I Just Wanted to Take a Peek…

We all did shed a tear leaving MN again on Friday morning. I think we are the type of family that, for the most part, live like dogs. 

Except for the odd occasion, gratefully I think, we live like puppies… in the moment.

Yesterday is history and tomorrow is too far away to worry/be concerned about.  I’m grateful for this. We can learn much from dogs. I’ve studied dogs as a Pet Sitter in Woodbury and Cottage Grove more than 10 years ago. I still love all of those beautiful owners of animals I cared for.

The most important observation I made from dogs is if the situation is good now, it is time to be happy and celebrate. Happy, Happy—give someone a lick, walk around in circles, then plop down in front of the fire and take a nap!

As for my family (1 husband, 1 daughter, 2 sons ), granted, I had more than the rest of the family to look forward to upon returning to PR on Friday, January 6th; as I rather like the two worlds we live in, whereas the other 4 left MN with some regrets.

The supportive family are perhaps fickle… as soon as we hit Isabela, our home town in PR, and moments from our ocean-front apartment, after traveling more than 10 hours; my husband and three wee ones had transitioned from regret to, at least, bittersweet as they were eager to just get somewhere that was “home."

Barely moments from "home," I announced: “I just want to stop and take a few photographs."

“Noooooooooo” was the droning harmony by the nay-saying family that was all too familiar with the “back in a second“ rigmarole.

Now, I’m very subtle and am often overlooked, you wouldn’t even realize I’m around (like a fairly benign growth, is what my husband would say). But, this time, I had to nose around like Columbo in my search of the Puerto Rican celebrities… The Three Kings; on Three Kings Day. After all, I DID promise the Puerto Rican Three Kings I would stop by to see them again when I met them first about a month ago in another town, Aguada. 

It was drizzling rain outside, which added to the cheerlessness of the day for the supportive family. Their faces read… we left our friends again, if we were home, we’d be sitting by the fireplace and drinking hot tea. But we were no longer in Woodbury—talk of Yule Logs, spiced tea and heated mufflers are OVER! Too hot here in the Tropics.

There is no escaping the sounds in Isabela this evening.  I followed alone, intrepidly wading through a posse of rock, salsa, and reggae. The supportive husband and children stayed in the car -- the children mocking the drunken rendition of “Hey Jude."

My husband, half-heartedly, attempts to defend that, in truth, The Beatles are, arguably, the best Rock and Roll band of all time and the children are, perhaps, treading on hallowed ground and shouldn’t mock.

I saw the villagers attention was riveted on the Rock Band who had great energy and intent. Behind the band were the Three Kings. As I drew near, they waved and I realized there was no need for introductions. They remembered me and it was too late for them to make a run for it. In fact, they yelled, "where is Janischchch" -very difficult to pronounce this name with a native tongue. I might have promised the big chief!!

We exchanged e-mails and talked for a bit.  It is a busy time for them—appearing in PR until Jan. 23. I thanked them warmly for the lovely reception. Courtesy dictated that I stay a while and then I went seeking the overwrought family. My delightful chore was finished and, thankfully, no one in the vehicle had access to loaded weapons.

Behind it all I just know that the family will remember this encounter on Three Kings Day (this Day is bigger than Christmas in PR) and having to make this trip was ‘really necessary’ even though some folks just don’t ’get it’. Some folks just don’t realize these encounters with local legends will enlighten and brighten both the landscape and the human heart.

Currently, the supportive family has discerned that this brightness has yet to reveal itself in its entirety.

Until… they realized the next morning the big watery monster, the mighty Atlantic Ocean that is so dangerous, but ever so beautiful and alluring… And then we’re BACK. Back to living like those puppies…in the moment & all is good again. Just needed a new face to lick.