Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays, everybody!
It really is the season of light around here--you should see the way they dress up the plaza mayor.
Yeah, they've got this silly fake tree with a huge green pipe for a trunk--
Well, I think it's kinda cute, even if it is kinda tacky.
You never did have much taste, Brown Bear!
That's not a very generous, Christmasy spirit, Honey Bunny! Maybe you're unhappy because Mom and Did didn't give us any presents.
It's true. I am disappointed.
Well, they had a hard time feeling Christmasy this year, what with Paca's death....
Gee, I guess you're right. I shouldn't have been so selfish.
Listen to you, Honey Bunny! I guess you've learned something after all.
I have, I have! I remember the Christmas Carol and Scrooge and I don't want to be that way!
Right you are. There are more important things than presents. Like love and friendship.
You are SO right, Brown Bear! We wish you a happy holiday--
And lots of light!

The Passing of Paca

Mom's feeling sad.
Her "Spanish mom" just passed on.
Paca was 82 years old.
She'd been doing poorly all summer, and last month they finally diagnosed that she had an aggressive brain tumor.
Mom's really feeling sad.
Want to talk about it, Mom?
I really loved Paca. I've known her since 1981. I decided to do my fieldwork based in Sahagún because she and her family (her husband Sergis and the kids, Piedad and Pedro) were so welcoming. When I moved here in 1982 with Jesse (he was 12), they took us in and helped make everything happen very easily. I would spend days visiting with Paca, hearing stories about how things used to be, her family, growing up with a widowed mom, struggling--I think she left school in 3rd grade to help with the family. She was SO full of life and enthusiasm--and stories! She was to "go-to" person in Sahagún if someone wanted to know about the history of the town, long ago or more recent.
She was really something, huh?
She was. See the photo of her dancing at the hermitage in April with her daughter? She was still walking to the Virgen del Puente hermitage outside of town (3 miles, round trip) this summer. She would welcome pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago and give them her famous galletas de hierro (a kind of pizelli cookie) and orujo.... She was SO vital and friendly!
And her kids adore her. To see how they have been caring for her in the hospital--such a close, loving family. I think most of us have no idea what it's like to be so close--Paca was still cooking and eating or visiting with or working with one of her kids every day--even though the kids are in their 50s! And Piedad's kids still slept in her apartment on weekends. The irony is, we came back to live in Sahagún because Paca was here.... Such a loss. I miss her greatly. I'll never forget her saying, "We burned the monastery!", referring to an event that happened in Sahagún in the early 1800s....
We're sorry, Mom.
Yeah, we really are. I guess it really is hard being alive. You die.
You said it.
But on the other hand, you get to live.

All aboard the Transcantábrico!

Mom says we should just go to bed, now that we're back from our luxurious Transcantábrico train ride along northern Spain, but I just can't go to sleep without sharing our adventures with our adoring public!
Honey Bunny, I think Mom's right.
Who's side are you on? After all, we had such a good time, so much to tell people--
Okay, okay, just get on with it.
Well, in fact, much of it was kinda boring. Mom wouldn't let us out to meet anyone except the wait-staff until the very last day--she said she didn't think the Spaniards on the trip would understand about us.
Boy was she wrong!
I know--we had a rave reception when we were let out of the bag!
Indeed.
But we had a great time anyway, didn't we?
Indeed.
I mean--that luxe bedroom at the 5-star Parador of Los Reyes Católicos in Santiago de Compostela.... with a canopy on the bed.
It was a 500-year-old pilgrims' hospital. Really posh.
I do like posh. And then we had our own private compartment on the train. They called it a sweet. And it was!
You mean a suite. Actually, it was Mom and Dad's. But they share it with us. And it wasn't a suite. It was a cabin with a bathroom.
The website called it a suite.
It sounded better that way. But it was very nice. And the bathroom shower was also a steam shower and a massage shower!
We got to watch some gorgeous countryside roll by. Mom put us next to the big window at the foot of the bed.
But we didn't get to sleep in bed with them.
There wasn't room. In fact, Dad couldn't quite stretch out all the way.... The train is a narrow-gauge train, and they could only make the cabin just so big and still have room for people to walk down the corridor. They did the best they could.
Good thing most Spaniards are shorter!
And the food was good.
How do you know?
I heard Mom and Dad moan and groan about how they ate so much they were gaining weight.
Yeah, they had a lot of fun. And Ana, the tour guide, was wonderful! That's her in the dark blue outfit, with dark hair and a big smile, holding us in the Hotel Londres in San Sebastián. 2nd photo from the top. Not only is she cute, but she speaks four languages: Spanish, English, French, and German.
Simultaneously.
Sequentially.
Whatever. Maybe it is time to go to bed....

Mineral Baths, Reincarnation, etc.

Well, Mom and Dad have been SO remiss!
You betcha!
I mean, eight days on the road--trains and cars and--
A great trip to Catalonia. But no update on our blog!
And now they're getting ready to go somewhere else again. Don't they ever stop?
Looks like not. Mom saw this great deal on El Transcantábrico luxury train cruise along the coast of northern Spain--and Dad has always wanted to go....
So there they go. Off again. And what about US?
Well, indeed.
I mean, do we get new travel clothes, I ask you? No!
But we will have a private compartment with a big window, so we can watch the scenery pass by.
Hummph. I want new clothes. And admiration. And you heard them say they might not let us meet the other passengers. Really. I mean, what are we? Pariahs?
Well, you know, sometimes they walk a tightrope. They know that a lot of people don't quite understand about us.
What's not to understand?
Talking fuzzy kids? Time for a reality check, Honey Bunny.
I suppose you're right. It's just not that much fun for us, sometimes. Hidden away in a shopping bag or a backpack... Left in hotel rooms. When they spent a night at Caldes de Malavella VIchy Catalan Hotel Balneario, they didn't even bring our swimsuits!
They weren't planning to go to the hotsprings, Honey Bunny. Cut them some slack.
Only if they buy me new clothes!
They had a great time at the hotel--a fantastic dinner, bubbling mineral baths.... Mom says she wants to go back.
Mom always wants to go back to Catalonia. I wonder whether she lived there in a previous life....
What on earth are you talking about?
Transmigration of souls, silly.
Say what?
You know, the idea that souls lived before and then came back to this planet in another body.
You know, I think you're onto something. That explains a lot. Obviously, you were a clothes horse!

Halloween

Ho Ho Ho!
No, that's the wrong holiday, Silly! This is Halloween.
Oh. You're right. BOOOO!
Not that we look scary. Mom and Dad couldn't find any Halloween outfits for us in Sahagún.
Guess they don't celebrate 'Trick or Treat" here.
Guess not. It's more of a religious thing here. Tomorrow is Nov. 1 and that's a big day--All Saints' Day--and people go to the graveyard and decorate the tombs with flowers. Even though you'd think they'd do that on All Souls' Day, which is Nov. 2. It gets confusing. But then, I'm not Catholic.
One of Mom's Spanish friends said her mother-in-law had been visiting her father's grave for weeks.
Gee, what on earth did she do?
She washed and scrubbed it, that's what.
Oh. That's nice, I guess.... Humans are kinda weird.
You said it, Princess.
And they even eat "bones of the saints"--I guess they're like marzapan--
There's no accounting for taste.
I guess not.
You know, humans just have a weird relationship with death.
Not like us! We're not afraid! But then of course, we can't die....
Let's change the subject. Today in Sahagún is the Fería de San Simón. It's kinda an agricultural fair, with tractors and food tastings. Used to sell turkeys on the street, but the EU did away with that. Something about health regulations.
I tell you, it gets really weird around here sometimes.
Better to be fuzzy kids, don't you think?
I think! I tell you what, Brown Bear. I really like it when you play the bagpipes! So please, 'play it again, Sam'...
I'm not Sam.
I know. It's just an expression.
Okay. Here goes....

Brrr....It's fall!

Fall has come to Sahagún, all of a sudden!
Yes, just a few days ago I was still wearing my bathing suit--but now I'm dressed for cold.
It's all relative, of course. 'Cold' is 40° in the early morning, warming up to 60°.
Well, it feels cold. And the poor trees!
This year we've seen the entire cycle of what happens to the plane trees. Starting in spring, the trees branch out and spread to shade the plaza. Sometimes they even connect from one tree to another.
It's amazing how many big green leaves there are!
And then, when autumn comes, the workmen come along and cut them back, all at once.
They told Mom and Dad that this saves them from having to sweep up leaves. And it keeps the trees from blocking the view. But it seems pretty cruel to us. Poor trees.
But maybe they don't mind.
Really, Brown Bear! If you were a tree, wouldn't you mind being amputated every year for someone else's convenience?
Guess you're right, HB. Didn't realize you could be so empathetic.
I can be. Especially since our pilgrimage into the heart with Ferran. I've learned a lot about gratitude and appreciation of others.
Thanks, Ferran!

Back from the Camino

Hi, our patient and adoring public! We've just returned from an amazing journey with Ferran on the Camino de Santiago. We got lots of attention, and there were lots Chi Gong and 'natural geometry' drawing and meditation practices....
I can see it hasn't affected you too much, though, Honey Bunny. You're still the same old Honey Bunny.
Effusive, you mean?
Hmmmm. Since I've been learning about formlessness and original mind, and space, clarity, and well-being, I think it best not to reply.
Oh. You know, I was puzzled by the 8 Treasures practices. I kept looking for treasure but couldn't find any! Anyway, even so it was great.
It was. Walking in the Pyrenees on an old Roman Road that was the original Camino de Santiago over the mountains--not us, but Mom and Dad. We couldn't have made it. Our legs are too short.
And up into the mountains to Aguas Tuertas--oh my oh my! Mom showed us the photos.
And up steep hills to hermits' caves.... and stargazing and meditation and energy exercises. And purification practices. And visiting old churches along the way and learning the Inner Teachings. Or at least trying to. I've got a long way to go, being a bear and all....
Best of all, we got to ride in front ALL the time, on our "throne"--Ferran's backpack. When we weren't there right away, people even missed us and asked for us. I DO like to be adored!
It was a good trip. Reminded me of the Camino journey with Ferran and Mom last year--and with Lynn. Just want to say Hi, Lynn. I missed you! Hope you'll come next year with your fuzzy kid....
A new friend? What fun! I can hardly wait!
Dad's busy doing a DVD of the journey so they can share it with others. Gotta go now. Besides, I want to go meditate for a while. Feels good, you know, to smile down into the earth....
And Ferran taught us a practice that he says is like a mini facelift. That's MY kind of practice! Oh--Dad's going to post some of Mom's photos (she's getting really good!) of us. You see us sitting on the window ledge at the casa rural in Barbadelo, staring out the window, longing to go for a walk....
You are SO dramatic, Honey Bunny. And there are two photos of us with Dad and the group at the Playa del Rostro, where we looked formlessness in the face! (That's kind of an inside joke...Rostro is 'face' in Spanish....)
You are SO intelligent, Brown Bear. You stun me sometimes....
Thanks,I think. And guess what--they're going to go again next year with Ferran. I think in late May early June. If enough other people sign up.
Boy, they never stop, do they? Glad we get to go with them. They sure have an adventurous time! Bye for now----

Off for Another Adventure

Here we are ready to go on our new adventure to Barcelona and the Camino de Santiago.

Yes, and Mom found some new clothes for us to wear, so I'm happy.

You are pretty high maintenance aren't you HB?

Well, a girl always has to look her best you know.

How about "come as you are?"

Come as you are is not nearly good enough!

Whatever you say, HB.

And you didn't even notice Mom's spiffy new Celtic shirt, did you BB?

Ahem, . . .Well, of course I did. Pretty shirt, Mom. (Nice save, aye?)

Back for a Breather

Well,, it is about time! Our loyal fans have been waiting too long!
Now, Honey Bunny--you know how busy Mom and Dad have been. First Scotland. Then Catalunya.
Isn't that spelled Catalonia?
Depends on if you're Catalan or English...
Oh.
As I was saying--Catalunya—
But you're not Catalan. That's pretentious!
No it isn't. I'm trying to honor the Catalans. PULEESE let me continue.
Okay.
Catalunya, and then Galicia, and then Barcelona for a weekend Chi Gong intensive with Ferran, and now they're home, recuperating.
Yeah, Dad says that they forget they're just old fogies with young minds.
Which really burns Mom up! SHE says that you're as young as you feel--well, up to a point....
So back to us, Brown Bear. And the photos.
Right. The photos are us having a picnic of salmon cream cheese and an empanada near the holy well at San Andrés de Teixido in Galicia.
"Where if you don't go while you're alive, your soul will have to make the journey when you're dead!"
Yeah--as a bug or something. So nobody squashes bugs en route to San Andrés.
Humans sure do have weird beliefs, don't they, Brown Bear?
You said it, Honey Bunny.
Well, it was nice to get out and see the sights at San Andrés. We usually get stuck in the hotel room.
They let us out of the bag in the train, don't forget.
But what a train ride! It about did Mom in, taking the night train twice. Smells, noise, lots of movement--she was exhausted. Even though they had a private first-class compartment.
I heard her tell Dad, "Never again. Nunca jamás."
You said it.
No, she said it.
Whatever.
Well, all I can say is I'm glad we're getting a chance to catch up and rest for awhile. But not for long--Thursday they take off for Barcelona and then back on the Camino on a special esoteric study trip.
Walking?
No, Silly. With their friend Ferran and 3 other people, in a minivan.
Great! We'll get lots of attention, don't you think?
I think so. Dibs on riding in front!
Brown Bear!

Terror in the Night

"Oh dear oh dear! Last night was SO scary! I'm still all atremble."
"You're not kidding, Princess."
"I don't know what I would have done without you, Brown Bear. You're my hero."
"Well, I'm glad I've been practicing with my knife so I was able to draw it really fast."
"When those beasts came at us--I thought I would die!"
"Good thing we can't, Princess, or we might have."
"They were so big and ugly and fast--"
"And hungry. Don't forget that."
"It gives me the shivers to remember! I think I'll faint. If I could. I'm in your debt forever, Brown Bear."
"Thanks, Princess. Glad to be of service. And I'm also glad that Dad woke up and wondered what all the noise was about."
Dad: "Indeed I did. Around 4 a.m., I heard something really strange in the living room, like nails scratching on the wooden floor. I got up to check it out and two furry creatures dashed down the hallway, through the bedroom, and out the open window in the sunroom."
Mom: "Then I woke up and wondered what all the noise was about."
Dad: "It was cats. Two cats who had decided to explore our home."
Mom: "And the first thing I said was, 'Oh no--are the kids okay?!'"
Dad: "And then you ran out to the living room and they were just fine."
"That's because I defended us with my knife. They didn't dare get close!"
Dad: "I'm sure that's the case, Brown Bear."
"I felt so traumatized!"
Mom: "From now on, we'll only open the window at the top. Otherwise, who knows what else might decide to pay us a visit!"

Home from Scotland

Here we are back home from Scotland. I'm so happy to have my knife back! We left it behind because our parental units were afraid it would be confiscated by Airport Security. It is hot here in Spain so we had to strip down a little bit.

Yes, BB, I like your new summer kilt. It shows just enough leg and the bare (bear, get it?) top is most becoming.

I was a little embarrassed by all that skin showing, but I'm getting used to it.

You aren't showing skin, silly, we're fuzzy kids, remember?

Oh, I forgot for a moment. Speaking of showing it all, your sequined bikini is really sexy.

Do you think so, BB?

Well, I like your summer look. It is quite becoming. We do make a handsome, if somewhat mixed metaphor, couple don't you think?

What has meta . . . whatever it is have to do with it? You sometimes use pretty big words, BB.

Metaphor. That's like . . . well, its like . . . oh, never mind.

You explain things so well, BB.

Really? I thought I was at a loss for words.

Well, I'm never at a loss for words--even if I don't always know what they mean. Use it three times and it's yours--that's my motto.

Well, I'll leave it at that. We have to get ready to go to Barcelona tomorrow. The parental units just can't stay in one place for any length of time. Still, its going to be a great adventure.

And we'll be traveling with Boulder Anne. She is a good friend and understands us completely.

So its bon voyage all over again.

Oh, my heart goes pitter pat when you speak in French, BB.

Hmm, well, yes indeed. Ahem. Uh.... By the way, Feelie McCool, we are missing you! Send us a photo or a comment!

Leaving New Friends Behind

Here is our final posting from the tour of sacred sites in Scotland. We have found many new friends, including Feelie, and Hannah, who is holding us in this photo. We are sad to be leaving all these wonderful companions behind. It seems we have just gotten to know all of them and we have to say goodbye.

Yes, HB, I feel I have a new buddy in Feelie McCool. We had many great conversations in bars all across Scotland, not to mention nights in our hotel rooms.

And all the beautiful new clothes. Especially the new stole Hannah knitted for me.

And my new bagpipe, which Feelie and Mara gave me. It came in handy holding off wild animals in one of the hotels.

I'm just so, so sad. Parting is such sweet sorrow!

Don't be over dramatic, HB.

I'm not being over dramatic, I'm being literary.

Well, I wouldn't know about such things. We bears don't go in for literature, except for stories about our cousin Pooh.

We bunnies read a higher class of literature.

Whatever you say, HB.

New Stole

My new best friend, Hannah, saw how I was being deprived of my daily new clothes. She hand knitted me this lovely stole.

You say you stole it from someone?

No, silly, you know better than that! You're just trying to get a joke line in to take attention from my glorious garb. Mom even bought me a special pin to wear with it. I'm just beside myself with pleasure.

Well, HB, you are often beside yourself in one way or another.

You're just jealous, you silly bear.

What's Hannah holding? Looks like a lollipop.

That's my thank you gift to my new best friend--Hand made soap.

Hmm, I'll bet she is going to smell good tomorrow!

Animals!

Yikes! We're surrounded by all these wild animals. Some are just heads on the wall and some are in glass cases. Pretty scary!

It's OK, HB. They aren't alive (or even enlivened, like us). They are just the whims of some person who liked to have them around. I actually sort of like this guy behind us who looks like he just caught a fish. I can relate to that.

Well, I can't! I think they are creepy.

Well, as for me, I'd have to say that things have just gotten stranger and stranger since I hooked up with you guys. What do you think, Puffy?

I'm speechless. (And I hope that guy doesn't take a liking to me and put me in one of his glass houses.)

We will all have to stick together and protect each other. We'll make it through this scary place, you'll see. (I wish I had my trusty knife with me on this trip. Looks like it might have come in handy here.)

Oh, Brown Bear, you are my hero as always! (I think Feelie is pretty sexy, but there is nothing like the presence of a true friend in times like this.)

OK Fuzzy Clan, let's all pull together and watch each other's backs! We'll make it through this jungle. (What is that Bengal Tiger head doing up on the wall? Brrrr. Pretty creepy.) Maybe if I play a piping tune on my new bag pipes we can make it through this.

OK troops, Clan McFuzzy goes into battle led by Brown McBear screeing a tune on his pipes.

(Thanks, Feelie, for the great gift. You and your friend Mara are the greatest!)

McPuffin

Hey guys, how about a rousing rendition of Kitten on the Keys? Now that Puffy McPuffin is a member of the MacFuzzy Clan we can play it with six paws and two wings! Now that I've found my voice (thanks to a whole day of instruction from McBunny and McBear) I have so many ideas for us all.

Oh, you are sooo cool, Feelie! I can call you Feelie, can't I??

Sure, babe! Anything you say.

Well, don't give her too much encouragement. She can get out of hand.

This is all going way too fast for my bird brain to keep up.

Stick with us, kid. We'll get you up to speed in no time.

Feline McLouie

Hey Bud, how about a little nip of the single malt whiskey? It's on me!

Oh, you boys! Can't you find any better way to do male bonding than by drinking?

Well, we have to loosen Louie up a little bit and get him talking. You know how liquor loosens the tongue.

I'll bet I can get him to talk. Hey there, big boy, what'cha doing for the rest of the day? We have a neat pad here on Iona, and the parental units will be away all day. What do you say to that?

Meow!

Well, that's a start. Just get permission to visit us and we'll teach you a thing or two. By the way, your new kilt is smashing and sure beats that green sweater you've been wearing.

Meow?

OK, the sweater isn't that bad. And it is sure revealing, what with nothing on the lower quarters. Anyway, let's go to our room and get to know each other better.

Honey Bunny, you are shameless! I'm going to have to come along and chaperone or you guys will get in serious trouble. Oh, and by the way Louie, your new kilt that Mom made for you IS the cat's meow! (Cat's meow, get it??)

Meow!

That's better. Lets have another drink and split this joint. There is much to discuss once the parents leave.

We've Gone Native

Hey guys, look at my cool new kilt! Mom has outdone herself this time. I think my medicine bag/sporen is out of sight!

Well, BB, my adoring fans will notice that I don't have anything new to show off, but I do have a new name! HONEY McBUNNY!

And, of course, I'm BROWN McBEAR!

What do you all think of that?

We are having the best time ever here on the island of Iona. Our parental units even took us out for the morning tour of the abbey.

Well, they didn't let us out of the bag very much.

Maybe tomorrow. We hope that we get to see Louie again and make him part of the clan!

Here we are in Highlands of Scotland, a Scottish lassie and her Scots warrior. The tour so far has been everything we dreamed of, lots of attention from all the other people on the tour.

Yes, and one very nice lady actually knitted my headband for me. I hardly miss my knife at all.

And Mom found this wonderful plaid dress for me. Well, actually it was made from a cap, but Mom invented a way to turn it into a lovely frock. The only disappointment so far is that Louie (I think that is how he spells his name) is a bit standoffish.

He is a cat with a long tail and he rides up above in the luggage rack on the bus. He doesn’t appear to speak at all, but his long tail sometimes hangs down from above.

I hope he warms up a bit and comes down to visit with us. I’ve never been fond of cats, but I could make an exception for him I think.

You wouldn’t believe how beautiful the place we are staying is. We have a full view of the loch in front of the place.

I’ll ask Mom to take a picture of it to share with all our adoring fans.

New Stuff

At last at last! Mom FINALLY bought us new clothes!
Now Honey Bunny, she's been trying for months, but she couldn't find anything worthy of us.
At last at last! What do you think, Brown Bear?
I think you look--well, you look absolutely amazing! I'm speechless.
Thanks, I think! My swimwear goes with my ankle bracelets, doesn't it?
Indeed.
The only problem is, I don't know what Mom was thinking--we're in Scotland, not Mallorca! It's cold and rainy! I don't think I'll be swimming anywhere soon.
We are going to the islands, you know--Isle of Skye, Iona, Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides to see the Callanish Stones....
Oh. Maybe that's what Mom was thinking. But I still need more clothes--I can't meet the mystery guest in my swimsuit! It just wouldn't be proper.
What do you think of MY new outfit?
Cool, Brown Bear. A Manchester United backpack. You are just so cool! And you can carry my extra wardrobe accoutrements in it, can't you?
Well, actually, I was thinking about carrying fishing tackle and maybe a sleeping bag and an umbrella. For when I'm out in the wild, rugged mountains of Scotland.
That's just so rav, Brown Bear! Are we ready to go or what?! Let the journey begin!

We're on the Road Again

Here we are in beautiful Scotland. Well, at any rate, our parental units assure us it is beautiful. So far, we've been kept locked up in the hotel room. HELP!!!

Now Honey Bunny, you know you are always over-dramatic. We have been mostly in the room, but you remember that the maid played with us and we got out in the train station and on the airplane. And how about that beautiful picture Dad just took of us in the garden behind our hotel?

Well, maybe it isn't quite as bad as I said, but I want to meet everyone and be admired.

That will happen soon enough. We join our tour in a few days and then we'll be front and center. You will be universally admired and we'll have all the company we want--including a new "mystery" friend!

OK, but it better be soon or I'll pout.

You'll pout anyway, HB. I know you too well.

Here We Go!

We're all ready to take off to Scotland just as soon as our parental units can get their acts together.

Now Honey Bunny, you know that it takes a lot of planning to go on a trip that will last for over two weeks.

Not for me! I just ask Mom to pack all my stuff and I'm ready to go.

We do have a pretty easy life, don't we?

No! It's very hard not being admired all the time. I just long for admiration.

You just never get enough do you, HB? Isn't it enough that we have been issued a special invitation by David and Mara to join the Scotland tour? And isn't it enough that they have promised someone special for us to meet? And isn't it enough that all those new people will meet us and want to spend time with us?

That sounds good, but where is the admiration that I want today?

You'll just have to make do with my admiration for now.

Oh Brown Bear, do you really, really admire me?

Of course HB. You are my very best friend and constant companion.

And you are mine BB. We will soon be crammed together in Dad's backpack so close companionship it is. Take a good deep breath before he closes us in.

We don't breathe, HB.

Oh, I forgot for the moment. Well, gird your loins, as they say.

They do?

Well, somebody must. Off to Scotland and new clothes!

Well, it's about time!
I'd say! Almost 2 months since Mom or Dad took the time from their oh-so-busy schedule to write our blog! I guess we're just not important enough....
If you'd look at Dad's blog, http://havingfununtilidie.blogspot.com you'd see how busy they've been.
Yeah, but what are their priorities I ask you? Having fun or family relationships?!
I think we've complained enough.
No, Brown Bear. You don't get it. You can never be too rich, too thin, or complain too much!
Really? Says who?
I dunno.... Madonna? Paris Hilton?
Anyway, now we're getting ready to go to Scotland.
I want a cashmere sweater--
I'm hoping for a kilt. Dad says I have to leave my new knife behind so they don't confiscate it at security.
I'm sorry, Brown Bear.
Me too. I'll feel--well, I feel emasculated without my knife.
Gee, that's a big word. Is it the right one?
Not sure.
Change of topic, kids. Do you know you have a personal invitation from David and Mara to come on this trip?
Really?
That's so exciting!
In fact, David said they have someone they want you to meet.
Oh now I am really soooo excited! I can hardly wait!
Who could it be?
Don't know... But we'll let all of your avid readers know as soon as we do. If we can find wifi in the Highlands and islands.
What kind of a trip IS this? Into the hinterlands? The Dark Continent?
Hardly. We're going on a sacred-sites journey with Celtic Spirit Journeys. There will be 12 of us, plus David and Mara. We went with them to Ireland almost two years ago and it was fantastic. So this time, Scotland! And next year, Wales!
I remember them! We had so much fun.
We sure did. And I remember some of the other folks bought lambkins and other fuzzy kids en route.
That's right. They followed our example.
Well I just can't wait! I don't think I'll be able to sleep a wink until we get there.
Me either!

A Procession

Thanks, Mom, for writing a blog for us.

Well, it’s about time! Mom’s been busy helping write Dad’s blog and forgetting all about us.

Now, Princess, don’t be so demanding.

Why not? You don’t get much if you aren’t! Yesterday we went out for lunch with Celia Dollmeyer, a visiting American professor doing research on women on the Camino. That includes me, of course. And SHE wrote Mom an email saying we were SO well behaved we should get to go out more often. And the wait-staff at La Codorníz seemed to really like us.

You’re right. We should get out more often. But enough of that. Mom wants to tell about life in our small town.

That’s right. This morning we heard band music—drums and some kind of horn—and looked out our balcony. We saw folks dressed like shepherds dancing with staffs around the plaza. They were leading a procession, followed by the band and then the Cofradía de Jesús Nazareno carrying a flower-covered paso of San José. He’s the patron of the brotherhood.

Living on the plaza is a real experience in small-town Spanish life. We sure are lucky!

It is indeed amazing how much pageantry there is in this little town of 2500 people. And there was our friend Paca, the matriach of the Luna-Tovar family! She's the short woman in the dark skirt and red sweater in the second photo, standing on the sidewalk, looking at the paso.

Mom went downstairs to learn more and ran into an acquaintance, who told her the Association of Pastores (Shepherds) of Joarilla de Las Matas were the folks wearing sheepskins and dancing with their staffs. Apparently it’s a traditional Leonese custom in that village.

Leonese? LIONS? OH NO!

Not lions. Leonese--the adjective for people of the province of León, named after the Legio Septimo, the Roman Seventh Legion, based here nearly 2000 years ago.

Well, that's a relief! Though I'm sure Brown Bear would have kept us safe if there had been lions! And we’ve got the PRIMO location, with a balcony on the plaza mayor!

We sure our having fun. But I hope we get out more often, now that Celia has encouraged Mom…. Just listening to the murmur of the crowd down below us makes me want to get out and dance!

Really, Brown Bear?

Really. You've heard of dancing bears, haven't you?

You are full of surprises!

An Outing (We Guess)

Our good friends, German and Peggy invited us out to a fair yesterday. We rode in the front seat with them and enjoyed the countryside.

But, we didn't see any of the wonderful sights that they talked about. Pooey!!

Yes, it was a bit disappointing, but Peggy is really fun to be with and it was good to get out of the apartment for a day.

Boring!! I wanted to be admired by the thousands of people who came to the fair.

I don't think many Spaniards would know what to make of us, Honey Bunny.

Well, that's just their fault. I got very tired and, on the way home, I took a long nap in Dad's arms. That made up for a lot of the rest of it.

Yes, and Peggy took good care of me too. It was a fun outing.

Mom's Meditation Space

Mom got her meditation space finished today and we got a place of honor looking out over her altars and outdoors to the terrace.

The room is kinda like a glassed-in porch. It's sort of an inside-outside kinda place, with brick and white-painted walls, and a nice wood floor.

Mom and Dad say the space feels really great.

There are some cats that prowl on the terrace, so I'm glad we are safely inside.

Me too. I actually saw a cat catch a bird out there today and it wasn't pretty.

I averted my eyes. It was just too much for my delicate sensibilities.

Yes, we know how delicate you are, Princess.

SO?

We're considering staying out here most of the time. It is just such a special place, and we are not far from Mom and Dad at night.

Mom was SO excited a few mornings ago--she woke up early and looked out from the bed through the windows in the sunroom/meditation room to the sky above the rooftop terrace, and there was a sliver of a waning moon rising. Talk about romantic!

She even nudged Dad so he'd wake up and see. Talk about romantic!