I spoke with Maan Di, my friend on the North Carolina mountain.
Maan Di's one of those rare souls who lives every moment fully. Born in the in-between of California and Mexico, she became, naturally, a bible translator/missionary to Africa. And married a man named Sven, who was raised in a Jewish commune. She, Sven, and their little one wandered off one night, leaving the Lone Star State for a mountain in a land known more for its beaches. Maan Di's the name given to her during a naming ceremony in an Asian country. She prefers it to her American name, which is far too cute for the earth mother she has become.
She said she has great respect for me, which staggers and humbles.
Today, a gift came in the mail from Jan who prefers the solitude of her personal cave.
She and her partner met in a scuba diving class in the middle of a completely landlocked urban area. Jan reads voraciously, buried contentedly by mountains of books lining her bedroom walls. Such a hippie rebel, she and her partner waited until her 40s to have kids. The boys went opposite directions for college; now, she attends to her partner through Parkinson's.
And dealing with that, she thought to send me a gift.
These women are my shelter, even though miles separate us. And in the middle of a land full of customs and thoughts I don't understand, I give thanks and feel at rest.
Maan Di's one of those rare souls who lives every moment fully. Born in the in-between of California and Mexico, she became, naturally, a bible translator/missionary to Africa. And married a man named Sven, who was raised in a Jewish commune. She, Sven, and their little one wandered off one night, leaving the Lone Star State for a mountain in a land known more for its beaches. Maan Di's the name given to her during a naming ceremony in an Asian country. She prefers it to her American name, which is far too cute for the earth mother she has become.
She said she has great respect for me, which staggers and humbles.
Today, a gift came in the mail from Jan who prefers the solitude of her personal cave.
She and her partner met in a scuba diving class in the middle of a completely landlocked urban area. Jan reads voraciously, buried contentedly by mountains of books lining her bedroom walls. Such a hippie rebel, she and her partner waited until her 40s to have kids. The boys went opposite directions for college; now, she attends to her partner through Parkinson's.
And dealing with that, she thought to send me a gift.
These women are my shelter, even though miles separate us. And in the middle of a land full of customs and thoughts I don't understand, I give thanks and feel at rest.
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