"Spirit of the wind carry me. Spirit of the wind carry me home. Spirit of the wind carry me home to myself. "
                                                                                                             -unknown author

At 1:20 a.m. June 14, 2011, I gaze down from 35,000 feet to see the forest of Arizona aglow. Far to the right, the orange, yellow blaze is easily spotted. It looks as though a ceremony is taking place in a heart-circle. The dark of night brings this massive fire into my field of vision for the first time.

Many hours later, my pupils adjust to the deep blue sea - the Caribbean Sea. I know in my soul that I am HOME! Green mounds protrude out of the sea, reaching for the sun. Small white foam peaks churn from the coral reefs below. A rich variety of blue sea touches the shore and yet, it seems to go on forever. The tropics...

Good friends greet us and it is good to be home. Harald is our taxi driver and it is reassuring to see him and the monster truck that is our transportation. Weaving through the streets on the opposite side of the road is a change along with Harald'sdriving style. Somehow we "squeeze" into a parking spot and barely emerge from the vehicle.

With the luggage on the dock, I shimmy into the shade of a bush. Harald and Beth are in the store cooling off and purchasing a few necessities. I see a dinghy approach - a woman and her dog. I wave knowing that it is Zona and Dude... our second wave of transportation. Zona quickly realizes that Dude will become an unruly passenger and she heads back to drop him off. Following the wake, I watch her return to my home island. I see the cottage where I will be resting tucked into the palms of the hillside. I smile to myself knowing that I truly belong here. Maybe not permanently, but certainly in spurts.

A red and white golfcart is the last vehicle to take us to our home. Zona and Beth tote a cart filled with groceries and I pull our bags behind me. It's a bit like going back in time and my heart sings. After a short visit we are off to the beach to soak up the water that nurtures my soul. I swim out to visit my sea friends. It feels as though I have dropped into an aquarium... AHHHHH....

Friends tell me that I am a good example for them... that I do things with ease. This place takes me to a whole new level of mellow. The first morning I look in the mirror and I see a new ME... a softness. It is refreshing to see.

Beth said that the Caribbean brings out the blue in my eyes. Being surrounded by the deep blue, light blue, and clear blue I'm fairly certain that she is correct.

Spirit of the wind has carried me home. I hope it does the same for you - just remember to spread your wings or adjust your sails. Be well... Nancy T.