Como cielo

Today was just what I needed.   Quiet- tranki- lots of lounging, laundry, reading, internet surfing, playing with the dog (I'm dogsitting for Diego!), and snacking.  AND I may have slept like 11 hours last night which couldn't have come at a better time.

I love me some down time but around 2:30 or 3 I hung out the last of the laundry and I hit the road for P. Nuevo to visit with some of my favorite friends around.   The moto ride was stunning, as always.  I hate the cliche that life is better on the back of a bike, but seriously- it is.   It's my favorite ride so far in this country- south of town, out through El Rosario, over the hills and through the valleys and crossing the river...to arrive at the Rose of Sharon orphanage.    I love seeing the faces of the fellas- the grins, the shouting, the hugs.   And we chat and talk and sit on the fence and the little guys sit on my lap and braid my hair or pull out the gray ones and point at my arm freckles (and try to pull some of them off!  ??????) and there is a certain peace in just BEING HERE.   And I am reassured that my spanish MIGHT be getting a little bit better and they ask when I am leaving again and don't I want to be Dominican (YES!) and when is the next group coming and what do I do in the clinic and when will I return...etc etc etc.     They are growing up all around me... these guys...and they are growing up fast.   I am so proud.

And I get a ride back to the guesthouse and again, it's awesome on the back of the bike.  The sun is streaming through the mountains and I can see the river and palm trees and fields in front of them all glowing and golden.   The trees are full of white birds by the river.  Little kids are running along the road with their watchful mothers behind them.   It's breezy and my hair is gnarled from the wind (and the orphanage salon!) and I tell my friend that I'm just sure heaven is going to be like this.    And we return and chat over pasta salad and papaya and ITunes and Skype and there is a peace in having friends here, a common ground.

I feel blessed.  I feel rested.   I feel content.