Adventure Excellent adventure, Phil. How will you return to CA and teaching kids who are probably a lot less interesting than Tino? Thanks for sharing. I see a travel book in the future.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance If this book hadn't already been written, I think you would have been the one to write it Phil. Thanks for sharing this story about Tino -- he sounds awesome.
Easy Rider Get your motor runnin', Head out on the highway. Lookin' for adventure, in whatever comes your way. Born to be wild! Your story made me think of Dad. I think he could have been a Tino. Thanks again for sharing. Travel safe! Love!
Dang it Phil! You've left me on the edge of my seat. I'm dying to know just where the heck you are now or are you still sitting around drinking beer & watching birds? Inquiring minds want to know... You're the greatest! Love ya!
Thoughtful and Accurate blog I just encountered your blog and wanted to say your evaluation of the problem here at the lake is right on the money. The solutions to the problem of cyanobacteria are so complex and require the cooperation of so many competing interests it seems impossible. There is a website http://www.lakeatitlanhealth.com that has a lot more information on the lake and cyanobacteria, this is a real growing problem around the world. Keep up the great blogging!
Self Destruction It's so deeply, incredibly sad to read about the Lake's condition. We've heard of the deaths of many civilizations and "why" they perished. Easter Island is believed to be the result of human's lack of sustainability, and so on... Now the Lake. And soon the entire globe - yes, I believe that. It's not just the 'science' telling us, it's from our own observations! But the most troubling thing is how people and countries are trying to help the Lake (read: financially) but the gov't is doing its best to divert the monies into their pockets. Is anyone brave enough to give us bloggers some insight on what the gov't is doing (or not doing) about this situation?? In the meantime, I pray for the health of the Lake....and mankind.
Thankyou for that! I am the brother you mention in the story... I´m already in Costa Rica with my wife and son patiently waiting for Jason and his girls to come down. I think you generally got Jason´s "story" down pretty well, and being more intimately familiar with his story than most people I feel compelled to compliment you on your apparent ability to listen and tune in to others. Most people´s favorite subject is themselves, and it is rare to find people who can take such a genuine interest in other people as you seem to do. In addition, your idea of writing a story about someone you met is such a good one that I am going to take the liberty of making it mine... hope you don´t mind.
As with anyone, there is a lot more to Jason´s story, as you rightly guessed, and the story is ultimately his to tell. I can only tell you that I deeply respect and admire him, and in spite of the fact that he and I are often as different as night and day, we have one thing in common that binds us tightly together, which is that we both follow our hearts, and damn the consequences!
The last paragraph of your blog is what inspired me to comment at all, by the way... perhaps it is because I lost everything myself (I moved my family to Costa Rica with nothing but a computer, 3 suitcases, and $2,000) perhaps it is because I have been reading Charles Eisenstein´s "Ascent of Humanity" which has put into words for me many of the concepts, beliefs, and philosophies I have been forming over the course of a lifetime. But whatever it is, I must agree with your conjecture: "Failure" is one of the surest ways to discover how deeply separated we are in our ridiculous "American Dream" lifestyle.... separated from each other, from happiness, from purpose, from Nature, from "God", etc. etc etc.
Your very last sentence, especially, implies a truth that I think could only be understood by someone who has "lost it all"; that what we were pursuing all that time was captivity from which we needed to be freed..... and that our "comfortable lives of security" were never really comfortable (spiritually) nor were they secure, let alone the illusion that it was actually "living" that we were doing.
Thanks for the blog.
Levi
You make me xela sick! Hi Phil! As I sit here in the luxuries of the US and read your blog- despite the fact I love reading your stories, I start to feel sad and jealous about all of the joys of Guatemala that I missed this year since I failed to return! As your first roomie in wonderful Xela so long ago I look back on your travels- you have done so MUCH!! I hope all is well and enjoy some of that guatemalan simple life for me! I so disparately miss it! It is heart breaking to see the Lake like that, I really hope that that the slim chance can come true! ¡buen viaje!
Mourning This makes me want to cry. How did it change so drastically in one month? Did something else happen to make the shift so swift, or was it just a culmination?
On another note, the dog photo is wonderful. A picture really can say a thousand words, and that photo is a great commentary on the country of Guatemala.
Hard to read but very well done! Hi Phil.
You have done a great job of presenting the problem that you have witnessed first-hand! It is, however, very hard to read because of the sadness that the story causes. I have been grieving the seeming "death" of this beautiful lake ever since I first became aware of the problem last week while visiting it with you.
Thanks again for the grand time we had with you in Guatemala!!
Love you lots, MOM
Motorcycles in Xela I am planning an extended stay in Xela next year. Is there a Honda dealer there? I may buy a bike there and continue on to Costa Rica once I've picked up some Spanish. Any school recommendations?
Be Creative Right on Phil. We're surprised that you haven't found four old posts and an old sheet of plywood and made a few chairs for yourself. That seems right up your alley. Stacia's doing great, no twins yet, we'll let you know when the boys arrive
Holy Cow Phil! Are you sure it was safe?! I'm thinking you figured we were all heading down to Guat anyway in case something happened while you were surfing! Looking forward to seeing you in a couple days! Aunt E
Staci
non-member comment
Wow
I've really enjoyed your reflections, Phil. Your writing is inspiring (and will be, I'm sure, for your students too).