A Pin Dropped in Chile

When I last left Nosara, Costa Rica I thought it was anything but the “Pure Life.” I had two ninos under the age of 3, was recently recovering from a 2 month bout of some sort of parasite, and was covered in layers of dust mixed with sweat. It’s been exactly 5 years since we … Continue reading Pura Vida

the guy that stopped speaking Spanish at the Spanish Language school for me. Happy Birthday to the guy that walked barefoot on the dusty streets of Costa Rica in order to feel what was/is real. …. to the guy that swam to a pink island with me instead of surfing. …. to the guy … Continue reading Happy Birthday to….

8 years ago I was about to walk down the aisle. No kids. No plans. No worries. No thought of ANYthing except that I got to go see my man out past the rancho, right where I had fallen in love with him some 5 years before, surrounded by most of our family and friends. … Continue reading Butterflies

This Wednesday, January 29, 2003 we took to bus to Liberia to take care of bank things. We were joking that we could be in the middle of any country together (versus the coast) and still be happy because we had each other. Once we took care of all of our errands we went and … Continue reading “Stuck in the Middle” With You

Saturday, January 25, 2003……. 10AM The sun shone through the windows of Almost Paradise. I got up out of bed and found that everyone else was already gone. I went and ate some fruit and the manager of the hotel drew me a map. I had no idea where I was, or where the beach … Continue reading Initiation

Friday, January 24, 2003 School’s out at noon, and I find Spencer. With me are 8 other friends. He gives me a funny look. I ask him why. He says, “Are you ready?” and points to a little two door taxi he had arranged. His boards are on top of the car. Uh oh, I … Continue reading Almost Paradise

Thursday, January 23, 2003 I did get my purse back at the end of the night. The next day at school, Spencer and I were talking at break and he was telling me about this place called Nosara, a couple hours south. He said he spent a couple weeks there with his family right before … Continue reading “Nosara”

Wednesday, January 22, 2003 I had been hanging out with a Costa Rican guy for about a month now but it really was just very Wednesday because it was Ladies Night at the local bar in our dusty little village. And that meant lots of Salsa dancing. We used the term “Amigovio.” So this Wednesday … Continue reading Can You Please Hold My Purse?

11 years ago today, I began my 5th consecutive week of Spanish Language School in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica. That Monday morning, after two hours of speaking Spanish in a small group of a couple students and one teacher, it was time for our break. I was exhausted. I went out to the little cafe … Continue reading Monday, January 20th 2003