20 Years Apart and a New Beginning

In the summer of 2000, Sandra and I met in Guatemala at a party my Spanish teacher’s brother dragged me to. That I understood nothing she said did not preclude my complete adoration of her. Over the next two weeks, we traveled to Lake Atitlan, Monterrico, and Belize. It didn’t matter that I spoke no Spanish and she spoke no English. There was endless laughter. And not nearly enough time.

Even though I hadn’t seen Sandra in the almost 20 years since I had last visited Guatemala, a trip to Costa Rica last year reawakened me to her presence. Being in Central America (she was so close!) and hearing the language again, I reflected on what it might be like to see her.

It’s hard to explain how I imagined Sandra during those years apart. She was this lovely, warm person who, in one sense, seemed so far away. We never even talked. Yet I felt an enduring connection to her.

When we saw each other again in the Guatemala City airport one year ago, I felt this sudden awareness that I had been living my life apart from the one person who could truly love me. By the time we said goodbye five days later, I was well aware that my path had changed.

Sandra is many things: loving, disciplined, open-hearted, fiery, intelligent, and humble. A healer. Appreciator of simplicity. Never desiring too much. Ever accommodating and flexible. Never asking for more than someone can give. She offers herself fully but never loses her sense of self. And she loves unconditionally. The word grateful only begins to describe how lucky I feel to have her in my life.