Surfing the Wave

Time is at a premium for me, but as friends reminded me this morning, I can leave a post without writing the great American novel. So, yes, as my return to Cuenca rapidly approaches, I feel very much like a surfer who is riding the big wave. I'm still riding that wave, and just trying not to get knocked off my board and submerged under the wave of time as it reaches a crescendo and cascades over me.

My furniture is moving fast. In fact, faster than I expected. I may be living my final two weeks with little more in my apartment than me, my lap-top, and two pieces of luggage. It was a Buddhist monk who said "The mind is full when the room is empty." I guess I may find out what that means.

I was going to bring three pieces of large luggage. However, United wants an additional $200 for the third bag. Forget that, the third luggage piece is going back to the store. I just hope Connie Pondo knows what she is talking about, when she wrote in a recent post that expats need to bring less clothes with them, except for personal styles of underwear. I'm trusting you on that, Connie. (As for the underwear, well, I don't use products from Federick's of Hollywood, or Victoria's Secret; therefore, Ecuadorian underwear may work out fine.)

I am really looking forward to staying at Bob and Roxanne's Cuenca condo again when I return, until I find an unfurnished apartment in the city which must have a balcony. I can not imagine living in Cuenca without a balcony. The image that keeps me going through this hectic period is having breakfast out on Bob and Roxanne's balcony at lunch-time, and watching the panoramic sky show unfold throughout the day.

I will be leaving from O'Hare Airport on Friday, March 11th, and visit with my elder son, Marc, in Maryland before arriving in Quito on Sunday evening, March 13th. On Monday, I have an appointment with attorney Gabriela Espinosa. Currently, I have no idea how long I'll be in Quito to take care of all my immigration paperwork. I do expect to arrive in Cuenca somewhere between that Wednesday and Friday. I am looking forward to seeing all you pioneers again--those of you who were the trailblazers and now are the settled residents of one to three years; to meet folks I feel like I know from their blogs, but who moved to Cuenca after I left in August last year; and, of course, to meet the newbies, who will be arriving for their first introductions to Cuenca. Hasta Luego!