sunshine and others these days are intense. In a week of periodic headaches (my past MC will remember): re-negotiating an entire project with the government, talking to all my local VPs, hearing about dozens of projects, ideas, thoughts, solving problems, worrying about budgets.
I received a long-awaited email from a friend yesterday, telling me about his life in the village he grew up in, teaching, creating a house with his mind and hands, sharing the intricate stories of neighbours and family.
It made me think, yesterday sitting on a bus back from the meeting in the presidencia. It made me think about the choices I have made that have taken me here, and about what I am doing here. The endless challenges, the breathless months, days in rows in weeks in months and so on.
And about the choices he has made to stay close to his roots, and to explore them and his beliefs.

It seems like I am always out there, enjoying the rush, the adrenaline. He is more on the inside, introspecting, noticing small changes that I am either to fast or to busy for.

I am thinking about the choices I could have made to lead a life like his, close to the rythm of the seasons, the pulse of nature, working with my hands as much as my mind. Time for reading thinking writing, much more than now. Close to the sea, sailing maybe, barefoot, collecting blueberries (as we did, some seven years ago). I know it would suit that part of me that few know.

But here I am. With my name and fingerprint on a contract for a flat overlooking the mountains east of 1st street, the keys in my pocket. With experiences that I once dreamed of, with the nostalgic memories of friends scattered over the globe, learning every second of the day the way it should be. Fitting that other part.

Bogotá was glowing with sunshine yesterday, today all of Chapinero was without electricity as trees fell on electricity cables.  ¶ 2:26 AM