Layers of Sound

Every morning I wake up to the sound of howler monkeys screaming from the mountains a few kilometers away. I can hear different kinds of birds singing and chirping. Dogs barking and roosters crowing. Ah, so peaceful. Then the rest of Bribri starts moving. I hear the loud trucks roar through the center of town where I live. The semis carrying loads up into the mountains are so loud my bed shakes. The businesses start opening, and one by one, the metal doors creak open. The reggeton rooting from the local barbershop pulsates through the walls. The buses buzzing, then honking as they come and go to take people to and from town. People screaming and laughing. The man that walks around with two little red coolers selling sea turtle eggs, yelling out “Huevos! Huevos de tortuga!!!”

Then I bring my attention to my room. I listen to my own breath. Deep inhale, long exhale. I focus on the constant humming of my fan. I hear the pitter patter of the rats in the walls. The yelps of the geckos that have also taken residence in the corners of my walls. I stretch and listen to the many voices in my own mind, then hone in on my Higher Self’s voice and meditate, grateful for another day of life and the ability to hear, smell, taste, see, breath, and feel.

I head downstairs with my laundry and wash outside in the backyard, now further from the sounds of the town and closer to the many birds, the water, the trees. I not only hear all the layers, I see the beautiful colors of the guanabana tree, the cas tree, the water apple tree. The reds, yellows, greens, blues of the birds that fly back and forth. The brilliant yellows, reds, purples, and greens of the flowers. And the sun is so bright. I am excited to have running water and lots of sunlight. Makes for a perfect day for laundry.

This is a typical morning in Bribri.

my jeans after washing them
my view from the backyard that overlooks Rio Sixaola
good sun = dry jeans in about 2-3 hours!!!!
it's the little things like water and sun that make me happy
where the washing happens.