Musical Blessings

Sitting on the porch of our Costa Rica apartment, I can hear the music of the jungle that surrounds us.  The soothing sound of the waterfall splashing into the pool provides a background timbre to the sounds coming from the dense jungle.  Intermittently a howler monkey sings out in a rich baritone, perhaps warning others of the sighting of a noisy truck traveling the dusty main road in the distance. Birds chirp and coates squeak rounding out the sound of the chorus.

One day I attracted the attention of a bold but beautiful blue bird who smelled some of my homemade carrot-pineapple cake.  He flew in and took a sample from my outstretched hand and in one hour brought back his friends who he must have bragged to about the sweetness of the cake.  At least six of them gathered in trees within an arm’s reach.  I was amazed at the speed to which news of this cake was broadcast by one of the jungle’s most cunning food critics.  I believe these are the same blue feathered gangsters who once hounded customers of the best sandwich and homemade ice cream shop in this little town.  No sooner did the sandwich reach the table than one of the noisy birds would swoop down, grab a big portion of the meal, and fly off just out of reach of the angry, shocked customer.  Then, in a mocking defiance, share his loot with the other gang.  Eventually Robin, the owner, began losing too much money replacing meals. So she told me that she had to forbid the bandits from ever sharing another meal or the tree branches that shaded the tables from the hot lunch-time sun.  Robin did not reveal her method of expulsion other than to say, “The birds and I had a lengthy discussion and they wisely departed for the jungle.”  Knowing their boldness I am not encouraging them with any more food during their daily visits to bathe in the waterfall.  I realize it wouldn’t be long before they would be knocking on my kitchen door.

Like most of the surfers and visitors to Playa Guiones, we are enjoying many sunsets that bring everyone down to the sandy shoreline at five each evening.  But none have been as wonderful as the one we all experienced on 12-12-12.  The energy on the beach was electric.  Pastel colors danced across the sky and guided the last surfer through the curl of a wave and onto the deep purple shadows of the beach.  Sebastian held court with anyone who stopped to admire his bubbly personality, while his parents and grandmother enjoyed the attention and smiled proudly.  

Evening entertainment starts early here in the jungle where howler monkeys call revelry before sunrise.  It seems that each restaurant has musical entertainment on one special night a week so there is something happening somewhere each night.  Richard has made small entries into these evening events by intermittently singing with one of the bands.  It is obvious, by the smile on his face, that singing, to an appreciative crowd, is where he belongs.  Even Sebastian is entertained by Richard in what we call his music lesson.  Just one strum of the guitar stops any cranky noise coming from Sebastian who immediately turns his attention to listen and watch as each cord is produced.  On one occasion Sebastian even joined in to sing backup on one of the songs. 

The weather here is pleasant with warm mornings, hot mid-afternoons and cool evenings that often require a blanket for sleeping.  Just before the heat of the day we are reduced to laughing children as we splash through and over warm salt water waves.  Some of the waves, if we are lucky, carry us all the way to the beach.  We have ridden the quad on dusty, bumpy roads to a beach called Osteonal where large populations of turtles come to nest each month.  We rescued one little guy from certain death by taking him out of the hot, black sand.  Due to a very low tide we had to carry the baby a long distance to the water’s edge where we gently released it into the water to catch a wave.   Only 1-2% of these little guys make it to adulthood.  With any luck he/she will return right back where to where it was born to start the cycle over again.  

There are an abundance of blessings in this part of the world.  When it isn’t too hot I have found cooking provides me a creative outlet. Tuesday’s organic market provides most of the wonderful inspirations for many meals.  Friendly local gringos, assimilating into the Costa Rican lifestyle, have welcomed us to parties and other social gatherings.  We are surrounded by nature where the wild inhabitants of the jungle allow us a peek into their life as we sit on the periphery of their home.  Right now I can see a humming bird sipping nectar from beautiful, red hibiscus flowers. A red squirrel, having taken careful notes, learns to hang upside down to share some the sweetness.

When I reflect upon the past eight months any sadness about the past or worry about my future quickly dissipates into a smile when I see nature at work or hold my grandson in my arms. I am grateful and feel lucky as I listen to the music of the jungle mixing with words sung by my personal musician, “Wait a little while, as soon as you no longer try you’ll find it standing right there by your side.   Just forget it, when you let it, It will come to you.” (Kenny Loggins)