I am sitting in Tirumangalam, Tamil Nadu, India. Its early morning, the heat hasn’t yet built to intense levels and a handsome peacock with his harem of hens in tow, is strutting around the gardens. The guest house is tranquil and we are being brilliantly looked after by Muthupandi and his helper Karthi. Today we start to work; the charity has taken in about 100 new children recently and they all need to be processed in, documented and photographed. I will be behind my camera for the duration and will try to figure out how to add photos – I’m working from a geriatric HP/Microsoft computer and I seem to have forgotten how to use one of these things – Apple girl!
The reason I started with “Struggling” is because I still haven’t gotten into the rhythm of my travels. I was quite of of sync with Rome – for the very first time since I started coming here. I just don’t seem to be abe to get my feet under me – with one exception which I will talk about a bit later. Minor irritations and the usual travails of travelling are taking on much too great a significance – I normally get cranky and get over it. I’m still struggling to set aside things which I shouldn’t even remember now. To add to it, I managed to leave an important bag with all my medictions etc. behnd in Rome – its not permenantly lost of course but this is the first time in a very long time that I’ve done anything like that!
So I am hoping that I’ll settle down while here in Tamil Nadu and regain my balance – I surely don’t enjoy feeling like a novice tourist!
The one delightful, lovely exception to my whinging is the long weekend I spent near Spoleto for my friend Mirella’s 60th birthday party. Mirella is one of those great hearted women you sometimes have the good fortune to meet – actually I have the great good fortune to have quite a number of women like that in my life! She rented an entire – gorgeous villa on the outskirts of town and people came from all over the world to celebrate with her. I confess to having had some concerns – I knew a couple of the people who would be there but maybe three out of the 26/28 total! Need NOT have worried – I met some absolutely delightful people, everyone got on smashingly – we had intellectual, far ranging conversations in – not by the pool, song fests after dinner – quite a surprising number of people had serious chops musically and lots and lots of sillyness! Meals were taken under a grape arbour in the garden, the moon was waxing full and Spoleto twinkled in the background. There was lots of prosecco, entirely too much good food and definitely too much cognac – in otherwords a perfect weekend house party!
The pictures will come eventually….
Time to get to work and I will be back soon – promise!
Smith the Traveller 
Dear Kim, I think it’s normal, you are making a lot of changes in your life, and I remember when I hit the road and couldn’t understand why I so often felt cranky although I was completely free – what was I missing, stupid girl (talking about myself!). You might remember a few emails in that regard? It will come and go, and you’ll change in the process. It’s actually right now, after 18 months, and in the peace and aloneness I am enjoying in Hawaii, that things are finally coming together for me, and – looking back over the past year and some – that I truly appreciate my experience and find an inner peace I’d been missing. Some things take time.
Funnily enough, I’d never forgotten anything until I came to Hawaii and forgot all my jewelry on the first island. Luckily, I was only on the neighbouring island and they could send it after me. Not sure if those things mean anything?
Anyhow, give it time, it will come sooner or later. And you’ll have an awesome time in India, I am sure! Hugs – Gudrun
Gudrun,
Thank you! Your words were what I needed to hear!
I will post and discuss more much late when I can use my own computer again – this one is slow and shared and I dont want to be too much of a keyboard hog…
Love and hugs,
Kim
Well my dear, perhaps the struggle is because you have embarked on a loooooooong travel and that mindset is different? All will be well – you are a survivor! Enjoy getting reacquainted with the “old pre-mac system” – a challenge to occupy your memory. Stay-at-homes go through the same dips. Agree with Gudrun (from whom it was delightful to hear). Chin up, love, Sharon
Ahhhh … Tamil Nadu. Fond memories. Struggle no more! You are on the precipice of a new (if not many new) adventures!
Barbara. 🙂
And….as the journey is just beginning…the struggle is so much more real and to be appreciated, endured and honoured. How lucky are you and those children to even experience this new chance to explore and feel safe and unsure at all the new rushing forward….
And … the house closed this Monday past…wow…. all plants alive and house in fine working order for that wonderful ladies Next Chapter. There is a whole team of people out here cheering you on my friend. Envious and in awe of this Next Chapter of yours. Sending you love, hugs and if needed…. cognac.. in a FedEx box to where ever it needs to be sent. The world is smaller when it comes to e-mail and postage..but just as huge and wonderful as day one!
More hugs
Rob et al.