Brooke Lewis

A Terrifying Encounter with Colombian Police and Vigilantes

EXPAT TERROR Colombian vigilantes: the good, the bad, and the dangerous Ecoparque Río Pance in Cali, Colombia. — Photo by Author. Lying on the hot asphalt, helpless and terrified, with a pistol pointed squarely at my head, I desperately searched my husband’s face, seeking comfort in his expression. I needed some indication that he believed everything would beContinueContinue reading “A Terrifying Encounter with Colombian Police and Vigilantes”

Please Don’t Ask Me, “How’s your Mom?”

Trying to hold it together as I am losing my best friend.Mom and I in 90’s when I wasn’t feeling well. — Photo by Author.Several months ago, I ran into an old friend of Mom’s, the mother of one of my own friends, at a local store during a particularly hard time. Mom had just totaled her car whichContinueContinue reading “Please Don’t Ask Me, “How’s your Mom?””

My Pain Has a Name: Adult Orphan Syndrome

GRIEF AND HEALINGGiving My Painful Emotions a Name Brought a Sense of ReliefNo Roots, Just Wings — Painting and Image by AuthorFor a decade, I thought losing my father suddenly at 19 was the most challenging trauma I would face. It took work and dedication, but my mother, sister, and I mourned, healed, and continued living.That was before my mom’sContinueContinue reading “My Pain Has a Name: Adult Orphan Syndrome”

Painting Beautiful Brains

PROCESSING PAIN THROUGH CREATIVITYBright, colorful brains helped erase the haunting, grey MRI imagesCollage of Brain Paintings — Paintings and Photos by the Author.Two years ago, a fall led to the discovery of my mom’s brain tumor, stage-4 GBM. I was already experienced reading MRIs after losing my dad in 2010 to a brain injury sustained in a motorcycle accident.IContinueContinue reading “Painting Beautiful Brains”

The Panama City Paradox

TRAVEL FOR CULTUREWild yet industrialized, modern yet historic, foreign yet indigenous, wealthy yet impoverished, independent yet influenced, making sense of a visit to Panama CityThe Canal Monument in France Square in Casco Viejo, Panama City, Panama — Photo by Author.Panama City’s Casco Viejo neighborhood provides a unique perspective of the city, both physically and metaphorically. Recently, I visited the areaContinueContinue reading “The Panama City Paradox”

No Roots, Just Wings

Reflecting on Life and LossThe Tattoo on My Shoulder Doesn’t Mean What It Used ToPhoto of my Roots and Wings tattoo drawing by Christopher McDonald — Photo by Author.The tattoo on my shoulder reads, “You can have Roots and Wings.” Inspired by the poem Roots and Wings by Denis Waitley, I got it in 2016.It comforted me when I struggledContinueContinue reading “No Roots, Just Wings”

Terremoto Terror: Earthquake in Cali, Colombia

TRAVEL EMERGENCY PREPBlizzards I can handle, but when the Earth started shaking, I frozeCali, Colombia, and the Andes Mountains, located along the Pacific Ring of Fire — Photo by Author.As I step out of the kitchen, looking down at my phone, I’m struck by the notion something isn’t right.First, I discern an odd rattling sound I can’t quite attributeContinueContinue reading “Terremoto Terror: Earthquake in Cali, Colombia”

Panama is Wild: Sloth Edition

Take a hike with me up the rainforest mountain located in the middle of Panama City, PanamaView from Cerro Ancon — Photo by AuthorI recently found myself planning a last-minute getaway to Panama City. Not out of a desire to start the new year with travel, although it turned out to be an incredible kickoff to 2024. I actuallyContinueContinue reading “Panama is Wild: Sloth Edition”

To Ser or To Estar? That is the Real Question

Part 1: To be, Ser, and Estar tips from a former Spanish teacherImage by author.Years of thinking about language and attempting to simplify concepts to put them into terms teenagers could understand have helped me understand them and explain them better. Below, you will find my concise (as possible) explanation of how to understand ser and estarContinueContinue reading “To Ser or To Estar? That is the Real Question”

Ser and Estar in the Present Progressive and Perfect Tense

Part 2: Ser and Estar tips from a former Spanish teacherImage by author.The present progressive and perfect tense are two somewhat more complex sentences using Ser and Estar for many native English speakers. That’s because these sentences use “to be” as gerunds and participles in addition to simple verbs. Although we often use these sentences in English,ContinueContinue reading “Ser and Estar in the Present Progressive and Perfect Tense”