Completed Highpoint

Welcome to another chapter of my favorite Jewish Proverb: If you want to make God laugh, make plans.

 

I was so excited to be invited to contribute to MedeSax, El Festival International de Saxofon de Medellin. This was a beautiful experience, with beautiful people, in a beautiful place, expertly created and administered by Esneider Valencia Hernandez.

 

As I often do when I travel for work, I arranged to stay longer, and spent months planning to complete the Lost City Trek, a 70 km trek on ancient trails carved in mountain and jungles with an indigenous guide. This was to be an opportunity to see one of the most important archeological sites in Colombia, and visit native communities to learn about their culture and traditions.

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However, after my last masterclass, a wonderful student I had just worked with waved to me outside on the sidewalk. I looked up to wave back, not noticing the pavement was uneven, and rolled my ankle. I visited the ER, received excellent medical care, including X-rays, and an injection of pain medication, all for a grand total of $75 USD (!!) It’s not broken, but it is a bad sprain. So, crutches, wheelchairs, and an early return home for me. And no Lost City.

 

It’s a sprained ankle, not cancer. I have perspective. It even happened after I performed and taught. However, I’m sad and disappointed to not have my adventure in the Sierra Nevada.

 

So I did what I was able to do. I highpointed the 4th floor the Hotel Casa Laureles, where I was staying.

 

And I set down Lyn Harper’s ceramic art in a natural location very near my room that I could hobble to.

 

And since Medellin is the only city in the world that uses cable cars as a means of public transportation, I rode on the metrocable to be above Comuna 13. It wasn't a summit, but it was still a highpoint of sorts.

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To state the obvious, sometimes life does not go as planned. Best-laid plans often go awry... and all that. Sometimes we have to pivot and do our best in the circumstances we have.

 

Injuries carry weight. Human bodies can be both fragile and strong. They get sick. They break. Sometimes they heal. Sometimes they don’t. It’s best when they are respected and cared for.

 

To quote the newest entry in the “carries weight stories”, “Solo lo perfecto sucede”, which means, “Only perfection happens.” Thanks for your insights, Javier.