I landed a few days ago in Leon Mexico at 6am. After packing a repacking my bags I realized as I walked out into the morning dawn I had overpacked. I was told by some wise people packing for 4 months is the same as packing for 5 days. I now agree and will be shipping some things back to the states :) So part of this journey after spending many years of organizing people and there lives for a living I want nothing to do with it. So basically I have planned 3% of my trip…. As I walked out into the cool morning air the sun not yet rising the HOLY FUCKING SHIT what the heck am I doing hit me……. It was not like other airports I had been in with tons of cabs and people trying to get you into there's nope, NADA. I started to panic for a minute mostly due to lack of sleep for almost 30 hours and I had to much stuff. After spending 5 minutes outside pondering my life and all my mistakes I took a deep breath asked the universe to please help me out and headed back to the into the airport. I thought lets try this again with a better attitude….. I did a loop meet a young man with a guitar and told him lets find a cab to share. Walked out the door once again and this time an old beautiful man with a huge smile grabbed my bags we bargained for 2 minutes and off we went to San Miguel De Allende. Not only did I have some faith but Juan was such a joy and beautiful spirit who giggled at my broken Spanish. We drove around lost for over 30 minutes once we got to town but the whole time he said " no problema Anna, no problema" . Once I spotted Dawn and her adorable 6 month pregnant belly we unpacked my bags and I gave my new friend a nice tip and he hugged me like we where family. Thank you Universe and Juan.
Dawn unlocked the door to a beautiful house, amazing gardens a rooftop for yoga and the most simple oh so cozy place I could have asked for. I was "home," I collapsed for the rest of the day after a great talk with lovely Dawn. The next day I set out to explore this place with my broken Spanish and walking shoes. The day was overcast and very peaceful, this place reminds me more of Europe like the small villages in Italy. So many retired people with little dogs, so maybe a little like Florida also :) I needed to find Spanish classes and I was bound and determined to do it old school by word of mouth! As my feet walked along the beautiful stone roads my eyes where filled with so many things, kids in uniforms, woman sweeping the streets, men washing cars, Lady's in their high heels walking the cobble stone streets (amazed) the smell of morning. I decided to walk into the art school and start there for classes. The building is a few blocks long, so old and filled with history, art and artisans. I passed by a studio and my eyes where drawn to a beautiful painting. I stared for a moment and a man appeared, " passa le porfavor" I hesitated but my feet did not. I met Renee a local artist who was born and raised in San Miguel. He was soft spoken , easy to understand and smelled of sandalwood. He helped me with my broken Spanish and after 30 minutes of conversation I realized I did not forget everything I had learned. We talked about Art, life , traveling…. He told me about his friend who teaches Spanish above his art gallery in the Centro. I smiled and thanked him for showing me his art and the information he smiled and responded" thank you for showing me your kind eyes and open heart. " I had made a new friend. The rest of the afternoon I explored went to the organic market and met Lucia who loves to tell you about juice. Later on I met Dawn and we went to pick up her son Phillip from the bus. He is 5, attends the waldorf school here , when he speaks spanish with his bright blonde hair you just melt. The next day Dawn invited me to come with her to met her midwife Alison and see what she does. What some of you don't know is I am traveling to meet teachers, mentors who are natural healers. Alison has been a midwife for over 30 years, she grows all of her herbs and tinctures for the woman and children she works with. What a blessing, to describe this in words is a bit difficult for me. The path to her home is filled with incredible smells, the flowers are amazing, it feel like something inside of a plant/flower book. You walk into her home and can feel the power she holds. There is nothing simple about this house. The art is breathtaking, the smell of incense is burning, a spot an owl wing, drums, photos it feels like something out of Harry Potter but better. We walk up two stories as Alison opens the door we climb a small outdoor stairway to what almost looks like a treehouse, this my friends is her office!!! I was biting my cheek as not to scream I can't believe I am here, I have dreamed of places like this. We walk into a room that is so cozy you feel you have lived there forever. No florescent lights, no Dr. office smell just cozy. We all sit down with tea as Phillip plays with her wooden dollhouse and we talk baby's. Dawn was kind enough to let Alison explain everything she was doing, I sat wide eyed in awe at how little I know as a woman about child birth. I kneeled down next to Alison as she took me step by step in finding the baby's head in the belly. My heart swelled at what a miracle life is. I missed my dear friend Jill as she to is pregnant and I wanted to be this close to her. As we listened to the heartbeat Alison explained how to hear the baby's heartbeat and the heart beat of the mother in the placenta. She told Dawn this is the closest you will ever be to your baby, you are one. My eyes swelled up as motherhood came knocking at my heart. It was an epic afternoon. I asked Alison if I can come volunteer in her shop in helping make herbs and pretty much follow her around because woman life her are so rare and needed. What a blessing! So my friends if you kept up this long thank you for reading. I am curled up on my futon bed listening to the crickets sing me a lullaby and smile at how this journey so far has begun. I start Spanish lessons this week, will meet Renee to learn more about art and practice my Spanish, work with herbs and go to a thai boxing class with my new friend India, Alison's daughter. Remember your mothers for a minute as you feel your heartbeat, it's where it all begin. Cheers xxx
