It is the middle of October 2006.  After visiting Panama
in our RV, Mark, the dogs, and I crossed back into Nicaragua
a few days prior, and are now in the good company of Chris and Mel from Canada.  We met them for the first time in Antigua, Guatemala,
on our way down to Panama.  That was already four months ago!  This time, we share a wonderful campground
off the beaten track, near San Juan
Del Sur.  It’s great to see them again.  We have a lot of catching up to do, and enjoy
relaxing on the beach for a couple of days.

One of the evenings, Aaron and Amy come over.  This is like a big reunion and reminds us of
the time we found each other in Antigua.  What a strange and interesting event that
was…  Out of the blue, three other North
American couples showed up at the square we were parked.  All young, with dogs, and traveling around Central America with their small camper.  There we were, in the middle of this
Guatemalan town, finally having a chance to be social: eight “kids”, five dogs
and four white vehicles.  It sure was a funny
sight, and we had a great time together. 

We discover that Aaron and Amy are renting a luxurious villa
in the hills near San Juan Del Sur.  When our campground closes for the season,
the four of us are invited to stay in the house.  Speaking of a spoil…  Mark and I stay for five days, and enjoy
every minute of it.  Our hosts are very
inviting and generous.  We all play
games, exchange stories, cook meals together, have cocktails, relax in the
hammocks, go for a swim in the pool, watch the sun set over the ocean, and just
chill.  Aaron makes his famous lasagna,
entertains the crowd with all his stories, chases off a tarantula, a scorpion,
and a few frogs.  He’s the initiative
taker and brings people together with his genuine personality.  We are all amazed at how quickly he makes
friends and envy his knowledge of the Spanish language.  He also talks about his passion for spear
fishing, a trade he learned on this trip. 
Being in foreign countries for quite a while now, it is a real relief to
be among friends, speaking our own language and doing “Western” things for a
bit.  It charged everybody’s batteries
and we were very appreciative of Aaron and Amy’s hospitality.  We said our goodbyes in hopes of catching up
again somewhere in the future.

After this stay, we all went our separate ways.  Our four friends headed South, Mark and I
drove North, towards the United
States. 
Through websites, we followed each other’s adventures, dropping a note
once in a while.  And then, recently, I
got a devastating email from Amy…  In a
group email, she wrote that Aaron died in Mexico, while spear fishing!  Mark and I are shocked and in disbelief.  We can’t help but think about their great
voyage and the unfortunate way it all ended. 
We hope Amy and the dogs get through this tough period, with a lot of
support and friendship.  Aaron was a
great guy, and we are very happy to have met him.  He was an example to all of us, living life
the way he wanted to live it.  He died,
doing something he loved. And there is some reprieve about that.  Aaron and Amy are in our minds and we still
cherish those memorable moments we shared on the road.  Once again, we realize life is precious and
it should be enjoyed as much as possible…