A New Day

Last night I went to U of I to celebrate Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with my friend K who is Indian (with a dot , not a feather - thanx Kel). The food was well prepared and the entertainment following dinner was great - a mix of prayer, music and dance. At the festival I met a woman and her daughter, Meg. Meg had just returned from Mali after doing a 2 year peace corps stint and was off to grad school in a matter of time. We had great conversation and I thank the universe for placing us together so that we could all share our bits of wisdom with one another. Left me thinking about travel and how it has been awhile since I left the country. Shortly after the exBF and I started dating we took a trip to Costa Rica. What an amazing place. I know that some day soon I would like to go back. When I broke up with the exBF he shared that he had hoped we would return to Costa Rica together where he had planned on proposing. Didn't really know what to do with that information but I certainly won't let the memories of our break up keep me from returning to Latin America. Meg and I seem to be of like mind - travel for the sake of immersing yourself in someone else's culture for a time. I'm not as fond of travel "with 50 % less fat and sugar" but wish to take the time to explore, to spend an afternoon in a cafe drinking coffee and talking. Breathe.
Mom called while K and I were on the road last night. She let me know that the exBF's mom called my Dad on his cell phone yesterday. Mom and Dad were hosting a dinner party at the time. God works in mysterious ways. Mom had some choice things to say and admitted that had she been the one on the other end of the line she would have said "Bi__h either you hang up the phone or I will". Apparently it took Dad 30 minutes to talk the woman down. From what Mom told me their conversation ressembled the voice message that his mom left me the other day. Sigh. I would like her to realize that I dated her son - just because she called me the presumptive daughter-in-law doesn't make me her daughter. I tried my best to work things out. It was never my plan to break her son's heart. I am not gleefully draging it across asphalt as she has implied. Her need to control every aspect of her children's life is disturbing to me - a choice I would not care to make. Bench yourself already woman. I feel like I should write her a letter to let her know how her actions are comming across and how I really wish that she would just allow her son and I to resolve our differences without her help. We'll see...if I do it will have to be carefully writen and well thought out.
On a good note I got my brakes fixed yesterday morning and my friend T stopped by the shop to keep me company. We haven't had much time to talk lately and it was good to catch up. When the car was ready we went out for lunch. He had his own perspective to add to my situation and helped me see where the exBF is comming from. T recently went through a break-up of his own.
With some good strong black tea in me and a conversation with one of my roommates I feel fortified for the day. It is a new day and I embrace it in all its possibilities. I am glad to be alive and grateful for the lessons that I am learning.