Happy Birthday to me!

Greetings, friends! Today, I turned 48, and I decided to celebrate by taking a trip to Central America. As I am typing this, I am in Panama. As a small business owner, there is no such thing as a real vacation, so between working, I am exploring the local Panamanian community. Where I am staying reminds me of neighborhoods east of the Anacostia river. Certain blocks are more revitalized than others, but history, art, and charm are on almost every corner, and the Panamanian people have been kind and welcoming. My AirBnB host, Elana, reminds me of myself from my early years living and working east of the river. Educating visitors, encouraging them to look beyond their biases and prejudices, and enjoying the authenticity and charm of interacting in a community of people.

It seems like yesterday, when I was 30, I purchased my first home, a little one-bedroom condo in Congress Heights. That decision led to other great milestones, such as my initiation into life east of the river. It's a weird thing to be able to walk the streets of Historic Anacostia and notice how many things have changed from the days when we tied a string from Honfleur Gallery down Good Hope Road and up MLK, Jr. Avenue up to Vivid Solutions Gallery. The buildings between have evolved from vacant and blighted to occupied and vibrant. One thing that has never changed is the sense of community pride. What a beautiful thing to see.

That's all for now. Must dash for a walking tour of Casco Viejo!