“Passion is lifted from the earth itself by the muddy hands of the young; it travels along grass-stained sleeves to the heart. If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered indicator species: the child in nature.” ~ Richard Louv

Dear Asher,

You were great on your first real camping experience. You spent four months of your life living in Cabin #7, The Honeymoon Hut, with electricity, cold water to the tap and a bucket for a toilet which is roughing it by most people’s standards who have a newborn baby. But now you are living in what is essentially a gazebo with a mosquito net covering a bed and a bucket is still your toilet. Since the rooftop is not a living space for Robert and his family, they use a ladder to get up and down, so it is better to do our business in a pail in the complete rural darkness at night. You are sleeping well to the sound of rustling trees, crickets and the stream.

This morning Robert, Greysi and Frankie spent the day at a market selling clothing but after two tiring travel days, we decided to stay back to explore the mountain trails and catch up on some naps. You were in your glory as we traipsed up and down the mountain path and as we walked, we agreed that part of the reason for your great disposition can be attributed to the fact that you have spent more of your waking hours outside than in. From day one, you were a tad jaundice so we brought you outside often to let the sun hit that sweet little face while walking the Mill Pond and sleepy streets of Dorchester. It wasn’t long before we were at the camp where we were only indoors to sleep and then it was straight on a plane to Honduras where the pattern has continued.

The mountain vistas were breathtaking. The higher we moved up, the better the lake and surrounding area came into view, so the temptation to continue climbing was powerful. Your mother is the strongest woman we know and she bounded up the steep and rugged paths with ease. When we reached our highest point, the clouds parted and the sun reflected off the distant mountains and the lake sparkled. This pleased us not only for the spectacular colors but also because we were running out of diapers after two travel days and two days of on and off rain. Like a scene from The Sound of Music, we sang songs all the way down the mountain and you smiled the entire way as you began clapping along to “If you’re happy and you know it.” Our gracious hosts had returned from the market by the time we got back and Greysi whipped up the best baleadas we have had on the trip so far.

Since we do not have walls on our rooftop terrace, the only thing between us and the jungle is a net. We are literally in fresh air all day and night and with all that fresh air, it was not long before you were fast asleep.