Part of me wishes I were following tradition and writing Christmas letters at this time, but my life is changing, and so must my traditions. Emails seem so impersonal, but we all live so far apart, in different countries, different states, and emails work -for the most part. Distance, however, does not make my friends and family any less important to me, it only makes it more difficult to visit, to see each other, to share the same space as we share our thoughts about life, our adventures, our hopes and our dreams.

Today is Mother's Day in Panama, the biggest holiday in the country. I can forget any banking business, any business period. That in itself is not a bad thing.... In fact, I like the idea. If only I could get a decent pedicure, I would be all smiles....but back to the holiday at hand...

So, for Mothers Day, I would like to request an anteater, maybe even two anteaters. That's right, anteaters. These ants, little darlings that they may be, have a hearty appetite for banana leaves. Those vicious little creatures eat the leaves and haul them off, one bite at a time, across the floor of the jungle to a mound village which is the envy of many an archeologist, and would stimulate the interest of most anthropologists - yeah, it's so big that it could easily be mistaken for the burial mounds of some ancient civilization, in fact, I am not so sure there aren't people buried in those huge mounds! Unfortunately, this incredible mound village is nestled on one of the best terraced area's on the land I hope to call home someday, and I think it is thier best interest to relocate. Of course, who am I to say?

And then there are the itsy, bitsy, teensy, weensy ants which sneak up on the feet of any unsuspecting gringo passing through the part of the jungle where they believe they have unquestioned autonomy, and bite with a venom which puts fire ants to shame....they may actually be the predecessors to the infamous southern fire ants. Those of you who have experienced them have learned to have a healthy respect for them, and avoid them as you would the bubonic plague. Nasty little critters.

Therefore, I need anteaters. Two should do, a male and a female (We don't want them to be lonely now, do we?) I think this is a much better solution than toxic poisons. I have more respect for the ants than they have for me - they don't mind dumping their toxins into my body. So if any of you would like to make me incredibly happy, please feel free to deposit a pair of anteaters on Loma Partida.

Outside of the need for anteaters on Loma Partida, all is well here in Bocas. The sun is glittering on the glassy water this morning, and the horizon is so clear that Volcan Baru is visible amongst the mountains which flank these islands, providing one of the most stimulating vistas imaginable. It is truly a beautiful day in Bocas. It is on mornings like this that I am reminded of why I wanted to relocate here, to make a home here...ants, chitra's and all.

I have no idea of how long it will be before I will be able to build my little thatched-roof house over the water, but I look forward to the day when I will have the home I have been planning since I first came to Bocas this past February. Whenever I get frustrated with the tourists awakening me as they go rambling down the street in the wee hours, I simply think to myself....someday...... I won't be here, but instead, living out over the water, in a tranquil place where I can watch colorful fish swim around my house, snorkel over the coral reefs, teach English at the school in the nearby village, write, grow tropical fruits and flowers, learn to make chocolate from my cacoa tree's, and.....if I am lucky, take a nice, hot, bubble bath and feel squeaky clean as I nestle into bed at the end of the day with a book - following a French Martini made with my own home grown pineapple juice... Dreams. They make life worth living, don't you think?

I hope someday, most of you can take some time to come share the dream that has inspired me, the place that fulfills my dream at this point in my life, that would make my life even more special. Come on down! If all goes well, there will be a very good restaurant here in Bocas before too long! My palate is watering already... hungry?

I will be back in NC for two weeks for the Christmas holidays (12/13-12/27) and truly hope to see those of you who are in the coastal area when I am there. If not, I will call you...thank heaven for cell phones! I was reminded very recently by a very dear friend (you will know who you are) that close friends are like an extension of one's family, to be cherished, nurtured, and appreciated. Sometimes we get so busy with what we percieve as important in our daily lives, that we don't make the effort to visit with those we have come to love, to share our dreams, each others lives, to laugh a little. And then, an unexpected death reminds us of how precious life is...and we wish we had made the time. You have all touched my life, and I count myself very fortunate. Thanks... a bunch. By the way, don' t forget the anteaters :-)