our fair share of mojitos as we watched the color-filled sunset each evening? Could there be anything more to pura vida?

Am I Blue?

I
You'd be, too--if you could be this beautiful. The Blue Morpho butterfly populates the mountain and rain forest regions of Costa Rica.  
Its wings reflect the boundlessness of the skies; its grace the elegance of nature.

The first stop on our Costa Rican journey was at the Blue River Resort near the volcano. Here we recovered from the intensity of our recent move: The vividness of the Azul River, and the nearby waterfall, signifying that this country is as full of natural wonders as its reputation asserts.


The river and all its surroundings display a wide range of biodiversity.We even made friends with a baby Toucan who had been rescued by the botanical garden staff.

Moving--and Shaking!

Words are limited; emotions are extreme. Many memories, and much work, make a beautiful and spacious house an abiding home. A few pictures can tell the real story.

Leaving our home after 20 years wasn't easy (or fun).

The memories will go with us wherever we may wander.