 against the flow – foto by smith Thomas Wolfe wrote “You Can’t Go Home Again”. Even if you could, Siddhartha’s ferryman won’t let you step in the same river twice since it’s never the same river because it’s always new water, new you. I know what river Cleveland’s like–I should, I spent 29 years there–so when I go back and see it anew with my modified me, the changes will tell me more about me than Cleveland. We awoke this morning in beautiful Oaxaca Mexico, will sleep 1,946 miles northeast cold in Cleveland Ohio. As the dead man says, what a long strange trip it be. We get good words(*) going out the door . . . Got hugged by our landlords, so I think our 15 month residency has been a success. Of course it helps that we smile, say hello, pay our rent early, don’t make noise, don’t cause trouble. The owner of the small breakfastlunch across the street said next time we come, we can stay at his house (I think he means rent). The guy we buy our 40 pound bottles of water from below us says too bad we’re going. Can’t be just the money because the 80 pounds of water we buy a week only comes to $1.60 Gonzalo of the internet cafe, avocado tree, and Saturday grilled chicken across the street gave us a ceramic heart and an avocado. An older gringo who’s been living here 20 years says she’s sorry to see us go because we’re not sun bunny tourists like most these days but more like the seekers who came for adventure back then. Young woman in Krakow Poland and an old man in Liznjan Croatia told us they were happy to meet us because they saw not all Americans were bad. So we done good here and there along the way. (*) I found when we left Cleveland mid-2006, if you want folk to say good things about you, just leave town. They’ll say most anything just to get you gone.  precaution – foto by smith |
I’d like to something good to hasten your arrival. I’ve missed you both even though we’ve had good contact via your blog. The real thing is always better than the cyber two. I know youi’ll warm up the chilly place when you get here. It will be good to have you both back home.
I left out the word–“say–I’d like to SAY something good” Brain abcess from stroke.
If Mother Dwarf had been born Hispanic, she’d be the lady in the photo, going against the flow.
Be safe in your journey back to the states. Things are getting interesting here, and while that may be a Chinese curse, it also keeps us on our toes. We await your perceptions, given your new eyes….