Suddenly this blog has come alive some ... A friend emailed me yesterday asking if it was Haiti where I was originally assigned (before Azerbaijan). It was indeed somewhere in the Caribbean but I was too high of a risk to keel over and die according to the PC med team so they looked at lower risk countries...after South America rejected me for fear of my no large intestine, Azerbaijan said yes... that is after they confirmed that I'd be OK with unsanitary bathrooms?!--where is the risk there?! Anyone? That still baffles me.
Anyway, the PC hasn't assigned anyone to Haiti since '05 (I think) so I would have not been there regardless. However, neighboring Dominican does have volunteers and I have heard they are all fine.
And to answer another question that came in, being known to respond to disasters (Sumatra tsunami, WA's disastrous flood and Katrina), no, I don't intend to go to Haiti any time soon. I need a vacation! Besides, it's a mess over there right now. Best for the pros to get things aligned first. It would be months before I'd consider starting a program.
But here is a story of a former PCV who was working in Haiti during the earth quake in a different capacity. Interesting.
BTW, keep the donations coming! Thanks! http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/shaz
Haiti earthquake survivor back home in Pleasant Hill
By Doug Jastrow
Contra Costa Times
Posted: 01/16/2010 04:46:04 PM PST
Updated: 01/16/2010 05:39:46 PM PST
PLEASANT HILL — Having lived most of his life in the Bay Area, Kaveh Azimi has experienced earthquakes before. But what the 25-year-old saw and felt on the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Tuesday was something completely different.
"A building had just fallen down in front of us, and another behind us, and people were running out of little alleyways, just chalk-white, bleeding," Azimi said Saturday from his parents' home in Pleasant Hill. "Everyone just stopped what they were doing, put their hands up in the air and yelled, 'God, save me. Jesus, save me.'"
The damage from the devastating, magnitude 7.0 earthquake centered just outside of Haiti's capital city this week has yet to be fully measured. Some estimate the death toll will exceed 100,000. Azimi was one of the lucky ones — he was uninjured from the massive quake and its series of aftershocks, and he was able to board a flight out of the country Friday.
Now that he is home, Azimi is eager to return to the Caribbean nation.
"It's tough. It's like you're leaving a country at its darkest hour when it needs the most help," Azimi said. "I plan on going back."
Azimi has been trying for years to help Haiti, an impoverished nation that he has called home for more than a year. A former Peace Corps volunteer who worked with Haitians near the Dominican Republic border, Azimi now works with Fonkoze, a company that supplies microloans to Haitians.
When the earthquake struck Tuesday, Azimi was leaving his job in Port-au-Prince to buy groceries before going home for the day. He was approaching the entrance to the supermarket when the store's concrete awning simply collapsed. It was only then that Azimi felt the earth beneath him start to move.
"While it was happening, everyone was just bracing," Azimi said. "This was by far the most violent earthquake I've ever felt."
Azimi remembers being immediately engulfed by a cloud of dust as several buildings crashed to the ground in front of him. His first thought was to get back to his apartment, about a 20-minute walk. Before he could move more than a few feet, he noticed a woman buried up to her chest in concrete rubble.
"It looked like she was alive but she was just in such a state of shock," Azimi said. "I was looking into her eyes and she looked like she saw me."
Azimi immediately began removing what he could from atop the woman's body. As soon as others walking by saw what was happening, they came over to help. The final piece of concrete took five people to lift, while two others pulled the woman's body free.
Azimi said he tried to revive the woman, but she never spoke or moved.
"I put my hand on her chest and she was breathing and I tried to wake her but she wasn't responding," Azimi said.
Another body was soon found nearby, an older woman that Azimi first thought was a child. Azimi and the other passers-by freed her from the heavy debris but once she was uncovered, it was clear she was dead.
"At that moment it dawned on me what kind of situation the country was in, because I knew this was going to be the same situation repeated many times over," Azimi said.
Azimi made his way to the office building where his roommate worked. The two traveled on foot to a friend's house they knew had a wide courtyard and would be relatively safe from falling debris. Everyone he saw on the streets distanced themselves from the damaged structures that still stood but could fall, he said.
Azimi spent the first night outside in his friend's courtyard. His mother's frantic call from the United States finally came through.
Lisa Radcliffe had been dialing her son's cell phone number constantly since she first heard news of the earthquake. After more than five hours, the signal went through and her son picked up.
"I was beyond relieved," Radcliffe said. "Then I started screaming at him: 'Get to the airport, get to the airport, get to the airport!'"
The next day, Azimi and about 30 others were picked up by members of the United States Embassy and driven to its headquarters about an hour away. He stayed there for the next two days, watching CNN news reports and trying to contact friends who live in Haiti.
On Friday, he was flown from the airport in Port-au-Prince to a U.S. military base in the Dominican Republic. He then boarded a flight to Miami and arrived at San Francisco International Airport on Friday night.
Despite the harrowing experience, Azimi already has plans to return to Haiti.
"They don't like this," Azimi said, referring to his parents, "but I feel bad I'm home."
Azimi has a plane ticket for Jan. 24. He wants to help rebuild the country.
"I'm hoping that the airport is open by the 24th," he said. "I'm going back."
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Peace Corps on Haiti
News Releases
Additional Information from Director Aaron S. Williams on Haiti
Dear Peace Corps Community --
I am writing in response to the generous offers of support we have received at Peace Corps regarding the recent tragedy in Haiti. I lived and worked in Haiti for four years and continue to care deeply about the country and its people. It is difficult to observe a tragedy like this from afar. As a member of the Peace Corps family, I imagine you are considering ways that you and Peace Corps can help.
Peace Corps is working with other federal government agencies to see what we can do to provide assistance. It will take time for us to assess what Peace Corps might be able to do in the future. Peace Corps does not currently have a program in Haiti and is not an organization with first-responder expertise. We do, however, have some suggestions that you might want to consider if you are looking for ways to help the communities of Haiti.
1. Contribute: Monetary contributions are the lifeblood of many relief organizations.
* You can donate to Red Cross Haiti relief efforts immediately, by simply texting "HAITI" to "90999". A donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
* You can also donate toward other relief organizations working in the affected region, Red Cross’ International Response Fund, and/or other charities of your personal choice.
2. Volunteering: Volunteer opportunities in disaster settings are extremely rare and are usually limited to people with prior disaster experience and technical skills
* To register your skills and experience for a possible volunteer opportunity, go to the Center for International Disaster Information's registration page.
* Peace Corps Response: While formal partnerships with Haiti relief organizations have not been established, Peace Corps is currently assessing how we can be helpful in the future. I encourage all Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) interested in possible short-term, high impact assignments in Haiti or other programs around the world to apply to Peace Corps Response. As an RPCV, you have the opportunity to serve again by putting your skills and experience to good use in the places where you are needed the most.
Over 500 Americans have served in Haiti as Peace Corps Volunteers and Haiti will forever be a part of the Peace Corps family. On behalf of the Peace Corps, I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Haiti, including the local staff and communities that hosted our Volunteers in the past.
Thank you for your spirit of generosity.
Aaron S. Williams
Director
Shaz' fundraiser http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/shaz
Additional Information from Director Aaron S. Williams on Haiti
Dear Peace Corps Community --
I am writing in response to the generous offers of support we have received at Peace Corps regarding the recent tragedy in Haiti. I lived and worked in Haiti for four years and continue to care deeply about the country and its people. It is difficult to observe a tragedy like this from afar. As a member of the Peace Corps family, I imagine you are considering ways that you and Peace Corps can help.
Peace Corps is working with other federal government agencies to see what we can do to provide assistance. It will take time for us to assess what Peace Corps might be able to do in the future. Peace Corps does not currently have a program in Haiti and is not an organization with first-responder expertise. We do, however, have some suggestions that you might want to consider if you are looking for ways to help the communities of Haiti.
1. Contribute: Monetary contributions are the lifeblood of many relief organizations.
* You can donate to Red Cross Haiti relief efforts immediately, by simply texting "HAITI" to "90999". A donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts, charged to your cell phone bill.
* You can also donate toward other relief organizations working in the affected region, Red Cross’ International Response Fund, and/or other charities of your personal choice.
2. Volunteering: Volunteer opportunities in disaster settings are extremely rare and are usually limited to people with prior disaster experience and technical skills
* To register your skills and experience for a possible volunteer opportunity, go to the Center for International Disaster Information's registration page.
* Peace Corps Response: While formal partnerships with Haiti relief organizations have not been established, Peace Corps is currently assessing how we can be helpful in the future. I encourage all Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) interested in possible short-term, high impact assignments in Haiti or other programs around the world to apply to Peace Corps Response. As an RPCV, you have the opportunity to serve again by putting your skills and experience to good use in the places where you are needed the most.
Over 500 Americans have served in Haiti as Peace Corps Volunteers and Haiti will forever be a part of the Peace Corps family. On behalf of the Peace Corps, I extend my deepest sympathies to the people of Haiti, including the local staff and communities that hosted our Volunteers in the past.
Thank you for your spirit of generosity.
Aaron S. Williams
Director
Shaz' fundraiser http://www.mercycorps.org/fundraising/shaz
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Haiti Relief Effort through Mercy Corps
Please help me raise 10K + through Mercy Corps.
Over 50 thousand are projected to be dead and water is non-existent in some areas.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince Tuesday afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital.
The first members of a Mercy Corps emergency response team are en route to help survivors. Follow the latest updates at mercycorps.org/haiti.
Thank you!
Over 50 thousand are projected to be dead and water is non-existent in some areas.
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck near Haiti's capital of Port-au-Prince Tuesday afternoon, collapsing buildings, including at least one hospital.
The first members of a Mercy Corps emergency response team are en route to help survivors. Follow the latest updates at mercycorps.org/haiti.
Thank you!
Monday, January 11, 2010
From AZ to AZ in between and beyond
Sooooooo ... I didn't know if I would post on this blog again but it is time. Rather than start my ... what?!...8th blog, I will use this one since several friends will get it.
I post here because am indeed going to Azerbaijan but not before a few journeys in between.
I have been a bit of a recluse since my mom's passing...there are only a few friends with whom I have been in touch and even fewer received much email from me. It's been the solitude I have needed to get through this time. I do appreciate all those who reached out--thank you...and thank you for holding that sacred space for me.
So I won't get too much into the logistics of what has happened since my mom's passing. That's too draining and not...shall I say, joyful confab. It has been very emotional and not without challenges but I have done well considering.
I started teaching at the prison which has gone well and was creating significant momentum with WA stakeholders for a restorative justice model as an alternative to the punitive model instituted now. But just as we were about to sign an agreement it all, quite literally, blew up in our face when four police officers were ambushed and murdered. WA police officers were a major stakeholder of this peace and forgiveness model I was proposing ... not so much any more ... at least not right now when emotions are running rampant.
The crazy thing is that though that was a disappointment on many levels, I actually got a lot more clarity about my life initiatives following that horrific event. I had been wanting to leave WA for a while. Though I had garnered significant support and had really gained the kind of respect needed to make big changes at the state level, I felt a sense of relief when it all fell through ... down deep I know am really ready to leave. It doesn't make sense to those who believe I have established credibility at the state level but... if you know me, I often make decisions that don't make sense because I follow my intuition and heart. It always leads me to where I need to go even if it means uncertainty and building new relations with uncertain income streams. But networking is my forte and I trust that the lesson is far more valuable than the dollar so.... here I go.
My clarity was bolstered when I drove down to OR and CA for Christmas to visit my favorite Aunt (Mom's sister) who just weeks prior lost her husband to a heart attack. It was an incredibly loving and emotional visit but somehow was just perfect.
I started my vacation in WA really. I inherited my parent's timeshare at the ocean so the week prior (early December) before leaving to OR, I stayed there for 4 days. I
hiked in the snow (a rarity at the ocean) to an icy lake, sat under the stars while soaking in the hot-tub, went to the gym and rode the bike while watching the ocean waves crash into the rocks! Something was lifting...
A week later I hit the road driving south. I started out in Cottage Grove, OR which is just 1/2 hour south of Eugene. There my friends Netti and Brian took me to social gatherings where I was reminded the little things in life can be just as flavorful as larger events. I loved that no-one knew of my current set of challenges. I had a wonderful time just being in the moment and letting the night lead me into pleasurable events and interesting people.
I stayed there in Cottage Grove for 3 days. I took a hike in the rain through the mossy green forest just off my friend's property. I thought I would listen to an uplifting podcast but found the sound of rain dancing on leaves much more meditative and pleasurable. I also took a series of self-photos which took more time than the hike I think...primarily cuz I kept missing the target--me!!!
K...not too bad.
...And not too good...
But I like my narcissism and did a lot of that to document my trip down the coast. Not the safest thing in the world to do while driving but I have yet to hear of a law that bans the fun. So I let it all hang out!
It was really a spectacular drive down the coast. I put on a little bit of David Sedaris and all traffic jams became a blessing-allowing me to hold onto that moment just a little longer and laugh and laugh ...and laugh. David cracks my shit up!!!
<----- me laughing. And traffic jams also make for safer photo opps right? Here are a few while at a dead stop. Don't I look safer?! 
But really my favorite shots are of reflections off the windows and mirrors...while driving.
<------- Cool right?! And I have a whole series of side mirror photos from all over the US. Nice eh?! -----------> 
So on with my drive ....
over the bridge...
and through the ocean breeze ... 
...
I stopped for lunch at this pull off just outside the infamous Cous Bay ... I just barely made it in time for this photo ... for some reason I don't look as natural as I intended?
What up with the angle?!
So I finally made it down to Brookings which is right on the border of OR/CA on the coast. Amazing little progressive town and not as outrageously expensive as you might imagine. I am so happy my Aunt lives in a community like this where she has such a wonderful network of friends. She's an outgoing loving type with a striking presence and engaging personality. She's a proud red-hatter. I like to think I am more like her ... at least I hope I am. She is such an inspiration. Here we are at a spot she and her now late husband frequented.
(Aunt Treas and Me)
The following day would be my Aunt's first day back since her husband's passing a few weeks earlier. I went into the high end thrift store where she works, bought myself a few skirts (since I had brought none for Christmas service) and then went out and enjoyed my sun-shinny day.
As many of you know, I am a HUGE water and water-life lover. As an avid kayaker, I have seen many porpoise and even whales while out in the Puget Sound. And it seems every where I go, I see whales. Check it OUT!! ---->
All day long I was again gifted with a front row seat where I watched gray whales feed and spout.
It was 68 degrees and so when I wasn't stuck on perma smile while watching the whales, I struck up a conversation with someone or sat on the hood of my Sante Fe and read
... or simply soaked up the delight of the day. 
I made it part of my daily ritual the 5 days I was there to visit the sea at least twice a day. I was met with amazing sunsets, cascading ocean views and blessed symbols to light my day.
<------- Angel shot. Me sitting staring at the angel ------> 
And this photo I call ... what else but "sunshine on my shoulder"
After visiting my Aunt ... actually Aunt's. Another one of my Mom's sister, Ranae came for Christmas too so we had lots to talk about and catch up on .... Next, I went and visited friends in Ashland and toured around there too. Two days was just enough then I headed in to the mountains of CA to visit another doctorate colleague, Pam Coy. That was a quick jaunt. I was nestled in the sleepy little town of Dunsmuir for not quite a full day but enough to have a wonderful visit with Pam and at least one self photo...couldn't resist this mirror.
From there I slowly made my way back up I-5 ... I stopped in Medford, OR intending to take a short break and possibly see the movie Avatar everyone told me I MUST see but ended up spending a few hours writing a long letter in the coffee shop next door to the theatre ... I had to get rolling though because it was late afternoon, snowing and I still had another pass to climb. It was a sucky, messy drive and I was fried by the time I got back into Cottage Grove for the night. Ate dinner, had a short visit, did a Tarrot card reading to help me uncover my mysterious life, and went to bed.
The next morning my friends left early as they were heading to the Rose Bowl so I took a jacuzzi, showered and made it up to Portland by the early afternoon to visit two more set of doctorate friends. Here is David and Suzanne's lovely home that looks out onto the heart of Portland.
Suzanne is an amazing artist...her paintings are speckled through out the entire place. Seeing them was bitter-sweet. When last I saw them--in late June--I was bidding farewell and even had a lovely conversation with their son Jeffrey who is about 6-7 year older than me and whose wife is Armenian (David is too, Jeffrey half Armenian) who shared with me a ton about Azerbaijan ...well really, more about the conflict between the two countries but it really was a wonderful visit. Seeing Jeffrey again was especially difficult. He saw the excitement in my eyes prior to saying good-bye. I promised to stay in touch while overseas ... So this time again, I promised to stay in touch as I head over this time ... but not as a Peace Corps volunteer, but a tourist of sorts visiting my PCV friends who I would have been working along side by now. It brings me joy to think I will soon be playing along side them soon :)
I also saw another doctorate colleague Ruth who always manages to squeeze in time no matter how incredibly busy she is ... that too was a bitter-sweet visit for the same reasons. I didn't get to visit Georgette (another colleague). Since she married, life has been full for her. I miss her though. I missed seeing colleague Cathy Carrier in Ashland too because her husband was at a hospital in Portland preparing for surgery because he is donating a life-saving kidney. How inspiring right!?!
On January 1st, I left OR and crossed over the Columbia river into WA. Going back to Shelton brings up a lot of letting go but I am re-fueled enough to let it all happen. All my belongings will be in 5x10 storage unit in a few weeks and in about a month I will be driving off to Arizona (the first AZ). There I will assess my options for probable employment for a week or so then fly out of PHX into Turkey first, then eventually Azerbaijan (the other AZ). I also want to visit Georgia, and possibly a few other countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Greece etc ... we'll see. One of those countries is where I will spend my next birthday--cool not to know yet. I will be gone through mid-May, fly back to PHX, make a decision on my move and then drive back to WA to pack up my stuff, tie-up all my loose ends and ... if it is my decision, move to AZ--the state that is.
By the time I get back in May, my younger brother may have already started tearing down the house for re-model leaving it as a shell. So strange to see a house pregnant with Mom's stuff but soon it will be ALL gone...all gone--forever. These are some of the images I leave behind.... but will forever be locked in the recesses of my memory.
The lake has always been a refuge for me. This is where I grew up and lived this last year while care-taking for Mom. I am a water child no doubt and it feels a bit strange to go into the desert but it also feels like my calling and I am listening.
But...I will move on, live on and grow from it all. Life is full of mystery and I am embracing it. Thank you WA, thank you friends, colleagues, prisoners. Thank you mom and dad and family ... From AZ to AZ I will travel and unlock my calling.
Here I go!! Looking into the sky and asking for more ... knowing ... trusting that it will all be revealed.
Bring it on!
I post here because am indeed going to Azerbaijan but not before a few journeys in between.
I have been a bit of a recluse since my mom's passing...there are only a few friends with whom I have been in touch and even fewer received much email from me. It's been the solitude I have needed to get through this time. I do appreciate all those who reached out--thank you...and thank you for holding that sacred space for me.
So I won't get too much into the logistics of what has happened since my mom's passing. That's too draining and not...shall I say, joyful confab. It has been very emotional and not without challenges but I have done well considering.
I started teaching at the prison which has gone well and was creating significant momentum with WA stakeholders for a restorative justice model as an alternative to the punitive model instituted now. But just as we were about to sign an agreement it all, quite literally, blew up in our face when four police officers were ambushed and murdered. WA police officers were a major stakeholder of this peace and forgiveness model I was proposing ... not so much any more ... at least not right now when emotions are running rampant.
The crazy thing is that though that was a disappointment on many levels, I actually got a lot more clarity about my life initiatives following that horrific event. I had been wanting to leave WA for a while. Though I had garnered significant support and had really gained the kind of respect needed to make big changes at the state level, I felt a sense of relief when it all fell through ... down deep I know am really ready to leave. It doesn't make sense to those who believe I have established credibility at the state level but... if you know me, I often make decisions that don't make sense because I follow my intuition and heart. It always leads me to where I need to go even if it means uncertainty and building new relations with uncertain income streams. But networking is my forte and I trust that the lesson is far more valuable than the dollar so.... here I go.
My clarity was bolstered when I drove down to OR and CA for Christmas to visit my favorite Aunt (Mom's sister) who just weeks prior lost her husband to a heart attack. It was an incredibly loving and emotional visit but somehow was just perfect.
I started my vacation in WA really. I inherited my parent's timeshare at the ocean so the week prior (early December) before leaving to OR, I stayed there for 4 days. I
hiked in the snow (a rarity at the ocean) to an icy lake, sat under the stars while soaking in the hot-tub, went to the gym and rode the bike while watching the ocean waves crash into the rocks! Something was lifting...A week later I hit the road driving south. I started out in Cottage Grove, OR which is just 1/2 hour south of Eugene. There my friends Netti and Brian took me to social gatherings where I was reminded the little things in life can be just as flavorful as larger events. I loved that no-one knew of my current set of challenges. I had a wonderful time just being in the moment and letting the night lead me into pleasurable events and interesting people.
I stayed there in Cottage Grove for 3 days. I took a hike in the rain through the mossy green forest just off my friend's property. I thought I would listen to an uplifting podcast but found the sound of rain dancing on leaves much more meditative and pleasurable. I also took a series of self-photos which took more time than the hike I think...primarily cuz I kept missing the target--me!!!
K...not too bad.
...And not too good...
But I like my narcissism and did a lot of that to document my trip down the coast. Not the safest thing in the world to do while driving but I have yet to hear of a law that bans the fun. So I let it all hang out!
It was really a spectacular drive down the coast. I put on a little bit of David Sedaris and all traffic jams became a blessing-allowing me to hold onto that moment just a little longer and laugh and laugh ...and laugh. David cracks my shit up!!!
<----- me laughing. And traffic jams also make for safer photo opps right? Here are a few while at a dead stop. Don't I look safer?! 
But really my favorite shots are of reflections off the windows and mirrors...while driving.
<------- Cool right?! And I have a whole series of side mirror photos from all over the US. Nice eh?! -----------> 
So on with my drive ....over the bridge...
and through the ocean breeze ... 
...I stopped for lunch at this pull off just outside the infamous Cous Bay ... I just barely made it in time for this photo ... for some reason I don't look as natural as I intended?
What up with the angle?!So I finally made it down to Brookings which is right on the border of OR/CA on the coast. Amazing little progressive town and not as outrageously expensive as you might imagine. I am so happy my Aunt lives in a community like this where she has such a wonderful network of friends. She's an outgoing loving type with a striking presence and engaging personality. She's a proud red-hatter. I like to think I am more like her ... at least I hope I am. She is such an inspiration. Here we are at a spot she and her now late husband frequented.
(Aunt Treas and Me)The following day would be my Aunt's first day back since her husband's passing a few weeks earlier. I went into the high end thrift store where she works, bought myself a few skirts (since I had brought none for Christmas service) and then went out and enjoyed my sun-shinny day.
As many of you know, I am a HUGE water and water-life lover. As an avid kayaker, I have seen many porpoise and even whales while out in the Puget Sound. And it seems every where I go, I see whales. Check it OUT!! ---->
All day long I was again gifted with a front row seat where I watched gray whales feed and spout.
It was 68 degrees and so when I wasn't stuck on perma smile while watching the whales, I struck up a conversation with someone or sat on the hood of my Sante Fe and read
... or simply soaked up the delight of the day. 
I made it part of my daily ritual the 5 days I was there to visit the sea at least twice a day. I was met with amazing sunsets, cascading ocean views and blessed symbols to light my day.
<------- Angel shot. Me sitting staring at the angel ------> 
And this photo I call ... what else but "sunshine on my shoulder"
After visiting my Aunt ... actually Aunt's. Another one of my Mom's sister, Ranae came for Christmas too so we had lots to talk about and catch up on .... Next, I went and visited friends in Ashland and toured around there too. Two days was just enough then I headed in to the mountains of CA to visit another doctorate colleague, Pam Coy. That was a quick jaunt. I was nestled in the sleepy little town of Dunsmuir for not quite a full day but enough to have a wonderful visit with Pam and at least one self photo...couldn't resist this mirror.
From there I slowly made my way back up I-5 ... I stopped in Medford, OR intending to take a short break and possibly see the movie Avatar everyone told me I MUST see but ended up spending a few hours writing a long letter in the coffee shop next door to the theatre ... I had to get rolling though because it was late afternoon, snowing and I still had another pass to climb. It was a sucky, messy drive and I was fried by the time I got back into Cottage Grove for the night. Ate dinner, had a short visit, did a Tarrot card reading to help me uncover my mysterious life, and went to bed.
The next morning my friends left early as they were heading to the Rose Bowl so I took a jacuzzi, showered and made it up to Portland by the early afternoon to visit two more set of doctorate friends. Here is David and Suzanne's lovely home that looks out onto the heart of Portland.
Suzanne is an amazing artist...her paintings are speckled through out the entire place. Seeing them was bitter-sweet. When last I saw them--in late June--I was bidding farewell and even had a lovely conversation with their son Jeffrey who is about 6-7 year older than me and whose wife is Armenian (David is too, Jeffrey half Armenian) who shared with me a ton about Azerbaijan ...well really, more about the conflict between the two countries but it really was a wonderful visit. Seeing Jeffrey again was especially difficult. He saw the excitement in my eyes prior to saying good-bye. I promised to stay in touch while overseas ... So this time again, I promised to stay in touch as I head over this time ... but not as a Peace Corps volunteer, but a tourist of sorts visiting my PCV friends who I would have been working along side by now. It brings me joy to think I will soon be playing along side them soon :)I also saw another doctorate colleague Ruth who always manages to squeeze in time no matter how incredibly busy she is ... that too was a bitter-sweet visit for the same reasons. I didn't get to visit Georgette (another colleague). Since she married, life has been full for her. I miss her though. I missed seeing colleague Cathy Carrier in Ashland too because her husband was at a hospital in Portland preparing for surgery because he is donating a life-saving kidney. How inspiring right!?!
On January 1st, I left OR and crossed over the Columbia river into WA. Going back to Shelton brings up a lot of letting go but I am re-fueled enough to let it all happen. All my belongings will be in 5x10 storage unit in a few weeks and in about a month I will be driving off to Arizona (the first AZ). There I will assess my options for probable employment for a week or so then fly out of PHX into Turkey first, then eventually Azerbaijan (the other AZ). I also want to visit Georgia, and possibly a few other countries like Bulgaria, Romania, Greece etc ... we'll see. One of those countries is where I will spend my next birthday--cool not to know yet. I will be gone through mid-May, fly back to PHX, make a decision on my move and then drive back to WA to pack up my stuff, tie-up all my loose ends and ... if it is my decision, move to AZ--the state that is.
By the time I get back in May, my younger brother may have already started tearing down the house for re-model leaving it as a shell. So strange to see a house pregnant with Mom's stuff but soon it will be ALL gone...all gone--forever. These are some of the images I leave behind.... but will forever be locked in the recesses of my memory.
The lake has always been a refuge for me. This is where I grew up and lived this last year while care-taking for Mom. I am a water child no doubt and it feels a bit strange to go into the desert but it also feels like my calling and I am listening.
But...I will move on, live on and grow from it all. Life is full of mystery and I am embracing it. Thank you WA, thank you friends, colleagues, prisoners. Thank you mom and dad and family ... From AZ to AZ I will travel and unlock my calling.
Here I go!! Looking into the sky and asking for more ... knowing ... trusting that it will all be revealed.
Bring it on!
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