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It’s been nine weeks since I set off from Southern California for South America.

If I had any idea how my plans were REALLY going to be turned upside down, I don’t know if I’d have taken off. (Or maybe I would have left with a lot less bravado and fanfare – do I have to return my going-away presents now??) But here I am -- with no regrets! Still, the obvious question is: ‘Where do I go from here?’ When? How? To do what? And … with whom?

Thankfully, Marie and JP have graciously allowed me the time, space, and latitude to carry on in my befuddled state (I make a few good meals now and then, to earn my keep ;-D), while I sift my way through the possibilities. While this has not quite been the journey I envisioned (understatement!) it’s been a journey none-the-less. And even more of an adventure, because I have abandoned my schedule, destinations, my ‘leader’ and plans, and struck off without any/all of the above. Truly: what kind of an adventure is it if you have an itinerary??!!

Instead I’m hopping – like a big frog from lily pad to lily pad ... in small steps, as it's not a time to leap, I’m told (Bronny says, ‘If a toad shows up: It’s a good time to withdraw into solitude and contemplate emotional or spiritual matters.’ And this place is LOADED with giant toads!!).

And I’m not just figuratively speaking … Paraguay is a muddy place and the boat shed is built adjacent the marsh (so when the time comes -- SOON! -- we can skate DOMINO across the slop into the Rio Paraguay ;-D ) Every day we slip and slither to and from the shed, in ruts and globs so deep my flip-flops get sucked right off my feet at times, and we laugh ourselves silly.

And yet, the biggest mud-puddle I seem to be mired in, is in my head.

I am stuck, stuck, stuck … but apparently that’s exactly where I’m supposed to be. So … here I stay: thinking and writing (oh – and sewing. Marie and I found the most AWESOME fabric shoppe LOL!)

Anway … another comment on my blog reads: ‘You ARE on track. Your glass is empty, giving you the infinite possibilities the universe has to provide, as you are finding out … Enjoy, Have Fun, Be Wild.’ Yeah so I’ve decided to be a real 'wild thing' and stay on and help get the boat in the water and down the Rio Paraguay – after a little R&R tied up @ the Asuncion YC—and then …

We’ll see. ;-) XXOO

PS - Coming soon: more about the beautiful nation of Parazuela. I mean, Veneguay. I mean ...

PHOTO: Local muchachos 'surf' on the Rio Paraguay