Month: March 2016

The weather for the past two days has been exceptional! I got my travel hammock out again! Life is better in a hammock!

Today, the wonderful weather meant that the sunshine would dry my travel clothes that I soaked in Permethrin for mosquito/malaria prevention.

The sleep sacks get treated too. Anya’s sleep sack is a special one that our friend and Anya’s sewing mentor, Christy taught Anya how to paint silk with Anya’s own design.

To the left of the sleep sack in the picture above is my well-traveled “dirt skirt.” This Value Village find has been to Tanzania perhaps half-a-dozen times. It is the perfect color to disguise the dust. The polyester fabric is fit for the rugged travel and hand washing, and then it dries quickly. It even has functional pockets! But the best part is that it is a full enough skirt for me to wear my REI shorts underneath. The cargo pockets are perfect for my passport and things.

Unfortunately, I realize that it is hard at times for me to figure out which year some of the pictures are from, because I’m wearing the same skirt! However, this year, I will have new sandals!

With blessings,

Beth

I’m starting a new chapter of what has become predominantly a travel blog. As there is quite a bit of travel coming up, this is a great way to keep in touch with my family and other friends.

Memorial services are full of mixed emotions for me. On Sunday, March 20, I attended my uncle’s memorial service in the San Jose area. My in-laws graciously hosted me and my father, who flew in from Minnesota, to remember his brother.

It was important for me to be there to support my Aunt Connie.

Connie relentlessly advocated and cared for Rand after a massive stroke 10 years ago–as only a retired elementary school principal and loving spouse can. I developed such an admiration of Connie through her care-giving journey. She is an amazing woman!

In the midst of the sorrow, there was the joy of being with family. I had a great connection with my cousin, Kiki. I have seen her only twice since I was 16, but this was an enriching connection. I came away so grateful for my time together, and for the graciousness of my in-laws.

I did take a bit of time to also see friends from Tanzania, Jim and Judy Bangsund. Judy has a special place in my heart for her depth of welcome the first time I met her, but also for her care of me after the first miscarriage in Tanzania. She drove four hours round trip to be with me and bring homemade Irish soda bread.

My extended family wasn’t very close, as we were scattered over the USA, and a chunk of my childhood spent farther away in Hong Kong. That was one of the things I appreciated about marrying into Eric’s family, as they regularly gathered. Now as nieces are getting older and a work relocation, it is a little more fractured. However, this weekend renewed an awareness of the cosmic connection of family, even if the gatherings aren’t very frequent. This is part of the reason why I’ve tried to rally my siblings to meet each summer in Minnesota. Fortunately, an end of June trip is planned to nurture the family connections.

With blessings,

Beth