17 Comments
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Patricia McDonald's avatar

Jan, you are a “writer” who captures the reader’s attention.

Stories such as you describe here open heads and hearts on multiple levels.

Keep writing and telling these stories!

They open up heads, hearts, minds, bodies and “souls” - thank you my friend! You enlighten souls!

The Parliament of world religions brought us together-for this I am grateful my friend!

Pat McDonald

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Thank you, Pat. You are kind. I appreciate you so much.

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Liz's avatar

Wow-- I must read this several times to take in the twists and turns and details! So many intertwined relationships and discoveries! It's so cool you were there to see it unfold, Jan, and documented it so well. Incredible.

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Thank you, Liz. It was pretty amazing. Absolutely not what we expected! and... life is like that, in so many ways...

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Eleonore Aubry's avatar

Thank you for sharing this beautiful story in such details and with such eloquence!

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Thank you , Eleonore. You are kind. I've never asked - do you have Italian heritage?

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Eleonore Aubry's avatar

I do not. I have childhood memories in Sicily and close friends near my place from my youth. I have a feeling of connection to Sicily which I cannot explain so I must have been in Sicily in a previous life ☺️

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Jan Peppler's avatar

❤️ well you were fortunate to spend time there as a child. That’s powerful. The landscapes of our good childhood experiences are imprinted on our psyches. Maybe a former life, but most certainly this one!

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Cool Beans Expat Club's avatar

Wow Jan! What a story! I agree with the other comments, you keep me glued until the end! Cannot wait to discover the rest!

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Thanks! Did you read part one? Part 2 was all for now… 😉

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RenoQueen's avatar

This is wonderful and it makes me think that none of this might have unfolded without that cup of coffee. Each of your stories feels like a gift and a reminder of the importance of both seeking and connecting with people. And there is luck too. Did you ever read this story https://www.smh.com.au/world/little-boy-lost-a-25year-odyssey-20120323-1vp65.html It blew my mind when I read it.

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Yes! That cup of coffee! And- and this is equally as important- that I went ahead and took the time to do that for myself even when everyone else was waiting. Which is to say, sometimes it looks like we are inconveniencing others or rather we don’t do something for ourselves out of fear of inconveniencing others. And yet as this example shows, if I hadn’t stopped for that coffee, it’s very very possible that none of what happened would have happened.

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RenoQueen's avatar

I have to constantly remind myself to slow down so your story is just another great reminder. I feel that stress too about inconveniencing others and sometimes there is no real rush other than the rush we create in our heads.

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Jan Peppler's avatar

So true, right??

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kevin laughlin's avatar

Just back from HOME. Glad for your mysteries and memories of family. See you on the 19th for the IFJ program on HOME. Till then, keep cool and wander & wonder in nature... YOU are the BEST!

Kevin Laughlin

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Francine Casalino Laura's avatar

What a wonderful story! It gives me hope that I may still be able to find my long lost Sicilian relatives.

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Jan Peppler's avatar

Yes!! Miracles happen 💚🤍❤️

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