November 2014 I woke with a heavy heart. Eight plus months since Frank passed and still, there are mornings when I wake to see nothing to look forward to and nothing to be appreciating. I can change my viewpoint, but it takes a lot of effort. I was just tired of the...
The people of Costa Rica call themselves Ticos, an affectionate nickname originally derived from the diminutive suffix ic. The term, Gringos is not quite as uniformly affectionate, but in and of itself is not derogatory and is widely used in Costa Rica for North...
October 18, 2014 It was Sunday morning. Slow. Quiet. No plans. Perfect. After making coffee and feeding the animals I made my way to my computer thinking I’d continue where I left off yesterday on Chapter 22. Suddenly – a loud bang! I walked to the open front door and...
Moving Forward – 5 Months After Sunday, August 10 marks five months since Frank passed. I am moving forward which means I’ve come to understand Frank’s presence in my life in a new and different way. Some days are still painful and others are beautifully...
I woke early, near 4 a.m. and knew immediately that it was an anniversary morning – six months from that indelible morning when my life changed more deeply, more profoundly than any other life event I’d experienced. Frank did not wake up that morning. The weeks...
Flash, my valiant and brave African Senegal parrot passed away silently during the night a little while ago. He wasn’t ill and was in very good spirits the evening before – even lowering his head for me to gently rub – our usual way to interact affectionately....
The house began in lively conversation and two pieces of paper with a pencil in Frank’s hand and a pen in mine at my kitchen table. Our combination of abilities worked beautifully – my expertise and training in architecture and Frank’s spatial...
6 weeks after Frank’s death Today was my most difficult grief day so far – 6 weeks after Frank passed. The darkened clouds gathered early in the morning – and the day went along – cloudy and somber. It was feria day (market day) and I found I was feeling afraid...
Woke up feeling the enormity of the date. April 10, 2014 The 10th. One month ago, on March 10 Frank passed in the early morning hours. I still have not put his clothes away or thought what I will do with them, really. I know that will come. But not quite yet. I still...
I heard Frida’s single bark sometime around 4 in the morning and I responded with a quick, ‘Quiet, Frida’… I didn’t want her to wake Frank. This was to be the first day of my week long Costa Rica workshop and as I turned over,...
February 2014 Written by Claudia Michael after the workshop with Jan in Costa Rica, February, 2014. I had a wonderful customized three and a half days with EcoTico Tours aka Francisco. Day 1 We drove to Arenal and stayed at the cleanest B&B owned by...
