My Review Of Reckless Traveler by Walter Rhein

For some reason it has taken me a great deal of time to post a review of Reckless Traveler by Walter Rhein. I mean, after all, I read it in a few days right after I received it. Sure a lot has been going on in my life creatively but this book was fun, so well written and...........why don't I just copy the review here so you can see for yourself?

I had stumbled across Walter Rhein’s blog, Streets Of Lima, several years ago in a search for something related to American expats living in Peru, which I wished could happen with me. Why? I am married to a Peruvian and although at the time I had only visited Peru once I was quite taken with the country and the people and I felt drawn there. Streets Of Lima was a fun and interesting destination for me where I could at least see someone living where and as I wished I could. My wife doesn’t wish to return to live in Peru or else I think it would have already happened. Fast forward a few years and now I find that Rhein has written a memoir of his time spent living in Peru.
The book is full of what I would expect would be normal experiences for a person living in not just a foreign country but also a foreign way of life. For Rhein it went beyond the normal way of learning a new culture, a new way of life, as he didn’t try to just live it. He attacked it recklessly, full speed ahead without giving thought to the consequences. With too much thought or planning I think he wouldn’t have actually been in the moment and experiencing life. I don’t know if I could have been as brave as he was given my penchant for sticking to the same old same old. Well, at least I used to be that way.
So what is Reckless Traveler about you may ask? If you want stories about embarrassing language gaffes you will find it in this book. If you want stories about being bullheaded about modern medicine and absolutely knowing that traditional ways are useless it’s in this book. If you want stories of devilishly allowing others believe you are a typical gringo who doesn’t even take the time to learn to speak the local language it’s in this book. If you want stories about letting go of the rigid way of thinking life is as you’ve learned and accepting another place based on what it is instead of what it isn’t you will find it in this book. If you want stories of reckless travel to see places and things of incredible beauty you will find it in this book. All told with great humor in a natural way that always left me wanting to read a few pages more, just a few more. That’s the sign of a great book to me.
I’m sure Walter Rhein could have told even more stories and this book could have swelled to two or three times its size but as it is it’s pretty perfect. It left me wanting more, just a little more. I even found myself seeking out my wife to read to her from the pages more than once and she enjoyed the stories as well. Perhaps in a few years there will be a sequel, a volume two. After all, the Walter Rhein still travels to Peru and I believe he is there now as I write this, lucky dog that he is. Books like this make life a lot more enjoyable for me and inspire me to make my dreams come true. Now if only I can figure out a way to make that happen. Buy this book, it’s worth the money, it’s worth the time spent reading it. It’s worth that and much more.
Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

move - New Poem/Lyrics

I'm not a hundred percent satisfied with this most recent piece that came to me on Tuesday but it is what it is. I'll definitely be working on it in the near future. It just feels like it will need something but I can't quite put my finger on it.

                move

don’t like it around here no more

stayed past my welcome
now I feel disconnected
the only thing constant is change
and I’ve got a big one in mind

change my face, change my shape
move out of state, then go further
pull up stakes catch a plane
get the family to rearrange
and then we start to live

a new land’s been calling

better find a way to make it work
words, thoughts and ideas take shape
hindered by self doubt and fear
i just don’t know the language yet

what to do, how to do it
when do I get to live that life

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Lonely Man

This is something I started last Sunday and after a few days I had the time to look over it. I decided to change nothing for now. Perhaps in the future it may evolve but for now it is what it is. By the way, I was thinking of the song "Every Man For Himself" by Articles Of Faith.

A lonely man
A solitary one
Driven by fear
Pain and suffering
Hard lessons learned
Confusion abounds
Reluctant to change
Separate by choice
Suspicious of motive
Of strangers needs
Cynical and twisted
It comes down to
Controlling life's greed

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Air Conditioning Or The Lack Of It

Last Sunday evening my family and I had returned home and as we walked back into the house we immediately knew that something was wrong. Normally we do not have the air conditioning set very low due to my wife's rheumatoid arthritis. Cold air kills her joints and puts her out of commission for a few days until she can recover. Usually the thermostat is kept at seventy-seven degrees which has taken me quite a few years to get used to but I have more or less.

As I said, when we entered the house it was quite apparent that it was hotter than usual, much hotter. I could hear and feel air coming from the vents but a quick check of the thermostat verified that it was eighty-seven degrees in the house. I changed the batteries in the thermostat just in case that was the simple fix but it did nothing. We decided to fold out the bed in the couch for my wife and son and I got the other part of the couch (it's a large wrap-around sectional) and turned on the ceiling fan and two floor fans.

That made it bearable for the night and I texted Tommy to see if he knew anybody that could help us. He gave me a name and a number and luckily the guy was able to come out quickly and he had it fixed in about half an hour. It was a blown capacitor. He gave me some tips on what to do in the future and was on his way. Although it did take some time to bring the temperature back down to normal the effect was noticeable instantly.

It's amazes me that when I was a child we never gave something like air conditioning a second thought. When we visited my grandmother in Kentucky (out in the hollows) she didn't even have a window unit. We never used it in the car either. We just rode with the windows down and I'm sure there were plenty of hot days but it never seemed to register. That's just the way it was and complaining wouldn't help anything.

I haven't had A.C. in my truck since I got it over four years ago and I just deal with it. After all, the summer can only last for so long. But if it's not on in the house then we have a problem. I guess people as a whole are just acclimated to it being there but it wasn't always there. It makes me wonder if that's a good thing or not. On the one hand it's good not to be dependent on things that can go away quite easily. On the other hand though, it just feels so good when you've been outside doing yard work in the hot sun to come inside and cool off.

I guess I just have to deal with the change, it's not like time is going backwards or anything. Although if/when we move to Peru then things will most certainly change because most houses down there don't have A.C. or heating units. It's not standard like it is here and  nobody seems to have a major issue with it. Of course the weather in Lima is much different than here. In their winter the overnight low is only about fifty degrees and in the summer the high is around the mid eighties. Nothing that a portable heater or a fan won't fix. That's a good thing how I see it. Until then though, I'll just have to deal with the conditions here. Until they change again that is.

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.

Something New This Way Comes

I was sitting in church today (skipping my class) and this one came out. It's very rough (okay a lot rough) but it pertains to a couple of things that have been in the back of my mind a lot lately. Sooner or later they'll come rising to the top and there you are. And no it isn't about my sexuality goofballs.

It’s staring me in the face
But I avoid it
A small whisper building to a roar
But I pretend not to hear
So obvious like a slap in the face
But I can’t admit it
 
Too many questions too many what if’s
What can I do what can I say

Is there such a thing as use it or lose it

Or is it never too late to make the change
Adapt and charge indulge your youth
It’s not about who knows just go do it

Don’t wanna live doomed to regret

The perfect idea goes nowhere alone
Unable to live solely within your thoughts
Say it out loud and write it down

The time is soon coming

Written and Published by Don Leach. May not be used without permission from the author.