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Greetings (Hola) From Limited Limitless Living!
Published 9 months ago • 6 min read
“It's a smile, it's a kiss, it's a zip of wine… it's summertime” ---- Kenny
Chesney, Summertime
We are now halfway through the year marking the transition from the winter cold to the summer heat with the Summer Solstice bringing us the longest daylight of the year. June also marks the beginning of Pride Month, at a time when this community is encountering a complex array of setbacks and legal challenges. A reminder that none of us are truly safe---and silence should never be an option. Let there be more “No King Protests."
As of today, I am still residing in Bucerias, Mexico and will be here through most of July. In Mexico, furnishing an apartment and getting it ready to rent requires time and patience. I am learning that things will eventually get done “mañana”. In the last two years of my travels this has been the longest I have stayed in one place. It has offered me the chance to connect with folks and slowly create a place that I truly want to be part of over the next decade. For now, I enjoy taking long walks in the neighborhood and on the beach loving a way of life that is so different from what I know. Plans are to travel to parts of Central and South America, keeping in mind that the weather in the Southern Hemisphere is expected to be cooler and rainy. Right now, it is extremely hot and humid in this part of Mexico!
For this month’s newsletter, I’m featuring only one story, since I haven’t done much exploring beyond shopping. It’s been some time since I last visited Puerto Vallarta and was pleased to make a day trip to walk this colonial citywhich is continuously changing. Later I hope to do a follow-up story of my remaining time in Bucerias before leaving to Central America.
This month we are adding a new section to the newsletter entitled Guest Author that is also included on our website as a resource. I am pleased to feature my dear friend and colleague Ranata Reeder from North Caroline who has published “The Story of Ahsa”, the first in a children book series that enables parents and care providers to teach young children life lessons that will shape their minds. Ranata will be publishing by the end of this year, the first three books of fourteen that combines poetry with illustrations, and life lessons that nurture emotional growth.
In our section on “Things I am Exploring” we are featuringseveral lyrical versions of George Gershwin’s ageless song "Summertime and the Livin’ is Easy…"—why not a bit of music to jump start the summer? On our “Arts “section we listed the few art fairs being held during the summer months. Check to see if you are visiting any of those cities this summer. On our section of “Stories Missed” I added a story I wrote the last time I was in Puerto Vallarta, January 2020, several months before the pandemic shut the world down. Hard to believe this happened less than five years ago.
A final shout out to all my LGBTQ friends and family members…you belong here! A salute to all those incredible fathers on Father’s Day and Thank God for the end of school and the beginning of summer vacations. See you at the beach 🌊☀️🕶.
As always, your help in introducing the newsletter to others is deeply appreciated. Let me know if you would like to meet for a zoom chat. Below is my scheduling link so we can avoid the back and forth of finding a mutually convenient time. Looking forward to connecting with you soon.
During my stay in Bucerias, Mexico, I made a day trip to Puerto Vallarta, a 20-minute ride from Bucerias where I am living. This colonial city became famous back in the 1960s, thanks to a global tabloid sensation when Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, both married to other people were carrying on a scandalous love affair during the filming of "The Night of the Iguana" (Can’t imagine that being a scandal today!). Puerto Vallarta features both colonial and modern architecture recognized internationally as a resort beach town. Its boardwalk, known as El Malecon, includes unique surrealist sculptures along with boutiques, galleries, bars, and restaurants. I have visited this town several times over the past 15 years, and it has undergone significant changes each time, increasing its popularity. A fun place to stay or visit throughout the year….
Part of the joy of travel is my passion for photography seeking to capture the daily lives of the people and the places that I visit. We will post monthly our favorites. If interested in any of our photos, visit the Photo Print Gallery, Click Here.
This photo was taken in Dubai, July 2024
Shadows and Light
As far back as I can remember, I have always been fascinated with the mystery that comes with shadows. You can photograph them, engage with them, walk with them...they are there, sometimes following every step you take, allowing your imagination to transcend into an unexpected places. In this photo, I experienced a place of movement and vitality. An excitement over the interplay of darkness and illumination that delineates other forms of life or shapes. Something magical.
Even though, I am thousands of miles away from New Jersey I receive plenty of news on the chaos that is occurring daily in the US. Misinformation and conspiracy theories are becoming a way of life in part due to the internet, the
decline of journalism and more recently AI. What is most disturbing is how American values and traditions are slowly being swept away exacerbating a more divided country. Money, power and apathy has dominated our politics. Sadly, we are no longer view as a force of good in the world. Silence is our worse enemy and is why unlocking the power of organizing and protesting prevails over dominance. We are not helpless. As always, I leave you with this thought to ponder ….
“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”
- Dr Martin Luther King
Guest Author
Author: Ranata Reeder
Ranata Reeder is a children's book author from North Carolina whose literary work focuses on character building through easy to remember life lessons set to rhyme. Ranata is the creator of The Story of Asha, a 14-book children's series that follows a girl named Ahsa and her friends in the fictional village of the Sai. Within each book is a story that teaches a valuable life lesson. Ranata invites you to journey along through all the books and to visit and connect with her through social media.
The Story of Ahsa is a 14-book children’s series written by North Carolina author Ranata Reeder. The series, set to rhyme, incorporates life lessons children can understand into stories they will enjoy. The Story of Ahsa builds character and is an enjoyable read for children of all ages and their caretakers. This book series was written for children on a third grade reading level, and for caretakers to read to children of all ages.
As the summer season arrives, one can easily relate to the Porgy and Bess’s opera lyrics sang by thousands of artists…."Summer time and the Living is Easy"…. There are over 25,000 versions of this song from opera to jazz to reggae. Click here and listen at some of the different versions of ‘Summertime’ from the past 80 years. My favorites are Janis Joplin and Ella Fitzgerald. Enjoy!
Please let us know if you have any suggestions or ideas on what you like to see in the newsletter. 📧 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
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“May, the month of maybes.” ----- Unknown It’s hard to believe that we are so close to the middle of the year and that summer in just around the corner. There are many “Maybes “of what to plan this summer before it passes us so quickly (warning--plan ahead). One notable aspect of May is witnessing a new crop of young people graduating. These special moments highlight a generational shift serving as a reminder of one's own aging process and the passage of time. One can only hope that these...
“May, the month of maybes.” ----- Unknown It’s hard to believe that we are so close to the middle of the year and that summer in just around the corner. There are many “Maybes “of what to plan this summer before it passes us so quickly (warning--plan ahead). One notable aspect of May is witnessing a new crop of young people graduating. These special moments highlight a generational shift serving as a reminder of one's own aging process and the passage of time. One can only hope that these...
“The name April stems from the Latin word “aperire”, which means to open… the opening of new opportunities along with the changing blossoming of nature. Let there be Spring! “---- Grizel Ubarry In these unsure times, it’s always good to find inspiration in the changing seasons …what better than Spring. I like to believe that there are always new chapters for us to start as we age and become wiser. For now, my advice is to turn off the noise and focus on what is best for you. At the moment, I...
