Postcards from My Soul

Forgive the delayed by two + weeks delivery.   I stepped out of the metro station in Lisbon and instantly fell in love.  Love at first sight is real.  Portugal, almost, made me forget about Mexico.  Almost.  It’s a good thing Mexico and I are in an open relationship.  The colors, shapes, and sounds of that city revived my sense of curiosity and my inner joy overtook the oppression I had felt in the UK.   The country in general was just amazing, the food and the people.  The friendliest, most helpful people I’ve experienced while traveling.  Or, at the very least they gave the Japanese a good run for their money.  It may have also helped that I started my solo portion of my trip there.  I love everyone I saw, stayed with, and traveled with but I was exhausted! As an introvert I really hadn’t planned in any alone time and my battery was drained.  So being alone in the city to wander on my own was super exciting. ( I’ve been home almost three weeks, and as I edit this to send and I’m stil

London is already a blur! And I’ve just left the Leeds area and arrived in Edinburgh, Scotland.  I really love train travel.  It’s so much nicer than an airplane and less hassle.   While in London I was able to see Frank, Betty and Franny Fran Fran the fluffy kitty.  One night we had an amazing vegan Ethiopian meal that was 12 Euro for 2 people! Totally unheard of! Definitely the best bargain in all of Europe and the UK.  But, of course, we did order the meal for 4.  12 Euro = $13.76. I like to pretend the dollar is equal to the euro and the pound.  Denial, sometimes, is a good option.  Or at least delays the truth until the credit card bill arrives.  I tried to supplement my snack expenses by helping myself to a few snacks at Frank’s fancy google inspired software blah blah something office.  Lucky for him I don’t like to carry extra weight in my luggage.   Speaking of which.  I was fairly happy with my luggage when I left home.  Well, I did wonder if I should unpack it for the 9

October 11 2018 -  Today I’m siting in a lovely modern cafe named Cózette in Paris. I’m reading, writing and having tea while my dear, sweet, hilarious friend Mathilde has a business meeting.  Thankfully, the very attractive *man who took my order spoke soft English with a British slight French accent. He’d lived in Canada and NY but I have no idea of his origin country.  I have zero French skills.  Only a few poorly pronounced words and I am not even capable of even asking for basic needs. Although, I can say merci beaucoup.  I just really tried to avoid talking.   *Not to worry, I won’t be running off with anyone on this trip.  I’ve learned a few lessons and I’ve got a certain handsome, intriguing, older man (47 minutes older in fact) awaiting my return (Insert blushing face here).  I met Mathilde in Guatemala April of 2017 and we saw each other again this February in India. She has arranged for us to spend a couple days in a beautiful flat in the neighborhood of Montemarte whic

Yesterday morning I was having tea in Austria wondering why I woke up in the night, filled with anxiety and then couldn’t get back to sleep for hours.  After talking to my friend I realized why.  She had stayed up later than I had, read the American news and was quite distraught over the newest Supreme Court appointment. She had blurted out some F words and other explicit phrases in disbelief and disgust.  Which must have woken me into high alert and adrenaline.  ———WARNING:  The following may be upsetting and slightly graphic.  I’ve pre warned my mother who had no idea about most of this.  So, if you’re sensitive to the topic of abuse I apologize if I upset you.  Or please don’t read any further.  And for clarification purposes, any ex partner I’m still close friends with is not being described. ——— I keep feeling that America (or the US of Assholes, as I like to call it recently) just keeps stepping back in time.  A time when woman didn’t have rights over their own bodies, caree

Pre PS- This was written last week and am just getting back to hitting send.  xo When I walked into the house I noticed the light had changed.  The late afternoon, lower, fall sun was streaming in the windows.  Nostalgia hit hard but I wasn’t sure for why or about what.  I had missed 9 days of the slow change and it was quite noticeable.  It was cooler, breezier and my fall crocus were in full bloom.  Also a reminder of that ever turning cycle of life, as my recently passed grandmother had given them to me.  Dug straight out of her garden when she could no longer keep up with it.  Maybe that was part of the nostalgia.  My yard is a constant reminder of her.  I had, just days before, written to her and placed the letter along with photos of her and her kitty, Ms. Lynette Fickle (named after me, although I never asked if it was just my middle name or the fickle part as well) in the temple at Burning Man.  I had said my goodbyes in other ways when she left, and had also spread part o

Firstly -Thank you so much for those of you who took the time to respond to my last message.  It really means a lot to me! XO Online Dating. When I was first allowed to date, the dating pool was very small.  A small town and a smaller high school.  Everyone knew everyone and most of their business.  You saw them “in town”, at school, or a party.  People flirted and hooked up and often that hookup became the boyfriend/girlfriend.  Times have changed. Really changed.  Fear of Missing Out (FOMO if you will) comes in to play so much more.  Meanwhile, online dating also becomes a vocabulary lesson.  Polyamory, pansexual, bisexual, nonbinary, ethical non-monogamy, primary, sub, dom, vanilla, bigender, demiboy, demigirl... I could go on (actually, most of the time I have to ask someone what something means) but you get the point.  Then there are the other terms you will experience, catfishing, ghosting, benching, submarining, zombie-ing, breadcrumbing, and I’m sure I’m missing some.  

Firstly, I wrote the below about three weeks ago.  And stopped myself from sending it.  Many times. For the very reason I wrote it.  Fear.  It’s too personal, people will judge me, people will laugh at me, who am I to write about these things? And other reasons that Fear put in my head and heart.  But I’ve been listening to a podcast that has pretty much told me I should send it, for myself and maybe one other person who reads these and needs the encouragement as well.  So here ya go!  Judge away! :)  June 17th 2018-  This will be the longest run of time in Portland since I first started these travel updates around 2014 (I think).  I’m catching up on household chores, gardening, working a small part time/very temp job, and seeing friends/family.  I’ve also started dating.  Talk about an adventure!   Which brings me to topic of my confession.  Fear.  I’ve tried, and mostly succeeded, to stop living in fear in my everyday life- regarding money, travel, jobs, social norms, etc.  However,

I’m late in finishing and sending this! Also, warning, It’s a bit lengthy and I didn’t proof it well.  XO  Feb. 28th - The last 3 weeks have flown by! Waking up  at 5:15am  most days for an hour of meditation followed by 1.5 hours of yoga. Afternoons we had class on a variety of subjects. Before bed another 30 mins of meditation. The travel this year was slightly different in that we went to Varanasi. Varanasi is a very traditional old city, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.  There were some western tourists, of course, but the real life of India can very much still be seen. The clothing never ceases to delight me. My favorite thing is making eye contact with curious woman and exchanging a sincere smile that crosses all language and cultural barriers. I hope to return and spend a little more time there. If you’re sensitive to death skip this part-  Varanasi is said to be one of the 7 most sacred places in India.  It is the place of the burning ghats. Families pilg

Happy 2018! I can’t believe it’s late January already.  For me, so far, January has been a pretty difficult month.  My grandma died on January 5th. She was 94 but it was sudden and shocking as she was in good health just a week before.  It’s very strange to think she’s not here.   I’ll spare you the details of the shitty (pun intended) expensive plumbing disaster.  December was a whirl wind of jewelry making and craft shows.  I’ve also had to find a new roommate in record time who was willing to cat sit as the last one moved out with one weeks notice after having just assured me she was staying through March.  People are crazy, as if you didn’t know.  Hello from London!  I’m experiencing some crazy jet lag and have basically done nothing for my first 24 hours.  I did sleep through the night and then some! Which I suppose is good! But I never sleep that much. I’m staying with the lovely Frank and Betty while in London. A very special thanks to them!  Due to the crazy times leading up to