This? It's a photo from our Christmas party (Miracle on St. George Street) two years ago. These blistering summer heat waves have me thinking cool thoughts and craving snow.

But for now, as put by my new favorite poet, Vera Pavlova:

I have brushed my teeth.
This day and I are even.

Do you remember that night, when we were on the rooftop of that sketchy hostel in Fes? I was feeling so overwhelmed by the culture and sheer vastness of the Medina, tired, travel-worn, home sick, heart broken, and just utterly dejected by the day. I think we were both ready to fly out of Morocco ASAP.

But then two Moroccan boys showed up on the rooftop a building away. With their broken English, our broken French, the little bit of Arabic we picked up, and inventive hand signals - communication was made possible. The boys were our age and their family owned a souvenir shop. On that night, they were getting ready to leave for a festival. We could hear the music from the distance. Sad to see our new friends go... I was about to head to bed, but before we knew it - they were climbing across the rooftops towards our balcony! And this is what they had for us:

A genuine human connection, a small gesture, a surprise friendship across languages. It made my day.

The fastest, most liberating, and fun way of getting down a mountain = on a slide!

 

 

Even babies go to the beach during torrential downpour. 

What follows is my face as I abandon all hope of staying dry:

 

Work hard, play hard. It's the same principle even on the other side of the planet.

 

 

Sei Shonagon has a list of "Things which Quicken the Heart". It is as follows,

Sparrows feeding their young. To pass a place where babies are playing. To sleep in a room where some fine incense has been burnt. To notice that one's elegant Chinese mirror has become a little cloudy. To see a gentleman stop his carriage before one's gate and instruct is attendants to announce his arrival. To wash one's hair, make one's toilet, and put on scented robes; even if not a soul sees one, these preparations still produce an inner pleasure. It is night and one is expecting a visitor. Suddenly one is startled by the sound of rain-drops, which the wind blows against the shutters.

------

Although biking is not on her list,

it's definitely on mine.

I can't wait to start riding it - if only it would stop raining!

The sun goes down, the lanterns are lit, and the markets are open for business.

sun kissed toronto

Twenty years later, and I'm standing at the same location in front of the Notre Dame in Paris as my mom did when she was about my age. Next month, we'll be traveling together to China. I'm really excited.

When the karma of a relationship is done, only love remains. It's safe. Let go.

- E. Gilbert