Amaryllis

I've always noticed amaryllis flowers. They are definitely a favorite but I have never seen an amaryllis plant as beautiful and as prolific as this Chilean one in the photo above.  Although this is a closeup of only one blossom there were actually six perfect blossoms on the same plant.  Flowers are just one more thing I appreciate--in someone else's house.  I have killed more innocent plants than I care to count.  I even manage to damage the "no brainer" green plants that supposedly "anyone" can grow.  I hear stories of people putting their poinsettias in a basement or garage and holding them over to the next year--and the next.  Not me.  I can always count on budgeting for new poinsettias every Christmas season.

Hmmm.  For someone who claims to be a participant in life, I must confess that in not a few areas I am a total, but very enthusiastic, spectator.  Like Pablo Neruda who never played an instrument but collected them for their form, who was afraid of water and couldn't swim but collected all things nautical and marine, I too collect and appreciate many things I can view and enjoy but not play, grow or create.    In Neruda's case his many collectables became subject matter for several volumes of odes.

Most of my collections are inadvertant, accidental or impulsive ones.  The only intentional collection  is our collection of people.  Since 1980 we have hosted over 400 international adults in our home.  Most stayed two or three nights (Servas Travelers).  Others stayed five weeks (Denver International Program participants.)  Still others we hosted  for a month or two while they attended immersion classes in English at a local language school. A final group we call our "Friends and Family" program as it consists of friends and relatives referred to us by  the official participants of all the other programs.  It is this people collection that gives me the most pleasure--and the one that I nurture and tend and love the very most.

Comments

[Carmen]

Debby, Hi, I want to congratulate you about your blog too, I wrote Paulita and her blog is also great. I thank you both for your words about us and our country. Also I`m really impressed for the ship that Bob finished, I`ts amaizing, wonderfull. Love you Carmen

[Paula]

I am so very thrilled to be one of the people you have collected over the years! And because of you, our recent trip to Chile was the first one I've taken that was really more about the people than the place. Being such a nature nut, most of my travels are about the place - the landscape, geography, weather, topography, nature, woods, water, etc. All of those things were very much a part of Chile too, but when I think back on our trip, it is the people from your (and now mine) "collection" that is what I will always remember.