The Art of the Siesta

 My Hammock

Having lived in Mexico for 14 years, you would think I would have gotten this down a l-o-n-g time ago!  But I hadn't.  I guess the busy-ness of life just kind of kept getting in the way.  The funny thing - or, not so funny, really - is that we had 2 really great hammocks on stands AND sold probably 6 or 7 more of them at our yard sales, so...when we arrived in Panama, we were hammockless. Yep, I made up that word.  Kinda like homeless - and almost as important.  Just kidding.

When we rented our apartment, the landlord showed us that there were already hooks to hang not just one hammock, but 2 hammocks and a couple of hammock chairs.  My nephews house has hooks for  6 hammocks, and I've seen that on other houses as well.  They take this hammock thing seriously.  Stores have many hammocks hanging out front as just a teaser for the many more they have inside. Hotels have them on their patios, as do the spas.  Like I said, they take it seriously, so it seemed that we should buy a couple.  Once again, our motto is sell low, buy high.  Really, we JUST sold a bunch of them! For  NOT much money!

Hammocks at a Hotel

So there it is - my hammock - hanging on our back patio (see first photo!) - colorful! We are the proud owners of hammocks.....once again.

One day, I decided to try this thing out.  I was feeling a little sleepy - and the weather was oh, so comfortable.  I actually went and got my pillow and a light little blanket (I'm so sorry you have to hear that, my friends in 102 degree San Carlos!), climbed up there, covered up and just lay there looking at all the beauty around me.  When you're on the second story, you see all sorts of stuff about the trees and in the trees.  And as I lay there, it began to rain.  Each little leaf captured droplets of water that sparkled with the bit of sun shining through.  The corrugated tin roof made for a curtain of water pouring off in front of me, each strand of water spaced perfectly.  Squirrels ran and hopped across branches, birds sang songs I'd never heard before.  

 India Dormida

As I looked over to the right, I saw her.  She's a sight to behold - they call her India Dormida.  Do you see her resting there so comfortably? Sleeping Indian.  I thought it was awfully kind of her to be laying down resting, so as not to make me look lazy.  They DO take this Siesta thing seriously.  And so, since she was, I decided to do it, too.

Never have I slept so well.  And just because of that - I've tried it several times since.  It's so nice to practically hear it calling to me.  A time of quiet rest, where a person can't help but be amazed, again, by the beauty of God's creation all around them.  

Until, the soft swaying motion of the hammock gently lulls me t o  s  l  e  e   p ......