It's sister Mona's birthday today! Sometimes as I timidly explore Mexico, safely bunked in a nice guest house, with ample funds available from any nearby ATM machine, I think of a younger Mona hitch-hiking the entire length of Mexico down to Chiapas with an infant, probably with barely enough money for food and shelter along the way. The gift of being able to bravely experience and appreciate life is one that no birthday well-wisher can give.


The oldest among the four of us, Mona was the one who went off to college, then experienced the rich and eye-opening life of a young person in the 60's - a worthy alternative to a liberal-arts degree and whatever conventional life might have followed.

A long and interesting 1st marriage, two exceptional children, and eventually life on a ranch with a gentle and wonderful man of the West in a beautiful corner of Wyoming followed. There, under the awesome high range sky, Mona continues gaining insights into the true nature of the good heart we all yearn to connect with, and learning to let go of the constraints of ignorance and delusion. She is generous enough to share these gifts with me and others.




Happy Birthda Mona!

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