Adaptation: All Hallows Eve

This morning I had an enlightening conversation about the origins of Halloween with two unlikely characters: Darth Vader and the Cheshire Cat (played magnificently by my son and daughter).

"Where does this Halloween tradition come from?"
"It comes form 'Samhain', the ancient Celtic festival in which the ancestors are honored as they pass between this world and the Otherworld. Bonfires are lit, people give thanks for the bountiful harvest, and purification rituals acknowledge the passing of one year into the next."
"Well if it appears to be a Pagan tradition, why do Christians celebrate it?"
"Because Pope Gregory III moved the Christian holiday 'All Saints Day' from May to November 1st in an attempt to steal some of this celebratory thunder and put out the Pagan fire."
"Well what do witches have to do with Halloween and why do they always look scary and green with a wart on their nose?"
"Well, my darlings, witches and druids are people who have learned to harness their power - the power we all have within us. But often is the case where powerful people are misunderstood and labeled as evil or scary by those who have not yet mastered self-control."
"It seems like labeling people is not a good idea."
"I think you are right."
"It also seems like everything you hear is not always true."
"I couldn't agree more."

What's on your list?

Passion and humor, musical delight,
hard work, straight talk, challenge and fight.
Herbs and healing, heights and divinity,
mangoes, mangroves and Jah's Holy Trinity.
Grace and overstanding, peace and light,
roots, culture, strength and might.
Truth and love, fiyah and wata,
the blessings I get from mi son and mi dawta.

Giving thanks always and in all ways,
Good over evil everytime!

The Road

Pushing along Interstate 70, the Grateful Dead bluesing on the stereo, I am lost in a panoramic dream of endless mesas and plateaus. I reflect on where we have come and where we are going.

We have just conquered Colorado - hiking mountainous trails with a heavy heartbeat as the paths wind their way to the final summits. From the tops of these peaks it becomes clear why the Rocky Mountains are so named. But even with this clarity the question begs, "Why am I called to come here?"

I turn back down the trail to catch my daughter smiling thoughtfully at the kaleidoscope of wildflowers that melt into a patchwork design across the valley below. A mix of amazement and serenity dance in her eyes.

It is the same amazement that I feel every time I load up my car, or hop on a bus, or strap on my pack and head for somewhere new. It can happen on the top of a mountain, beside the ocean, at an art museum, or even in the dancehall. Inspiration holds no boundaries or requirements. As long as we search for it, inspiration always answers the call.

I have long since known where to find my inspiration. Kerouac knew it, Che Guevara embraced it. It beckons, it nourishes, it defeats and even destroys. But most of all it inspires - and that is why we come.

Those who feel it, know it. And those who don't can stay home and watch tv.

Jah Love

"As we do not practice or permit discrimination within our nation, so we oppose it wherever it is found. As we guarantee to each the right to worship as he chooses so we denounce the policy which sets man against man on issues of religion. As we extend the hand of universal brotherhood to all, without regard to race or color, so we condemn any social or political order which distinguishes among God's children on this most specious of grounds."

~His Imperial Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I~


Giving thanks to the crusaders of yesterday
who have righteously paved the way
for the freedom fighters of today!

Simple Science

Never underestimate the value of good dirt - rich, organic soil, fertile land, healthy earth. Many places may be more beautiful, rugged, or inspiring, but nothing can beat the growing capabilities of good old Minnesota. We simply have good dirt. And from good dirt comes a good garden - or so we hope. After 33 years of life, and 10 years of vegetarianism, I have finally created a vegetable garden. The kids and I are doing it as a science experiment. We are making hypotheses, recording observations, and graphing results. We are throwing around elaborate words like chlorophyll and photosynthesis. But most importantly we are playing with the hose, digging for worms, and enjoying the sunshine. Simple abundance....

Back "Home"

Finally after 4 months out, we are back "home" to Minnesota. It is surprising how quickly we assimilate to our All-American culture. Brushing our teeth in tap water seems normal again. No more hand-washing and line-drying of the clothes. Life is easier here, but somehow slightly less satisfying. If the electricity goes out in Belize, someone stokes up the fire hearth and grills some tasty fish and veggies. If the electricity goes out in the US, people rush for their cell phones and frantically dial the electric company demanding immediate restoration of their precious energy. There is something to be said for modern conveniences, but I think I prefer hard work and self-sufficiency.

Here are some things I learned this winter from my continuing education in Central America.

I learned how to:

1. Chop a coconut, grate its flesh, and burn the husk for fly repellent.
2. Catch fish by casting deep into the sea with a simple line (no rod and reel).
3. Cure a cough and other ailments with rainforest plants and trees.
4. Use a machete.

And my favorite

5. Keep my body in shape by dancing the "punta".

It was a blessed winter indeed!

Big up to my family on Caye Caulker: Uncle Ducky, The Chavarria family, Mother Rose, Mama Star, King Warren, Francine, Delon "Black" Chaplin, Bobbi, Jun and the Sandbox gang, the Sunset View crew, the rudeboys in the BNH, the M&N family and everyone else who made my heart sing this winter.

Jah Guidance Always and in All Ways!

Highlights of Belize

After four years of spending my winters in Belize, I was finally blessed with some visitors from home. First, my father, an active 75 year old retired science teacher, flew down for a week. Then the day after he returned to the States, my best friend and co-pirate Lisa Love came with her daughter Maya. They will end their two week stay this Sunday. After all the sightseeing - some on the beaten trail, and some far from it - I think I have earned my unofficial Belizean tour guide license.

I feel so lucky to have this opportunity to travel and study foreign cultures with my family and my friends. I can see how strong my kids are becoming, not only physically but in their cultural awareness and global consciousness.

Praise be to Jah!

Here are some photos and a list of some hot spots and good deals I found along the way:

In Belize City:

Hotel Mopan 501-227-7351 A bit pricey at $60US per night but it was safe and secure and had nice views of the cityscape.

Euphrates Car Rental 501-227-5752

On the Western Highway:

The Belize Zoo $10 US Open everyday, this is a small but informative jungle enclosure with Central American animals of all shapes and sizes including the sacred jaguar and my personal favorite the Harpy Eagle.

In the Cayo District:

Midas Resort 501-824-3172 $60 US per night for cabanas in a beautifully tropical setting just 5 minutes walk from the heart of San Ignacio. Dora the office manager is very helpful to suggest restaurants and tour options.

Elvira's Hotel in the heart of town 501-804-0243 $30 US per night. Simple and affordable.

Medicinal Tail at Chaa Creek 670-0809 $15 US for a guided walk thru Belize's healing plants and trees as well as entrance to the Blue Morpho butterfly farm and Natural History and Culture Museum.


Xunantunich Ruins $10 US offers panoramic views of Belize and Guatemala. Info center has lots of maps and time lines. You might even see a monkey or two on the hike to the top.


In the Mountain Pine Ridge everything is nice. We canoed to the Barton Creek Cave with a guide for $25 US per adult, kids were free. It was a perfect earth science field trip for grade school kids. We also drove to Big Rock falls for naked nyabinghi drumming and a fresh water swim. Tours go here but we rented a car and were happy we did.



For local transportation, contact the father and son taxi service Alex and Giovani at 501-605-2190. Fair and reliable for short or long distance runs.

La Vista Restaurant in San Ignacio 501-804-4609. We sat on the outdoor, rooftop patio and enjoyed fresh, delicious food from this sweet family-run restaurant.

On the Hummingbird Highway:

St. Hermans Cave and Blue Hole Nat'l Park are both included in the entrance fee $5 US per adult. Both have beautiful jungle hikes and educational signs and centers.


In Hopkins Village:

Lebeha Drumming Center offers rooms and cabanas $15-$50 US. Jabar and his Garifuna Drummers make the nights exciting while Dorothy is there with a smile and a cup of coffee in the morning.


Hopkins Inn http://www.hopkinsinn.com/ $80 US per night. Owned by Greg and Rita, these cabanas, which sit 30 feet from the sea, are clean, peaceful, and guarantee relaxation. The best part is the included breakfast of fresh fruit, breads and juices served right to your veranda.



King Cassava bar on the main intersection is a good place to drink a cold Belikin and people-watch. Ask Mark for his special 'bitters' if you want an extra skip in your step.

Barefoot Yoga hosted by Dorman was the most intense yoga class I have taken in my life but well worth the $15 US drop in fee. He teaches most days. Ask Rita at Hopkins Inn for more info.

Yugadah Restaurant is run by a very colorful Ms. Rosie. Both the food and the storytelling are great. I ate the fresh snapper sandwich with cassava pudding for dessert. $7 US total.

For reef tours contact Nowel Lunez at the Watering Hole. He carried us to Southwater Caye, Tobacco Caye, and Bird Island. It was the best reef trip I have ever had in Belize hands down.

Cool Breeze

We arrived at our island home expecting to be greeted by our lady Ms. Sunshine but instead were welcomed by one solid week of the dreaded 'North'. To us Minnesotans, the 'North' is simply a cold front - a cool weather pattern tunneling down from the North. Daytime temps drop 10 degrees and a blanket is needed to sleep comfortably at night. But to the local Belizeans, the 'North' takes on a persona of her own. She is like an evil witch from the crippling cold, sweeping down to the Tropics to deliver sickness and despair. There are long lines at the pharmacy as mothers buy cough syrup in preparation for the inevitable colds and flus. Grown men wear stocking hats and layers of long-sleeve shirts and army jackets. All the bare feet disappear and the islanders start to resemble football fans at Lambeau Field. Everyone hopes and prays that the witch doesn't deliver her basket of sickness to their doorstep.

Now I only hold a Bachelor's Degree - and in Psychology none-the-less - but doesn't sickness come from germs, viruses and bacteria? Can a cool wind really do anything to a human body? I would think that leaving a pot of stewed beans on the counter to re-warm and eat all week long would bring more sickness than simple weather changes. But this is Central America - a place where firm beliefs in cultural lore outweighs any biology course. A place where listening to your grandmother's advice (no matter WHAT that might be) is the only way to ensure longevity and strength. A place where saying "good morning" to the villagers with a polite smile is the best way to secure social good-standing. And a place where us know-it-all gringos, if we can manage to slow down for a minute, just might actually learn a thing or two.

Now if you will excuse me, I think it is time to put on my socks.