You might have guessed it if you speak Spanish, but yes, today is my birthday. Originally to be spent hiking in NH, I have been spending the day in RI and MA with Nathan.
We woke up bright and early so we could get out for a good morning hike through Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, MA. It snowed last night, and despite my better judgement we both trekked through the woods barefooted. Our time spent in the chasm was brief. Most of the time we spent getting lost and trying to find the magnificent river just past the entrance of the chasm. All in all, the day has been great (despite our chilly toes). Here are some pics and a video.
Later today we have plans to eat dinner with Bonnie and some other friends of ours. Stay tuned!
Today was my first Tuesday off in some time now. I was happily greeted with the opportunity to explore purgatory chasm. It was quite the adventure through woods, down rivers, and climbing rocks.
I am glad to have spent the day with Bonnie and Eric. They always make the beautiful day an even brighter day.
At one point I climbed through a crawlspace in between a rock that was split into two. The day was full of beauty.
The future seems clearer,
More adventurous,
And peaceful.
Nothing can make me think less,
More consciously,
More clearly…
Because now it seems the times are looking fuller,
And by your side is where I will reside.
I am still beside myself with gratitude for having met Nathan. He never ceases to make me feel wonderful. I absolutely adore. I miss him when he leaves in the morning but I always know he’ll be back to see me again soon. I only hope I return the inspiring life he gives to me. He deserves it and far more.
I have the pleasure almost every week to sing with Pauline Lim. Pauline is an amazing person with talent to boot. Her spirit is free and her appreciation is boundless. She is an inspiration to me in all aspects of life.
I wanted to share her artwork and music with you. Please feel free to peruse her art and music website:
Yesterday I was talking with Jeff about our choices in life. I thought this video was relevant to the discussion.
“The reason why I refuse to take existentialism as just another French fashion or historical curiosity is that I think it has something very important to offer us for the new century. I’m afraid we’re losing the real virtues of living life passionately, the sense of taking responsibility for who you are, the ability to make something of yourself and feeling good about life. Existentialism is often discussed as if it’s a philosophy of despair. But I think the truth is just the opposite. Sartre once interviewed said he never really felt a day of despair in his life. But one thing that comes out from reading these guys is not a sense of anguish about life so much as a real kind of exuberance of feeling on top of it. It’s like your life is yours to create. I’ve read the postmodernists with some interest, even admiration. But when I read them, I always have this awful, nagging feeling that something absolutely essential is getting left out. The more that you talk about a person as a social construction or as a confluence of forces or as fragmented or marginalized, what you do is you open up a whole new world of excuses. And when Sartre talks about responsibility, he’s not talking about something abstract. He’s not talking about the kind of self or soul that theologians would argue about. It’s something very concrete. It’s you and me talking. Making decisions. Doing things and taking the consequences. It might be true that there are six billion people in the world and counting. Nevertheless, what you do makes a difference. It makes a difference, first of all, in material terms. Makes a difference to other people and it sets an example. In short, I think the message here is that we should never simply write ourselves off and see ourselves as the victim of various forces. It’s always our decision who we are.”
I can’t believe it’s been almost a week since my last blog post. I’ve been terribly busy spending time with Nathan and Bonnie. I’ve also had the pleasure of having dinner with my good friend Brett, baking delicious sesame cookies, and writing the makings of a string quartet. Like I said it’s been a busy week.
I am looking forward to the weather changing and the warmer climate ahead. Now that I’m working less at Pastiche I am focusing in on my well-being and personal time. I am trying to find the balance between work and leisure.
By the end of April I will be done with Pastiche and off to Dartmouth to work as a farmhand on a farm. I will be working at various farmers’ markets throughout MA selling organic veggies. I’m glad to be working for a local cause. It feels nice supporting something that has such an impact on people and the environment. I’ve been living each day trying to make this world a greener place, and bringing local vegetables to people across the state helps that cause.
Holy week has taken over my life for the next few days. I am looking forward to Sunday afternoon so I can get some much needed relaxation.
As some of you know ICE (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) is the US response to illegal immigration. What some of you may not know is the inhumane treatment they use as well as the intolerable tactics they use when trying to deport hardworking immigrants.
Tonight I attended a documentary about the ICE raids in New Bedford that happened just over one year ago. It was a very moving presentation about how parents were ripped from their families without any notice. They were not given any civil liberties and denied lawyers. Some of them had infants that were still breast feeding, and some had no other family to care for their children while they were being detained. The detainees were shackled and sent off to a compound where they were forced to await trials for deportation.
This was a local incidence that affected many people in the community. It appalls me to see how these hardworking people were treated just because they were immigrants. There is no reason to stand for this as citizens of America. We cannot let this happen to innocent people. These are people who only want to give their children and families hope for a brighter future.
We are in desperate need of Immigration Law Reform. People have the right to live and prosper no matter who they are or where they come from. It is my belief that we all should be working to make peace. Here is an article that was on the front page of the Projo today.
I went to a family reunion today of my grandmother’s family. It was a really interesting day spent getting to know long lost relatives that I either have never met or never get to see. I was actually really sad that it was over so quickly and that we could have all spent more time together. I’ll post some pictures when my family sends me some.
Birgitta and Maryann it was a pleasure meeting you both. I hope to visit Sweden and Switzerland soon. Either way please keep in touch.
