"Hamburger Feet"

The timing could not have been better, at the exact moment that I had come within reasonable pickup distance from my brother Joel's house in Alameda, my feet had reached a level of deterioration I can only describe as, "hamburger feet." Yes that means blood, peeling, pus and bruising. Regardless I could not help but feel supremely satisfied with the accomplishments of the week prior, my brain was telling me... its all good keep going with it, experience as much as you can before you head North again. But my body was singing a very different tune, stop, Stop, STOP DAMMIT! Unable to argue with a voice that obnoxious I stopped. I shot my brother Joel an email, and presto im living slow, and easy again. First thing to strike a chord, in my now, very relaxed state, was the contrasting environment. I had already become quite comfortable living on nothing, and bouncing around moment to moment. But within a matter of 15 minutes from sending my email, my brother an aspiring brew master, and his 7 months pregnant wife Chantel were treating me to what tasted like the food of kings, and a some very, very fresh brew. I was overcome with a feeling of heart felt gratitude. This forced me to ponder deeply something that has been on my heart from the start... Im traveling the world living on kindness,hoping that people will let their guards down long enough to buy in to the message, but I sure feel like I am doing allot of "taking" from my hosts. This is really not the message I want to send to people. What can I do reciprocate all of this kindness? So right there... I made a pact with myself, to make everything I have to give, available to every single person that I meet. "So to any future hosts that might be reading this in anticipation of my arrival. Take note, and please allow me the opportunity to give back, I really want to!" After a couple of slow days with Joel and Chantel, I was kindly passed along to another relative that lived further North, and had agreed to let me continue my recovery at her house. She had also promised to tour me around her neck of the woods to get a taste of the local music scene. I cant wait!