On a Sunday morning sidewalk

I was certainly not wishing I was stoned. But sometimes there is something in a Sunday that makes a body feel alone. Yesterday, though, I was happy in my solitude. Walking home from Mass, the sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the cars weren't honking too much, nor were the buses exhaling their nausious fumes too intensely. And I strolled through the mini-park I pass by to get to church and I purposely veered off the path to walk on the grass under the shade of the trees. It was an exquisite forty-five seconds. Life is beautiful.

Sunday Morning Coming Down -- Johnny Cash

And now, it's October? October! Two months down, quite a few to go. I have triumph to report: I haven't looked up tickets to go home yet. A dear friend remarked to me how I am "always looking up tickets." I am happy to say that, even in the most desperate of times here, I haven't researched flights home on Kayak or anything. Not a one!

Contentment. I might just be learning it. I used to get restless every two years or so, often even more frequently. Restless for change, because new surroundings help us escape from ourselves and things we don't want to confront or address in our lives or our actions. At least, I surmise that's part of my old wanderlust.

It's better to embark on the adventure of learning about myself, the human being and his purpose, joy, and the lovely world around me--no matter what spot on the globe. Perhaps I can say, like in Shakespeare's "As You Like It"

Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I: 
when I was at home, I was in a better place: 
but travellers must be content."

Now whether I be in Arden or Quito or Hillsdale or Seville or Marquette or who knows where the future may take me--I must be content, for I have every reason to be so!

And I have one confession. How I miss Hillsdale sometimes! My friends knew it would be so, no matter how vehemently I denied it. And yes, indeed, I look back on that wonderful time and I'm so thankful for the friends, the faith, and the fun that dear little campus helped provide. Had I been slightly more content, would I have enjoyed the time even more? Little good it does to question--only now I must learn to embrace each moment of life here. Wherever here is.

 Two-thousand words: Quito makes me laugh. The mall was decked out for Christmas...and it was only September 27. I am happy to think of how I'm spending Christmastime in the States! 

And the second photo, a lovely sunset o'er my dear Quito. I had seen a hint of color out my window, and dashed to the roof to see the glory of nature, and watch the eye of heaven pass to another side of the world.