Presidential Palace in Asunción

2011
     
Lucas and I returned to Santa Fe, but in December, I had to turn around and go back to Paraguay, to Asuncion. My mother had been diagnosed with brain cancer and had only two months to live. I had a wonderful time with her and my siblings once more. My mom and I read a whole book together. Then she flew away with 2010 to the nether realms. I am so grateful that Lucas met her and for all those days we spent together as a family. I felt even more charged to renew my efforts on BETWEEN LIFETIMES.

While I was in Asuncion,  I heard a story from the housekeeper, about truckloads of body parts that the military had dumped in the slum where she lives. This happened during the Coup-d'etat, when President Stroessner was run out of Paraguay after a streak of 34 years of iron rule. That incident and others, gave me an idea for a new script. It's amazing how one gets impressed as a tourist -that is what I am now to Paraguay- and then inch by inch one falls in love with it again. There is no way to completely decipher human nature. Thank God for small things.

After missing two flights back and making it to my mother's funeral in a serendipitous turn of events, I was back at Crystal Mesa Farm.

It is time to look for locations, refine the script, always be aware of the funding, break down the script, put together a crew, and pay for it all somehow, either with money, sweat, or shares.

In April, we visited with Alan, a line producer who we liked right away, because of his earnest, simple approach to life and filmmaking. If I can work with this man once, it will be worthwhile. And should once be good, why not do it always? I am a sucker for small crowds, which renders me mediocre in the shmoozing realm. But I am a firm believer that, at the right time, the right people and funding come together. One has to keep the senses open to seize these instances.

So, is life easy? Absolutely not. That is not why I came here to earth. But life is exciting, challenging, and full of surprises.