Flight to Miami Music Conference... Mmm

The cutting down of what was... my 'elegant' tree. Nothing lasts forever.

"You understand why I feel good..." were the lyrics to an Aretha Franklin song I was listening to, lying on a white rounded bed, on the rooftop of a villa with views stretching from the magnetic rocks of Es Vedra in the Mediterranean Sea to the islands on our left.  The sunsets here are magical. Then again, the sunset... anywhere... is magical.

In this new phase of my life, there was an element missing to help fulfil my wishes.  I would wake up every morning to meditate. However, before I knew it, I'd be checking messages on the Blackberry; followed by fresh lime, and honey in hot water before checking emails...  I tell you this modern computer technology has changed our lives - drastically! I'd grown up watching black and white TV, with no satellite or mobile phones... This just goes to show how quickly time seems to pass these days! 

To cut a long story short... (Or not!) It wasn't happening - until one day a couple of weeks ago. I'd been at home doing some paperwork when my good friend Troy dropped in for a light lunch. I went to fetch my phone from my bedroom when I noticed the tree, which had been the on-and-off focus of my meditations. I had watched it grow into the majestic beauty of a... what I would call an elegant tree... which now, was being taken down by four men in protective hats. The one climbing it was cutting the large branches skilfully with a large, power saw. 

The last time I meditated in front of this precious view of the tree, I had said my goodbyes. And now it was being taken away from sight, perhaps. But I can still see the tree standing in front of me, as though it had never left my sight.

After that episode was over, I was ready to leave for my meeting. As I was about to leave for my meeting... on time, for a change... My mobile phone rang with a familiar sound from the past. It was Janine calling me by mistake, dialling my name instead of the one below. I used to attend meditation and spiritual talks given by yogi leaders, at her place some ten years ago. When we both noticed what had happened, I told her: "Janine, you have no idea what your call means to me. You're my angel today."

"How are you Haldita? There's a talk this evening by our great yogi about 'Are you feeling good?' She said.
"Darling thank you. I won't be able to make it. In fact, I haven't been feeling too good. But it's only a few days since the antibiotics finished... Again... And I feel stronger than I've been in a while." I spoke with tears welling up in my eyes as I realised the reason she was calling me.

Her next question to me after asking about the family was: "Are you meditating?"
Wow... I thought. "Darling, you just said the most meaningful thing that anyone could have said to me right now... Meditating. That is the only element missing in my life to help me through the next phase. No. I haven't been recently, but I am definitely starting tomorrow. Thank you... thank you."
Janine went on: "Start with 5 minutes my dear. You don't need to think 20 minutes."

And hence, I began again my meditation which without having to go through much detail, simply helps me to feel better and make more productive moves towards my future and get closer to turning my dreams into reality.

Now let's go back to company... to good companions, great ones and amazing ones! My recent friendships have all started in the most unlikely places! When we live a free life and let destiny take its course and let our sense of adventure and love of life take us where it pleases: follow some; let others follow you; let connections with people of any age, race, colour or religion become as easy as one, two, three. It is from these encounters that we learn to grow in spirit.

I met Lola through a good, mutual friend some four years ago. We connected from the first moment we met. She was young, statuesque and seemed very enthusiastic about the positive changes to be made by humankind. After spending some time together and getting better acquainted, she kindly invited me to join her and two other friends on an adventure.

We all met at the airport having missed our first flight. And so we boarded the next plane where our adventure began.

We had not taken any notice of the seat numbers seeing as they were the last tickets on that flight and we were happy enough just to be getting on board. As we stepped onto the aeroplane, my seat was on the first row, next to a fit, young Frenchman: Pierre. Lola and Hanna, wild and funky, were seated directly behind me. While Sharon, friendly and full of life, was recovering from previous nights out and sat happily in a row further down. They were all some years my junior. We were all from different parts of the world and yet we bonded as sisters going on a trip that would be fresh in our minds every time we each think about it.

Pierre seemed very pleased to see me, smiling down at him waving that boarding pass in my right hand as I said facing him: "And I believe that's my seat."
"Hello," Was Pierre's response with a naughty smile.
Good start, I thought.
So I settled into my seat next to him and continued: "Vous êtes français alors?"
"You guessed well and you speak with such a good accent." Was his reply.
Such a French charmer were my thoughts and I love it. When we are younger, a guy who pays us compliments is a 'bullshitter'. But as we get older, a compliment is lovely to hear.  Why not let someone tell you something that would make you feel good about yourself?  
I always say... Darling, if this is bullshit, then by all means, carry on! Haha

The plane was delayed by two hours which allowed Pierre and I to connect rapidly whilst ordering champagne and drinking it like grape juice.

Every now and then I looked back to see how the girls were doing, they must have heard our laughter from the front, as Hanna would direct her look towards Pierre's seat as if to say: "He's fit." And they would both be telling me: "You bitch... It had to be you sitting next to him. Could have been any one of us!" As we all laughed, I raised an eyebrow.

"C'est la vie, I guess." Was my response.

The aeroplane finally took off, by which time Pierre and I had become best buddies and we were flirting and having a whale of a time. At one point, after the lights had been dimmed I opened my eyes to see... well, I had just woken up... Pierre facing me quite closely while holding hands!! I pulled back in surprise and let go of his hand, only to remember how the first few hours of that journey had begun. I couldn't help but laugh at myself... yep again! How wonderful life can be... Actually, life is beautiful and it is all about those special moments spent with fun company. Aretha rocks!

Now... That was just the beginning of this story! Next came the waiting in customs at our port of arrival where two of us got held back for questioning... Now even that turned out to be funny! Till we meet again... Nite nite! And may our love be spread with each step we take.

The photos of Es Vedra, by day and by sunset and the islands from afar.