Falling Awake: Opening our souls rather than our eyes.

Perhaps its a sign that I grew up in the States, but during St Patrick’s day I use to wonder if I had any Irish in me. While we knew more about my mother’s side (Salkeld is from the north of England), we knew very little about the Prugue’s. All we knew was that Emilio Prugue (or Emile before Spanish legal translation) migrated from Bayonne France to Lima Peru back in the mid 1800s. Seems there was a thriving French artist community in Peru at the time, even Paul Gaugin lived in Peru (before Tahiti of course). And in my family, having access to his lithographs (printed in 1853 and ‘54) are treasured items in my family. While we knew relatively little about Emile, we all appreciated that he was the first Prugue in Peru, and that it was he who’d signed these works himself. The fact that we knew so little about the Prugue’s in France, however, would frustrate my father immensely. He would recollect how his grandfather, son of Emile Prugue, would speak to him in French. Or how his paterna...

What we believe of ourselves, and what we actually do, can often be two different outcomes.  I mean, we all like to think that under extreme pressure, we will still front up and fight head on.  But it isn’t until we ourselves are faced with this that we can truly say if indeed we have that underlying brave spirit which we aspire to have.   Well, for my sister in law, such a test hasn’t come just once, but three times!  You see, my sister in law was diagnosed with breast cancer over ten years ago, fought it, and won.  Sadly, however, the cancer hasn’t come back just once, but two more times!  Guess they’re right that we’re all tested three times; as my sister in law has been.  Each time, she endured long painful chemo sessions, now immunotherapy.  While I would like to think I possessed her courage and heart, have to sincerely admit that I cannot say if I really do.  Instead, what I can say is if I am ever tested, she will be my role mod...

My father was known for many sayings, some I’ve forgotten, many I’ve remembered.  “All poodles are dogs, but not all dogs are poodles”, for when I would generalise.  But my favourite, one which I’ve loved and lived was, “The only thing we take to our graves are the songs we’ve danced and the places we’ve visited”.  Stated differently, memories are the only thing we take to our graves; so we might as well make them memorable as well as cherished.   My father passed away last 12th April, at 94 years and months shy of his 70th wedding anniversary.   His love of laughter, jokes (however corny), music, and dance was legendary.   My father’s Joie de Vivre is something I often reflect on whenever I find myself needing encouragement or when/if I’m low.  And as his one year anniversary quickly approaches, however, I am equally saddened by his epic mantra.   You see, my 92 yo mother has been living and fighting dementia for some time now. While...

Nothing excites me more then when I meet someone who’s truly extraordinaire, a person whose achievements leaves me speechless. Today was such a day, someone who is an actor, an artist, a sculptor, an author, a landscape designer, a personal trainer, cares for his aged father, and is a devoted and dedicated father to two boys under 14 years. While that alone is clearly impressive, this is not what leaves me in awe. On top of all this, this man is ALSO a clown at the children’s hospital (think Patch Adams), visits and works with numerous albergues (refuges) for children, orphans, and victims of domestic violence. A renaissance man who’s truly selfless. His name is Coco Limo, and he is without a doubt one of THE most interesting people I’ve ever had the privilege to met; someone who after looking after his two sons, thinks of others, someone whose sold his clothing in order to buy food and shelter for others, and someone whose artistic talent matches his selfless nature. He was introduc...

It’s been said that to know where you’re headed, you first need to appreciate where you’ve been.  And while my past is sometimes a blur, this is a mantra I’d enthusiastically endorse.  Added how I’ve been blessed by an amazing and loving family, am starting my leap into self discovery by first dipping into my past: Santiago, Buenos Aires, Lima, and Miami.  Sadly, one place is missing, Washington DC, as am wanting to start El Camino early April. Staring in Santiago was brief, but truly memorable.  Arrived, took an Uber into the city, and met up with a childhood friend, Consuelo Otero.  Although I haven’t seen her since 1977, truly was an amazing reconnection as we pretty much started where we left off.  So many years have passed, yet our connection was as innocent and enjoyable as when we were kids way back when.  And while our conversations were great, I was pleasantly relieved when she spoke of her memory of my troublesome youth not as a pain, but a...

Dazed and Confused Nothing like a long flight to lose your thoughts.  Or more specifically, to regain them.  The runners gun has gone off, and my journey of self discovery has begun.   While this journey has been in the making for some time, only now do I realise that I’ve been operating on automatic pilot.  By this I mean walking around semi conscience of what was to happen, enough to plan (partially), and tell others.  But not enough to soak it all in.   How do I know this?  My good-byes to my loving family was nothing more than a deep hug, albeit a loving one of course, but one where I wasn’t quite certain as to what to say. “See you in three months”?   Well at least I did sincerely thank them for letting me go on this journey of mine, without my feeling guilty.  So their excitement for my trip was liberating.   But through this mist of daze and confusion, my automatic pilot was pre programmed.  It’s as if my sub...

On the road to find out Sitting here waiting at my gate, something I’ve done way too many times for work without thought nor trepidation. Yet this time, I sit here in bemusement, wondering not just what lies ahead, but what and if these next three months will meet my intense desire to find some self.  It’s like my boarding a flight on an astral plane with no planned direction nor destination.   Thank you again for joining me on this journey.  And more importantly, thank you for being present for me as I embark on this journey.  Your guidance and direction will not go unnoticed.   I leave you with a YouTube link to a Cat Stevens song.  This song has always touched a chord for me, but does so specially now.  As a young lad I loved books of self discover, like Shangrila, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe, Razor’s Edge, Papillon, and more recently, to ones like Into The Wild and Motorcycle Diaries.  And here I am hoping to recreate some ...