#70 (tue) may 9 2026

I am walking along a footpath atop a tall mountain plateau which overlooks this beautiful capeside town. Clouds roll up and over the steep cliffs to form a table cloth. An unreal sight!

A south american family passes me from the other direction.

Within a meter of me, the frontrunner in his late twenties looks directly at my feet and says at full volume in a very foreign language:

"Shoes. Mom--mom. Shoes."

"What?"

She also looks at my feet.

"Oh! Cool!"

Privy to their conversation, I smile and walk on in my cool shoes.

~ St. Crowne

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#69 (thu) may 7 2026

First, our group of thirteen sits for the final supper together under our world-traveling context. We share our highlights and insights from a week among the most stunning and majestic animals.

Next, a few of us spend a long and precious time with our hostess, expressing gratitude for the prime treatment and subtle love she gave.

Finally, I write a small message on the "thank you" cards for our two guides. I realize that the one is like a brother and the other earned my admiration and respect. His humility speaks volumes about his character, I write. In both I see a friend.

It feels like leaving summer camp, though it's been some time since I ever attended summer camp. Amazing how quickly a group of people can bond. Once again I am shown that shared emotion, not shared time or shared space, is the smith of human bonds and caring.

~ St. Crowne

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