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Morning musing
February 27, 2012 Morning. My favorite time of day. The sun peeks over the hill and the air is cool for now. A little breeze, coconut trees waving. I look to see whether any papayas are close to ready. No. They're all still green. The basil in the garden is doing well, springing up. I used origami seed pots for my latest planting, and it worked well at keeping the ants from carrying the seeds away, though when I broke the seed pots open in order to separate the seedlings and plant them, I found a couple of ant nests. Seething, writhing nests of ants with all their eggs. They weren't the biting kind, so that's okay.
I check on the plants. What's blooming? What needs pruning?
I make coffee. This is undoubtedly the morning ritual that gets me out of bed. Little Italian stovetop espresso maker. Cream. Sugar. Strong coffee.
If I had managed to wake up early today I would pound out a thousand words in my novel. But, alas, I kept pressing snooze this morning. I'm showing up at the blog instead. I've needed more sleep, these last few days. I'm not sure why. That time of the month? I'm just going with it.
Soon it will be time for breakfast, school. I'll run to the shop for milk, to the veggie stall for cauliflower and fruit. (Cauliflower for lunch, not breakfast.) I'll say hi to the veggie stall brothers, good morning to the shop owner. We'll ask how the other is doing. Making sure everything is still okay. Since yesterday.
It's election time. That means the shop owner and her niece will be hauling all the alcohol back out from the night before. During election time there is no sale for alcohol after 9:30, and then for a few days there is no sale of alcohol at all. This is because sometimes politicians use alcohol to buy votes. And I believe it's to stave off riots, as well. Get a lot of men together with a big cause, add a bunch of alcohol and watch the whole thing burn. The police are around a lot as well. They seem to be very arbitrary. They shut concerts down, close the night market. I don't even try to understand. Just try to avoid being shaken down for money.
It's hot season, now. The beginnings, anyways. It's also moving time. We go in four weeks. I'm packing again.
Here's a tiny announcement. We're moving to Thailand. We're heading back to Pai, where we were before, with the hopes of having a year round home. Our friend M will continue with the meditation center here, and we'll begin meditation practice in Pai. We can't give Goa up entirely, so our plan is to come back here for January and February. Sing on the beach, join in meditation.
I'm very excited. We need more continuity, less travel. Six months of travel has been entirely too much, and I realize that this season I've been struggling with a low grade depression the entire time. Not more than I can handle, just enough to keep me from things I love. Writing, art.
I'll be learning Thai. We'll all be learning Thai. And there are moments when I feel panicky about leaving India, like how can I do it? India has a way of making me feel that there is no world outside of it, that nothing but India exists anywhere. But of course we're never leaving anything for good. We can't leave things behind. They travel with us. And we'll always come back.
Reader Comments (14)
Oh wow. A very good friend just moved from NZ to Chiang Mai last week. Perhaps one day if we ever get to visit her we can pop a little way up the road to meet you;-).
Yay for Pai. I hope you can stay in one place for a while too. :)
Oh, wow! We are just back from 8 days in India and we spoke often about you. My tiny glimpses of India from your blog keep me going. You always find the beauty! But I will follow your blog to Thailand. What a wonderful opportunity! I look forward to seeing the beauty of Thailand now.
Blessings,
Sandwich
Rae, that is a big thing to tell us! How exciting. I am sure you are nervous, change is always scary, but I have no doubt you and your family will make living in Thailand your greastest adventure yet!
Another journey for Journey Mama! Can't wait to read all about it. x
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
Are we there yet?
So excited!!!
It's all relative, the getting nervous about moving somewhere new for all of us. I remember when you were apprehensive about moving to India and you absolutely love it there now!!! I has become home, and the same thing will happen with this new move. You really enjoyed Pai last summer, so I'm sure you'll love it. I'm hoping you find an awesome house to live in with your family and can stop all the traveling for sure. 6 months is too long to travel. Your morning sounded lovely and warm, oh, how I'd like to have some warm right now.....hurry up spring!
Praying through your new adventure and your new transition. For growth and depth in your family and community. For deeper healing and fuller knowledge of grace. But always looking forward to hearing where and how the Lord leads.
Hi Rae, I just wanted to thank you for this blog. Whenever I take the time to read it I come away with a wonderful feeling of peace. Thanks!
Congrats on your new home base! I hope you find peace and adventure there. My big sis is living in Bangkok.
Oh that is not a small announcement. It feels weird announcing things on the internet though, at least I always felt weird, so I get it. I will miss you being in India, if that makes sense. But I understand really really well the need for some stability, and so I'm happy for you. And Thailand! Very cool! Thailand and India are places I've always wanted to go. Maybe someday I'll come meet you!
so exciting! I look forward to reading stories of your new adventures. I envy your worldliness; I'm far too tied to my creature comforts to pick up and go (not to mention the meds I would need to quell my anxiety spurred by such adventures) so I will enjoy your tales from afar.
A move. That's like a whole new chapter for us.
Moving sounds good - as in less travel. And I'm guessing that Thailand is not a bad place to live for longer periods of time. No, not bad at all.
Looking forward to some more beautiful pictures of Pai, then.
Nicki