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Year Four, Day 116: Pancho Villa, the Travel Bug and Resurrected Dreams

I am rethinking my camper van dream.  I have had such remarkable experiences on public transportation lately, that I am afraid to shift the balance in my life.  More stress would definitely tilt the balance into a more negative direction.

Owning and driving a vehicle again would entail more stress: Traffic, gas, maintenance.

I can experience the freedom and travel I seek without a vehicle. Public transportation has been a friend of mine. As far as travel, there is always Amtrak. I think it would be quite an adventure to go cross country on the train! Think of the adventures I would experience. And I could share them with you!

Eventually I would like to do some world travelling. I have been perusing Road Scholar brochures for years.  I think I'd better get my passport!

As far as living situations, I am starting to search for a roommate situation where I can have my space without offending anyone.  Just a place to hang my hat, eat, read, shower.  Offering pleasantries when I run into other humans is about as much interaction as I seek.

Although last week, I had more than one in depth conversation. With other humans!  And they were quite satisfying.  I know I am capable. And they seemed to fill a deep longing for connection.

The most memorable conversation was with a man at the Delta Park Max station.  An older gentleman approached me. I did not have a book or cell phone in hand as a distracting mechanism. I looked at him, expecting him to ask for directions. Or money. 

He did neither. He attempted to start a conversation. He mentioned that the Max drivers did not wait for passengers who were bolting from their arriving buses.  He seemed a little grumpy about it.  I did not really want to get into a grumpy, complaining conversation with a stranger. I nodded slightly.  But he continued talking. He mentioned an incident where he ran for the train and tried to hit the button to open the door, but the train took off. He even had made eye contact with the driver.

The man stopped and looked at me. I think I was supposed to answer. I've kind of forgotten how to conversate!  Either I'm teaching piano students, talking to an 18 month-old (who is already quite the conversationalist!) or engaged in daily living talks with family members (Do we need lemons, garlic or ginger at the house?  When should we meet for breakfast?  Can we have lunch tomorrow?).

But this had the feeling of a real conversation. I took the bait. And we talked for the next half hour!  We boarded the train together and continued talking. We went from talks about ill matched bus-train schedules, to Virgil Fox, the organist, to Loprinzi's Gym to diners, including the now defunct Quality Pie.

And I totally enjoyed myself. He got off a few stops before me and hollered that he enjoyed our talk. And then, "My name is G___. We'll probably run into each other again!"

I hope we do.  I feel a kinship to Richard Grant, the author of the book I just now finished: God's Middle Finger: Into the Lawless Heart of the Sierra Madre, Excellent book! True story, which makes it more fascinating. I could not put it down.  Mr. Grant risked his life to spend time in the Sierra Madre in very dangerous territory, known for it's high incident of violent crime. He narrowly escaped with his life. But he also made some good friends and lived to tell many entertaining tales.  He tried hard to get to know the Native "Tarahumaras", but they were very suspicious of foreigners. They are a fascinating group. Known for the insane running abilities and unusual customs. They ran long distances daily, never trained and drank copious amounts of alcohol.   I did a little research, and discovered an interesting article on them in Runner's World: https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20954821/born-to-run-secrets-of-the-tarahumara/ He learned quickly that to avoid being robbed, beaten or murdered by the "narcos" (drug traffickers),  he had to have a contact person. If he mentioned a person's name that was know in the village, he was allowed to visit unharmed. 

In several scenes, he was in a village, attempting to make friends and be "amigos" with some tough guys that just weren't buying it.  He kept explaining that he was from England and writing a book about the Sierra Madre.  Finally he told them he was researching the life of Pancho Villa. He was accepted more readily after that.

I have a whole list of books that I want to read now. About the Sierra Madre. About Pancho Villa.

Here is a quote to whet your appetite about Pancho:

"I know nothing about your corn, Senor. But you can be sure that my men will hunt you out and shoot you if that son of yours and his brothers do not go to school. Don't you know that we are fighting the Revolution so that every Mexcian child may go to school? ~Martin Luis Guzman, "Memoirs of Pancho Villa"

Apparently, he was a murderer, and cruel to women. But he loved children. Not just his own. All children. And unlike most of his compadres, he did not drink alcohol.  He instead drank strawberry soda. 

I just picked up another book by Richard Grant: Dispatches from Pluto: Lost and Found in the Mississippi Delta . I am so excited to begin this book. I became obsessed with the Blues and its origin about 15 years ago. I dream of also someday traveling to Mississippi.

Yes, I've got the travel bug. I've got it bad. But for now, I will have to travel in my head. Not for long though. I don't want to wait until I'm "retired' (if that ever happens). I may be too old by then!

Hopefully not. I am feeling good today. I started the day with Qi Gong breathing exercise and a hoop workout. Day 36!  

I played the piano as a guest in a church in Portland. I ate healthy. I've gone back to drinking black coffee.  I think that I need to greatly decrease sugar. At this point, I am avoiding wheat, soy, fried food and sugar.

The key word is "avoiding". I find that if I get too obsessive, it pretty much ruins my life. So I just stay in the moment and try to make the best eating choice with the food at hand.

Having resurrected some dreams has greatly improved my mood.  I think that is part of the equation of the balance I have been seeking. To have hopes and dreams.

I am still a work in progress. Until the day I die. Then God can take care of me after that.

On that note, I wish you a happy Sunday!

Talk to you tomorrow!

Love,

Zita



Here is today's hooping video: 




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