I treated myself to a haircut and pedicure today. My taxi driver friend picked me up and is escorting me wherever I want to go.

It is a strange atmosphere here in Managua. I would call it SOBER .
The hair shop where i go is usually very busy and I always have to wait. Today it was different. Hardly anyone there and nobody was joking and laughing like before. SOBER. I mean, the stylists were friendly and as always, did a great job. But no smiles. There was a tension.

As I rode with my Taxi friend, I noticed something – how could I not. There were non-smiling police everywhere. EVERYWHERE; Lined down the roads.

I still have a dentist appt but there was a gap of 2 hours between appointments (due to the less time required for my first appt). What to do? I got dropped off at the big, popular Mall – Galeria. (I had already resolved to shop in only particular stores.) The atmosphere here is so SOBER.

I am hungry so I came to the restaurant part. Well, maybe I won’t take photos but it is empty. So empty.
And not even music playing. Que triste.

Please understand that, by nature, the Nica people are a welcoming people. I always feel like they ‘See’ me. But today people are introspective.

What effect has this experience had on me? Am I tempted to find another country to experience? NO WAY. These are my people and I am theirs.

My heart is heavy but I will hold on tight to HOPE and the FAITH that there is still the amazing Divine Presence that has guided me here for so many years and also has given me so many stories to share. We here are NOT abandoned. The future is still coming and the Nica smiles will once again shine, and when they do, so will mine.