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| Fiji’s version of a “quick and easy,” or a superette. |
Five years ago, if someone had told me that every morning when I settled in with my mug of coffee, nestled into the comfiest spot I could find, that I would write an essay about my daily life including new photos, I’d have laughed out loud.
In my career when I prepared a letter, an advertisement, or an article for a publication, I labored over it for hours to ensure accuracy, correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. Often, I’d reread the item dozens of times.
Was the message clear and concise? Was the content open and vulnerable enough to appeal to most readers? Did a professional persona encompass the content?
Until I was satisfied, the work drove me on until completion, rarely taking time out for anything other than grabbing another cup of coffee or tea. Seldom, did I ever leave a project unfinished for another day unless it was a lengthy training manual or proposal I was preparing, in which case I’d only end the day at the end of a chapter, diligently beginning again the following day.
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| This classic Billy Goat is tied up. |
It’s different now. Adrenaline isn’t pumping through my veins nor is my heart racing. After my usual two mugs of coffee, I switch to water or caffeine free iced tea. I don’t need the push.
My only concern for the day is having ample photos to post. Has inclement weather kept us from exploring? Are the readers tiring of photos of plants, trees, and flowers, my go-to when sightseeing photos are dwindling from our last outing? Bear with me, they will continue.
It’s not a task, writing each day. Nor is it in the category of brushing one’s teeth upon awakening, a habit one can tackle with little if any, forethought. I don’t awaken dreading what lies ahead, the job I undertake each and every morning when we’re not on the move on a travel day. Hardly.
Today’s post is #1174, not a milestone, just a number. How does a person do over 1000 of anything, other than the routines and habits we incorporate into our lives on a daily basis? It’s hard for me to grasp. Were they not numbered, I may have guessed at a lot less, had I not done them every day, year after year, with numbers rolling around in my brain.
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| Homes for Fijians along the highway. Most homes are this type, above the ground to protect from water seepage. |
In thinking of our loyal readers, all over the world, I often wonder if they read our posts as if its a newspaper article they fancy, in a similar way I’d search for Ann Landers in my old newspaper reading days, wondering what tidbits of wisdom I could glean from other people’s lives or perhaps reaffirm the simplicity of mine.
For reasons only imagined, our readers continue to read, through the mundane activities of our daily lives with the same enthusiasm as the excitement of major life-changing events. We marvel as we watch the stats daily, amazed how any one day’s content has little to do with the readership all over the world.
We see the excitement of but a tiny portion of our future; the Pantanal in Brazil, the Galapagos Islands, and Antarctica, all on our “to do,” list, all of which we’re researching now to be booked in the next year or so. There’s so much world left to see.
We’re not adventure seekers. We don’t snorkel, scuba dive, or bungee. We have limitations due to my health and yet now, gratefulness washing over me daily for what I can do, as opposed to what I can’t.
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| Clothes dryers aren’t common in Fiji as in many parts of the world. The humidity these past weeks has made line drying a few day process. |
We love life, relishing in each day of good health, of another day to take a “crack at it” to shape and mold our existence to one of joy, freedom, and accomplishment.
The driving force behind this daily exercise in words and photos? To leave a legacy for generations to come? To document a once-in-a-lifetime experience for however long we are able to make it last? To keep our family and friends informed? All of these.
Above all, the thought that even one reader, wherever they may be, can enjoy a daily read that makes them smile, shrug at our foibles, become annoyed with our occasional whining, and say to themselves, “That crazy life is not for me!” This, dear readers, is the driving force. Thank you for the inspiration!
Photo from one year ago today, October 20, 2014:
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| We took this photo one year ago from the shore at our condo in Maui after police on jet skis had rescued a diver who’d been attacked by a shark. For details on this story and published press photos, please click here. |
Hello! Thank you for posting the pictures of the houses and stores. I see they have electricity by the lines running in the pictures but wondered if they received "city" water or how they handled waste with them up on stilts. I imagine they don't have to worry about pipes freezing there like we do here in the Midwest. Also, have you seen how they handle garbage? I love reading your posts everyday and it is interesting to see how people around the world live.
Hello, Michelle, actually, I'm going to take more photos of the village when we go in two days. I posted only a few today I had left that I'd yet to post, thinking of your request. More will follow in three days!
As for water, its spring fed here in Savusavu but, there may be city water on the bigger island of Viti Levu. There is no trash pickup. They burn their garbage here with no regulations preventing it. We can often smell the garbage burning. As for waste, where we are located, there is a septic system but I will ask for more information from residents of other areas which I expect is the same.
Houses on stilts generally have waste pipes leading down the side of the house to an underground septic system. There is no smell or appearance of improperly handled waste, no dumps, no recycling plants or collection facilities of any kind that we've seen on this island.
Thanks for reading our posts and for sharing your comments and questions! Its great to see you here!
Warmest regards,
Jess & Tom