Farewell to Tepoztlán

What a gift this journey has been. It has been so much more than we had anticipated. What we have learned here goes far beyond language or food. We've learned how certain priorities that we had when we got here just don't seem to matter so much. We've learned to let go of "the plan" and go with the flow (as if we had a choice!). We've learned that there is always time to chat with whoever is passing by and that it just doesn't matter if you're late because of it. We've learned that some people who have so little in terms of things and money, are rich in spirit, connection, pride, and love. And we've learned that we can come to a new place and be welcomed as if we were long-lost family. Seriously. And that we can feel the same way about the people we've just recently met.

We have particularly learned this from our dear friends José and Aurora and their kids who live two doors away. They have no running water and live in two rooms, yet have opened their home to us and cooked a Mexican feast for us over a wood fire.

Our relationship with our friends has only deepened, and we've had wonderful time with them and as a family. Kimberly made some tamales recently for them. Brian helped José put up a barbed-wire fence. And Lea spends nearly every waking moment with their kids Josecito and Lisset. In fact, they joke that we're not allowed to take Lea home with us and that they plan to adopt her!

José daydreamed with Brian today, that maybe in a few years they will add a couple rooms onto their house, so that we might stay with them next time we visit. We have asked them about the possibility, in some years, of their coming to spend some time with us in Madison.

We don't know what the future holds, and in some ways it's not something to be concerned about (we learned that here too!) but we look forward to maintaining contact with our dear friends here in Tepoztlán and seeing what comes next.

Meantime, we are also looking forward to our return to Madison and to seeing many of you soon.

Sending our best wishes,
Brian, Kimberly & Lea