Aventuras de la Zorroluna

I solemnly confess that I used to hate my sister!   If you know my sister you are in shock right now. Hating her is nearly impossible to do.   My sister, with her gorgeous floppy curls and infectious smile, is one of the most loving, amicable, un-hateable human beings on the planet.  How could I possibly have had distain? My beloved sister Liz and I, 200 It was jealousy.   Vicious, visceral jealousy.   For her blue eyes.   Lizzy was the lucky one.   The only one with the ocean blue eyes of my late beloved Grandpa Albie.   My eyes, like my parents’, were poop-colored brown. I remember many a family event when a well-intentioned relative would nestle up to my sister and gush, “Elizabeth, you are just so beautiful with your big blue eyes.” I’d be off in a corner with my geography book, hoping no one noticed as I wiped my tears off of South America.   Thankfully, 20 years later, I can empathize but not identify with my form...

After my double red-eye extravaganza the nights before, my body happily awoke at 10am today.    I did a few sun salutations, then headed down the hill towards the beach for my morning run.  About halfway down, I saw a massive school bus parked in a cul-de-sac.  Lined up against the bus were crates of produce: sweet potatoes, pineapples, passion fruits, papayas.  And in case the customers weren't satisfied with the selection outside, the whole bus was full of produce as well.  I waved to the bananas in the dashboard and continued down to my beloved Copacabana beach. Post run I savored some yerba mate and a papaya smoothie, then headed out towards Ipanema to see my Brazilian bestie Paula.  Paula and met in the aura reading course in Piracanga back in 2016.  I love her and her magical spirit so dearly!  After a 2 minute hug, we looked up at the cloudy sky and laughed. "You always bring in the crappy weather, Jen!"  It was true! ...

My long-long-long awaited odyssey to Brazil began on the full moon Monday night when my generous friend Lorenzo picked me up in his SUV limo and drove me to SFO. Best birthday present ever.  As we passed by South San Francisco and I glimpsed the first airport signs, I began to shutter.  What?  Was this really happening?  This was the journey to South America, that I've dreamed of for 5 years! Each August for 5 years, my stomach would clench as I prepared my classroom for the arrival of hundreds of the cranky high school students I so loved.  But not this year!  My trip was really happening and it felt bitterSWEET.  30% bitter:  leaving my beloved Oakland and my friends,  family, and boo. But oh my god I was going to Brazil for 4 months!!!!!  I began to beam, a facial expression that stuck with me for at least 60% of my 32 hours of travel. Having picked the cheapest ticket possible, my journey to Rio involved 3 Avianca flights.  ...