012715 Journal

January 27 journal: Casa journal 2; this is a very mundane-world journal. Next one will be more inner focused... Feel free to skip this one.

Here I am in Abadiania, sitting in front of my screened window, looking out at the bottle-brush tree and the dining area.  The trip was easy; flight to Atlanta, connection to Brasilia. In the wait between flights, I ate the Yotsuba sushi I carried along. Once on the plane I had an empty seat beside me and Amy and Markus seated just behind me. The 9 hour flight usually feels long; this year for the first time ever, they had a choice of closed captioned films! I had my laptop and expected to work as I can never sleep on planes, but ended up watching 3 movies, all good! "The hundred foot Journey", a movie about an Indian family moved to France, about people and food!"A story centered around an Indian family who moves to France and opens a restaurant across the street from a Michelin-starred French restaurant."Beautifully done; story, acting and food!

The second was  "The Good Lie", a very moving story about  the "lost boys of Sudan"Sudanese refugees given the chance to resettle in America arrive in Kansas City, Missouri. where their encounter with an employment agency counselor forever changes all of their lives.

The first half told about their plight and escape; I found it deeply moving. The second half, what happened here. Challenges like not knowing what a phone or light switch are...

Third "Boyhood": over 3 hours I think, so we landed before the end. I'll have to rent it for the last ½ hour! So I traveled well entertained. Even a decent dinner!

The flight schedules are different this year. We took off about 7 and landed at 6:30 Brasilia time. Customs and Immigration were very fast and simple. This meant we arrived at the pousada just after 8 AM, a welcome change. I was able to unpack, settle in, have lunch and a long nap, and visit the Casa. I'm in the same room. I realized I have lived in this room 15 now for almost a year, 4 and 5 weeks at a time! I especially love the bottle-brush plant out the window, that attracts hummingbirds. Unfortunately this year it's in poor health, I think because of some construction just a few feet away. I will need to send this plant much love these 5 weeks. The dining area is expanded, but a very good renovation!

My bike was here, ready for me. I enjoyed riding down to the Casa, felt very free as the sun and breeze blew past. I do love this little Raleigh fold-bike.  It was wonderful to sit in the Main Hall with that high energy and just meditate for an hour; so good to be back.

Early to bed and slept 11 hours. I awakened groggy, wondered if they had worked on me during the night, ate breakfast and went back to sleep for 2 more hours. I got up to ride to the Casa for a crystal bath. For the first time ever, I fell off my bike. A car cut me off, swerved in right at me without slowing down, to avoid another car that was turning. I had to swerve sharply to avoid him and fell. I had just stopped at a stop sign so was going very slow; fell loosely, just skinned some knees and elbow but no real damage. I realized the body remembers how to fall (credit falling off horses and down on skis) The driver didn't even stop, though another biker did, and confirmed what I thought, that the driver was at fault and driving badly. He helped me up and I pedaled on down to the Casa for my double crystal bath.  I had asked the Entities for help with the left knee skinned most badly and wondered if this was their way of accessing it. After bathing it with Casa water, it has almost healed fast, less than 10 hours.

Back for lunch, another long nap, and a Portuguese lesson. "Eu nao lembro". I lose so much from one year to another, then start again, But it comes back faster, Those who know Daniel will be delighted to learn he and his wife have a 13 day old baby girl! Pictures show her as very beautiful of course. He will bring her later in February.

Quiet afternoon, getting organized, meditating.

I have much I want to write about inner things; meditation, intentions for this trip; much rich reflection, but it will need to wait.  It's after 8, tomorrow is the first Casa day of the trip, and I want to shower and get to bed.