18 Comments

So lovely, Kert, just like the morning birds and quiet alone time I am experiencing at this moment on the other end of this continent. 💚

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And safely back from Jamaica Plain! (I love that name—gotta be story there too!). Those pics of yours were fun. We have a couple of festivals that approach that same spirit here on the upper left coast—Folk Life in May and Bumbershoot in the Fall. Don, you are ALWAYS so kind and present. Thank you. You are one of my gurus (if you see what I did there) and models for how to do this form of social media the right way!

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Thanks, Kert. You flatter me 😊

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Yes, with you, Don and others in those dark, quiet moments before first light, when all, including us, are still, silent and at One with the universe. On the other hand, I woke this morning to the sound of fireworks, Cinco de Mayo in Mexico. It is the day of celebrating Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. From dark to light!

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Celebrations everywhere! 😀

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The Mexican Indigenous culture knows how to celebrate the profound moments! I especially love the Dia de los Muertos in November. Western culture sure could use such a profound way of honoring and remembering, with reverence, the ancestors of place. Gary, can you narrow down to a few things what you love best about your little spot in Mexico? I admire the move you made to move there. I want to have such courage too.

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Thanks, Kert. Earlier post "Why We Moved To Mexico" explains part of what we like enough to make the move. Having moved often and lived a peripatetic life for the past 25 years, I am not sure it took much courage. I suppose part of it is having enough confidence that we could make it work to our satisfaction and contentment. We will still continue to travel while we can. This "little spot" as you call it is adjacent to San Miguel de Allende, a global tourist destination for many reasons, not the least of which is the culture, the arts and being one of the colonial cities in Mexico. Our spot is 15 km north in a more rural setting in a planned develoment with some 200 houses, villas of differing sizes and amenities that are described on the web site. Ex-pats and retirees mostly although not all by any means. Here's the link: https://rancholoslabradores.com/index.php?vw=1400&vh=658&v0=&v1=118&v1b=0&v2=eng&v3=0&v4=despliega&v5=despliega&v6=despliega&v10=0&v13=&v14=&v25=551&v26=0

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Oh THANK you for this. I’ll be reading it a bit later today! The ex-pat life has always been intriguing to me—for reasons that likely you’d identify closely with. I’m having a hard time recognizing my country right now.

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Thank you for the restack Ramona! That is very meaningful for me—a reluctant poet.

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Beautiful Kert 🖤

I love love the beauty, simplicity and depth of black.

Your piece felt like an ode to that love.

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Oh my goodness! This is high praise from a true poet whom I admire greatly! Thank you Jamal!

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I appreciate your love and you're very welcome 😊🙏🏽

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I love this look at light and dark. As you can’t have one without the other! Looking at the dark inside is hard to do but I’ve found that doing so lets in more light than ever before ✨

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Thank you for responding Amanda. Writing poetry is a vulnerable thing—it’s always lovely to learn if they land favorably with people.

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It really is. I’m in awe of those that can do it.

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Yeah, so am I!

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Haha! You’re doing it! 🙌

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And hence here’s proof long-distance blushing can be a thing on Substack! You’re a kind Soul Amanda, thank you. 😊

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