Pura Vida + Solstice = Mas Sol

What a wonderful weekend full of SUN.

Friday night I hosted the 12th annual hanukah party potluck. While there was no live Klezmer music this year (the musicians are Juniors in college-and one was in India!), the highlight of this year's event was family. My dad, my grandma, and my new neice Ava. Dad made the latkes, grandma made new friends, and Ava made great faces at all the guests.

I got to spend Saturday with this family, the matriarch of kick-ass leading the way, rolling along, and full of laughter, "I can't get over it!" she'd exclaim when Ava smiled, burped, or my dad fed her a bottle. "You're a grandpa!" she laughed at my dad.

I skyped with Matteus late in the evening, and then stayed up nearly all night to finish the cleaning up, and the packing up. I crawled into bed at 2, woke at 3:30 jumped in the shower and was off in the shuttle at 4.

When I settled into my seat on the Alaskan flight to Pheonix, it was if my mom was there doing her Jewish geography thing. I said hi to the 4th grader next to me, and then talked to her dad Jeremy. Turns out, they are across the street neighbors with Emilie, my colleague, and also teachers! We took a selfie and texted it to Emilie who replied, "Is this a Jewish pilgrimage to Costa Rica?! have fun" I got to share stories of Owen, and monkeys and sloths with this great seattle family.

I fell asleep at least three times drinking a cup of tea on the second flight. I needed that rest. Arriving in Costa Rica, clearing immigration and customs, I saw my name on a sign with my transport company. I remember how when I arrived last time my name sign said Jessica LeBine. This time it said Jessica C Lev. Of course, I thought of Lev Goertzel-Mann, as I certainly will when I get to Monteverde later today.

I slept well at the Adventure Inn, and woke to sun on a orange wall with pink bourgenvilla flowers--such a tropical sight. I went downstairs to my included breakfast--a host of fresh fruits, many of which I've only had here before. pineapple, papaya, sandia (aka watermellon), passion fruit, guava, durian, and bananas. I ordered a tico breakfast--eggs and gallo pinto--yum!

happy solstice--I'm wearing shorts, sandals, and sun glasses.

pura vida.