Gaining Light

“We gain light together.
We gain light through our rituals.
We gain light from our celebrations.
We gain light from our ancestors.
We gain light by allowing our souls to shine in the darkness.”

The days are stretching longer as our world reawakens from the slumber of hibernation. I know the ground hog saw his shadow, but my mom is hinting that spring is coming early.

I sense the signs of her premonition too as I perform my ritual livestock chores.

Despite the permafrost, there is a faint, sweet aroma in the air lingering just above the patches of grass where the deer and the rabbits have cleared from the snow.

I know my bones and my skin are soaking up as much sunlight as they can on these bluebird sky mornings as I stretch away the weariness of winter.

The wind chill was wicked this past weekend. Thanks for braving the cold with us and patronizing the farm and Farmers Park-It.

We went to a dear friend’s house Sunday night in Saranac Lake, which was less about sport and all about celebrating the food, the culture and the music of Puerto Rico.

There they served us Piña Coladas, Empanadas, Roast Pork Pernil, Arroz con Gandules, and Potato Salad – where every Puerto Rican family has a distinct version of.

I have only spent short periods of time in Puerto Rico throughout my life but the memories are indelible. Once for a month with my grandparents when I was maybe 10 years old. The second time was also for about a month with my Great Aunt, Luz Maria when I was 20.

Whether you’re a fan of Bad Bunny or not, I could 100% relate to the visual storytelling taking place. The piraguas (shaved ice dessert), the cuarto (that plinkety guitar that is featured in the songs that channel my late grandmother, Mama Nilda) and playing dominoes in the square: a right of passage for me was drinking beers and playing dominoes late at night outside a small bar in Bayamón near my Aunt’s house.

It was a celebration that brought about intense, unexpected emotions for me and the diverse and inclusive gathering of friends was a beautiful expression of what was represented on screen.

After the evening ended, Kimmy and I took the late night opportunity to go over to the Ice Palace, alight in it’s colorful splendor.

We pretty much had it all to ourselves, but the wind chill would not let us stay for too long. The car was reading -15F when we headed home.