The only real reason for this “about me” is so you’ll have a clue whose stuff you’re reading, and if it is worth your while…
Mom – an American translator who grew up in Costa Rica (my granddad ran a gold mine there). Dad – a Costa Rican writer, journalist, TV producer/director, etc. who has by now been married 7 times. I first learned Spanish, then English.
Childhood was defined by travel, growing up between countries. Once my adventurous mom took us on a banana freighter from NY to Panama – unforgettable as we stopped along the islands, with my mother, brother and I, as well as a priest and a nun, as the only passengers. Another trip took us to Peru, to Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. She worked for the UN. With my dad, I grew up bouncing around the countryside in the back of a jeep, as he interviewed all kinds of characters and photographed the countryside. He taught me to love real people and getting stuck in the mud. My creative parents taught me to be comfortable with both presidents and campesinos.
Empty
My dad left us when I was about 4. Though he is my hero now, when he left my mother, I felt the shocking emptiness of a disappeared dad. I have always thought that pain of abandonment is the closest thing to hell someone can experience in this life.
One night when I was 13, I cried out, “God, I want to meet you! I have to meet you! Please!” Such a deep cry. The next morning, I suddenly felt enveloped by the arms of the Father. A river of joy rushed in my back and out my chest. I sensed God saying, “Here I am.” Amazing love. That river has never left.
I know that might not make sense to you, but that is how I became a God-follower.
Diplomacy
I went to Trenton Central High School in NJ – typical inner city environment. There were constant ethnic and racial tensions between Hispanics, African Americans, and Italians. I think that is where I learned to be a diplomat!
When I was 17 we moved to Chile with the UN. Got to attend the most expensive school in the country, with diplomats’ kids, but that didn’t last long – I couldn’t stand their detachment from reality! I studied theatre in Santiago, during the Pinochet dictatorship. Hanging out with other actors under a brutal dictatorship was definitely an education.
At 19 I joined the crew of the ship MV Doulos (run by an NGO) in Brazil. I was thrilled to be in a community of world-changers! We traveled the world, distributing educational literature – over 350 young people, from more than 50 nations, working together. Multi-cultural is an understatement.
My Man
So this guy was on the ship… (the juicy details are in my blog posts from May and June 2009). Peter. He was South African, high energy, politically conscious, tons of fun, a strong leader with a pastoral heart. We’ve been married quite a long time now… We have four amazing kids that are trying hard to grow us up. We have a software development company called Riovivo Solutions, and figure if we’re still on the planet, it is because we have a lot of work still to do.
