North Carolina and Me

My first entry from my new world, Asheville North Carolina.  Technically I live in Candler, which is about ten minutes out into the country.  And country it is!  Wildlife galore, fields and trees and this incredible new plant that I think is chokevine but is everywhere and it's a blast to pull as it goes on forever.  Very satisifying.  I've done a whole weekend of yardwork the last two days with the help of the ever lovely Molly and our new vagabond friend Jacob.  He's a traveling minstrel hippie who we invited to stay the weekend in exchange for manual labor.  And that boy can rake!  He did about 11 hours of it.  And it was very fun to have company and get to know a traveling minstrel hippie. 

My life here is very good so far.  The house is great, Molly is teaching me to eat healthy, and my cats have settled right in.  I've gotten a chance to unbox my treasures, my swords and knives and masks and crazy art that all scream me.  That's something I've really missed the last few years, the stuff that makes me feel like myself.  It's finally on display, as I am in writing this to the world. 

It's been quite a journey, getting here.  I've gained and lost friends, I've learned what I can and cannot do.  What I can and cannot take.  I've learned that people can be fickle creatures, but that they can also be wonderful and just what you need at the right moment.  I thank the maker for my friends and family, those who have supported me in this, the biggest most difficult change I've made in my life.  And it's feeling like one of the most positive too.  I'm living the dream, having that adventure that I've talked about for so many years.  And this blog will hopefully make you laugh, make you feel, make you learn who Shanti really is.  And also get my name out into the world of the interweb, where my books will hopefully be in the next couple months.

So greetings and salutations from Candler to you, and let the journey begin!