March is here and that marks the time for the start of dry season which can be challenging because something always seems to go wrong with the pump in the village. Last year, it took five weeks to fix because they had to order some part from Guatemala which took for ever to be delivered. The villagers have to go down to the river to bathe, which is actually very cooling since it is the hottest time of the year. We have a big plastic tank which holds 2500 liters of water which flows in from the gutter when it rains. Hopefully this will be enough to get us through if we use it sparingly.

There are for the first time fruit on our mango tree which is so exciting because they are my all time favorite fruit. I could live on them. I can taste the sweet juice filling up my mouth and the excess flowing down my cheeks. I think my blood pressure went up a notch just thinking about it.

Marlene’ parents arrived on the March1st and will stay till the 29^th. It’s their first time to Belize, and she is very excited they are here. We took them to La Ruta Maya which is the annual river race that starts in San Ignacio and finishes in Belize City over the course of 4 days. It’s always exciting to see everyone at the start point and wonder who will cross the finish line. The race starts at 7a.m. in the morning, but there are opening ceremonies that include a Mayan sunrise pray and blessing where the beautiful smell of copal floats on the air asking the river Gods for safe journey for all the paddlers. Teams come from all over the world including Britain, Canada, Europe, U.S. and Latin America.

On a sadder note, a friend of ours son committed suicide on the day before they had planned to renew their wedding vows, so things have been a little crazy for all of us here. On the way to their place we smell burning in the car and then the engine cut out followed by loud hissing noises. You guessed it! Our radiator hose burst half an hour before we had to be at the church. We ran around trying to find parts and a mechanic and be the time we got to the church, the service had just ended. Anyhow it was better it happened then than at night in the middle of nowhere so go gratitude!! When a death occurs, family and friends really pull together to get everything done. At the wake everyone gathers, and helps in what ever way they can. One group was making wreaths out of paper, while and was cooking and helping to clean. People brought pop and food and anything they felt was needed, and another went to buy the coffin. There are no funeral homes here. The coffin was loaded onto a pick up truck, and the whole procession walked from the church, through the centre of town to the burial area on the outskirts where the person is finally laid to rest. There is something very powerful and acknowledging about everyone walking the person to be buried to their resting place. A final tribute.

It’s been a week since the funeral and my friends have asked me to be involved in a portion of the repeating of their wedding vows ceremony. I am letting spirit speak to me to come up with something that will be memorable and symbolic. Life is Beautiful Blessings from Ocean Spirit Fire Temple in Cristo Rey Village surrounded by many, many Pyramids of the Mayan Dynasty of Belize. Winsom