PR 1/2025
Earlier January I went on a writers retreat where I didn’t really write but DID have 3 types of mofongo.
DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS ironically welcomed us into Puerto Rico and a guy I once thought was corny became my #1 for the month.
I don’t know if it was the humidity or the colors or the slowness that every good thing often requires, but everything felt like magic. (except adjusting to 18.46 latitude.)
I was finally getting over an upper respiratory infection after like 2 weeks and as most trips go, I didn’t really know what I was doing and it felt good. Jennalynn always casually mentioned the most out of pocket things as mundane facts and all of a sudden, day 1, I was scheduled to scuba dive. in the morning I remembered I was claustrophobic but the thing was booked with no refund so the next thing I know we’re late calling the excursion guy on my grandpa brick flip phone and now I got 50 lbs on my back. hunched over like notre dame. in the end, I stayed in four feet. a turtle peeked it’s head and I was happy. I wasn’t gonna learn how to mouth breathe in an hr. and that’s ok, I love myself.
I honestly don’t know the purpose of this. Paul Graham said (another jennalynn req) that writing in your voice is a skill and my two recent favorite books (Worthy + Mundo Cruel) did that very thing. so I guess this is my rendition with the hopes of preserving the things I often forget.
in between night scratches and a yearn to be alone I found myself on the couch counting shadows at 3am. you could say our street was busy. menthols are banned in california so that was one of my first purchases. the tobacco percentage sucked so I kept chasing a head high that never came. but it was minty you know. I sat on the porch, journaled because I felt like I should. I thought, future me would appreciate it. 50% if not more of the time, I was at the beach, maybe the lagoon. lay til sweat, ocean float til drown, lay til evaporate—and repeat. it stands my actual favorite thing in this entire world. bc a hug from the sun? a kiss from the ocean? surrounded by conversations I couldn’t understand? chefs kiss. besitos. I could lay here all day and exceed contentment.
then i’d walk around, try another new place, never disappointed by the food. and then listen in on debates at the dinner table like a live podcast. tf is free will, was the luring question. and “pseudo” word of the week.
twas a trip of 6 strangers and I was truly in my own world. completely sober might I add…except for one night. which ended with THE BEST BIRRA TACOS I HAD EVER HAD (granted I just unveganized 5 months ago) but there was something abt that specific night and those specific tacos and the warm water before sunrise. full moon, firefly bioluminescent. also rainforest.
that’s it, the end.
thank you puerto rico, we love you puerto rico. an occupied land that remains true, you are in fact beautiful magic.
