I caught the struggle out of the corner of my eye. I couldn’t figure it out at first, but upon closer examination I realized that a dragonfly nymph had crawled out of the water up onto a rock and was in the process of bursting open to reveal the new creature that had been incubating inside. I watched for at least an hour. The effort was almost unbearable to track. The shell slowly cracked open by degrees as the tiny body heaved and contorted. Eventually one damp, crumpled win

I picked up the reins and started driving the team during my last trip to Costa Rica in August. Something important shifted in me and I still haven’t quite found the words to explain it, but here goes.

He pulled it out without any effort. I had to call the front desk for help because I couldn’t get the key out of the door of my hotel room. I had tried for 15 minutes and no amount of tugging, jiggling, locking and unlocking would release it. The desk clerk came up to my door, asked if he could try. He turned the key sideways and pulled it right out. We locked eyes. He was gracious to me and turned back down the hall with a friendly “Buen Día.” I stared at the key in my hand.

The Costa Rica Project has taken on a life of its own - ironic since the name Casa De Nueva Vida means New Life! Gustavo, my architect and project manager, sent me the updates today and here’s the latest: Electrical work on the 4 casitas is almost finished Interior finishing work will start in 15 days The pond to allay the mosquitos will be started next Tuesday (I have such vision for this little project! A floating solar fountain to disturb the surface of the water, a few f

“Marge actually line dances with her walker!” beamed Edna. We were gathered around the elevator at the independent living center having a lively discussion about walkers. Mom was talking about the possibilities of replacing hers and was getting all kinds of advice. She was deciding about moving to this amazing facility - it was like a small city of activity and joy. We continued our tour, maneuvering mom and her walker through all the opportunities available to her. Later t

I never expected oxen to teach me how to build a life, but here we are. The rains have turned my Costa Rica building site into a river of mud. Trucks stalled. Work halted. A frustrating failure of machines and a clock still ticking on deadlines. And then my brilliant project manager sent me a photo that made me gasp. This photo will be framed and live as an important part of the story of this journey. He stepped back to look and the problem and then went old school ... Oxen.

As I bemoaned my outcast state one day in the middle of moving, I was hunched disconsolately in just one of the rooms of my huge house looking at empty walls, barren bookcases and cabinets. It was so much work - Sorting, tossing, and packing at least 22 years in that house and all that I had dragged along from the decades before. My brain was exhausted from decision-making, my arms and back sore from stacking box after box in the garage to prepare for the movers. And still