A collective memory

Vermont—seasons convulse

Waiting for Godot, Fall your favorite season, Mountains turned unkind.

Minnesota—forward and backward

The air can be soft, Embrace the cold? Or endure, Dormant or garden?

Geneva II—uncertain change

Hiking la Saleve, Time folding into still rooms, COVID solitude.

Colombia—hums, rattles, and roars

A new day begins Dynamic, bright confusion, Rhythm vibrates, friends build.

Geneva I—many hurdles to cross

Check ego at the door, Soldiering through quiet storms, Lake and learning ground.

Debs Park, LA—running and kundalini

Debs Park sun dried paths, Griffith’s trails scheme to open, The unexpected.

Los Angeles, Griffith Park

Los Angeles, Griffith Park

Places and Experiences Shared with Adela

Adela and I shared a life stretched across continents—six places we called home, each one shaping us in its own way: Los Angeles, Geneva (twice), Bogotá, Rochester, and finally Vermont. Each move, each transition, carrie

San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala

San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala

San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala

San Antonio Palopó, Guatemala

San Antonio Palopó, Guatelama

San Antonio Palopó, Guatelama

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Lake Atitlán, Guatemala

Travel with Adela in Guatemala

It is with sadness that I write this note in memory of Adela. My life has long been shaped by displacement—I arrived in the United States as a refugee in the 1980s, surrounded by advocates fighting to address the mass ex

March 2019, Shish Mediterranean Restaurant, St. Paul, MN. My spouse and I were living there and Adela and Todd had just recently moved to Rochester, about an hour and half drive away. She came up to hang out for lunch an

Adela was a friend of mine for around 30 years. So many memories but this photo was from the last time my spouse Donna and I saw Adela. November 2025 in St. Paul, MN. Long story on how we all got to Minnesota but we had

Refinishing and holding the floor

Adela was an unbeknownst master interior floor refinisher. When she saw a flawed floor, she knew it had to be refinished and fixed. It was a metaphor for her life and the issues that she dealt with on a regular basis.

Bogota 2016

Mutual friends introduced us to Adela and Todd when we moved to Bogota in 2012 and we recognised kindred spirits immediately. Sangye and Adela joined a book club soon after, which more often than not became a food club w

Bogota 2016

These fotos were taken some years ago when I had the pleasure of getting to know Adela as we both spent some time in Bogota. Adela was a dear friend in a new country, and we had so much to talk about. So sorry we never g

July 2015. La Paz, Bolivia. Rocio´s house.

Smiles of sisterhood.

The chorus of 'Humano' by ChocQuibtown underscores the fundamental idea that we are all human and should treat each other as brothers and sisters. Instead of criticizing or abandoning someone when they make mistakes, the

Valais, December, 2022.

Valais, December, 2022.

Chamoson, Valais

Chamoson, Valais

My new friend, Adela

I was introduced to Adela in Geneva at a birthday lunch, as a fellow Californian, fun and wine-lover. As I learned she was an avid and impressive backpacker, I invited her for a hike in Chamonix, where we huffed and puff

Dec 2024 in Geneva, Switzerland

We had a nice talk in Geneva at Todd’s farewell party. I will never forget your beautiful smile and kindness. Rest in peace dear Adela.

Not sure how we ended up talking about this song I had never heard! I have laughed at it and with it ever since. Maybe it was because of my coca-cola habit, maybe because you thought our dog Tina should have been called

The inspiring home of Hammarskjold

We admired the men, his dreams. We talked, walked, hoped.

Our home, Sweden, August 2020

We were thrilled to have you over and share our newfound home with you. Sun, friendship, laughter.

Adela and the Colo. Trail

I remember meeting Adela in the early '90's, when I lived in San Diego and would come see friends in LA who were working on immigrant and human rights issues. She was a "force to be reckoned with," and I was glad to meet

Ciudad perdida Colombia August 2017

Ciudad perdida Colombia August 2017

Cuidad Perdida, Colombia

Cuidad Perdida, Colombia

Nevado de Tolima 2018

I met Adela in Bogotà when I became part of a bookclub. Adela and I had a lot in common. We were both runners, yogis, loved books, art and poetry, white wine, dogs, good food and laughing a lot and last but not least we

Adela, Howland and Bahnemann families enjoying wine and pizza at Four Daughters Vineyard & Winery in Spring Valley, MN (Summer 2022).

Adela had an infectious laugh, smile, and personality. Her travel and world experiences always made it fun to share in conversations. Being with her was a joy, whether sharing a meal, doing anything outdoors, talking abo

Our last dinner in Geneva when we ganged-up on Todd and had some good laughs about perceptions, quirks and charachter. I loved the spirit and the lazy walk home on the eve of the next adventure. As a fellow runner it was

"One Tree Hill" by U2 is a poignant exploration of enduring love, resilience, and the profound impact of loss. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the emotional landscape, with the recurring motif of running like a river

AC

Adela was the person with whom I truly enjoyed talking. Conversations always flowed: they shifted from fun and light-hearted to serious and profound, and back. She was incredibly present and engaging in every moment of

Today was Adela’s birthday. I know because she, our friend Tania and I shared the same birthday. We were lucky to celebrate together when we all worked in Bogota. I remember us talking for hours. Some serious issues (Col

Caledonia Soul Music by Van Morrison. The song captures a sense of nostalgia and the uplifting power of music in bringing people together.

U2 was one of Adela's favorites. The song MLK by U2 is a lament for what we have all lost.

We first met Todd and Adela in Colombia in 2012, where Adela became my running buddy for over two years. Then we met again in Geneva a few years later. Thank you Adela for all those long runs and conversations we had tog

Out of all the memories I have of Adela, this might not be the biggest but it is one that hold fondly. During my time staying in Iceland , conducting my research on whales, Adela along with family and friends came to vi

Cooking ceviche in Amorgos

This was taken in Amorgos in a hotel by the port where we were all cooking ceviche and who knows what else together. Cooking togethere, eating, drinking, laughing and singing and definately having good fun- this is how I

Αmorgos, 2018

This was taken in Amorgos, summer of 2018. I dont remember much of that day, but I do remember this trip being filled with joy and laughter and a lot of walking around nature a lot, as it was always the case when traveli

Esta canción le gustaria a ADELA. Ivan Yunid

I didn’t know Adela well, but there was an exuberance and warmth about her that was contagious. So many people want to talk about themselves; Adela was genuinely interested in the other. So saddened she is no longer with

Gooseberry Falls hike, along the north shore in Minnesota

My kids instantly loved Adela. And my dog knew she was a good soul too.

Santa Fe

Such fun spending the day in Santa Fe with Adela.

Taos, New Mexico

Adela and Todd visited us several times in Taos. When my husband was sick, she offered a steady comfort, unmatched empathy and genuine listening. Her friendship and deep caring for our family was a potent balm. What a

Hanging out in Bogota

Hanging out in Bogota

(I shared the following on Facebook last week when I learned of Adela's death, so some of you may already have read it. I know Adela wouldn't mind me quoting/plagiarizing myself, and I also know we would have mocked me a

Adela was the kind of friend who becomes family.

Here is a more polished version that keeps the warmth, humor, and intimacy of your original memory: Adela and I met at a social club in Bogotá, Colombia, a place that, ironically, neither of us ever really attended ag

ADELITA

Para ADELITA: Extrañándote quer♥️da Adela: No me recuerdo el año, ni el mes (quizás es 2012, porque Angela no había nacido aún) pero si te recuerdo a TI, ADELA. Te recuerdo como si fuera hoy. Todd acababa de contarm

Healers' afternoon

With gratitude and nostalgia, I remember that magical afternoon preparing k+dobe and noterau, as the wise old man called the plants in his language. By the stove, our hands stained with plant juices, we laughed and fe

Adela and I spent such a fun time laughing stupidly at this song in Iceland while chasing , as in the photo, waterfalls. And dancing. And laughing. And sharing stories about our relationships with our loved animals. I wi

In Iceland, a very very very cold day

Resting our feet on a hot spring outside Reykjavik during a very cold walk in Iceland. One of the best holidays of my life, in the best company possible. With laughter love and so much joy.

In Iceland, in one of the best trips of my life

She came to visit among friends in Iceland and we had some of the best trips ever. With a lot of walking, driving, drinking red wine in the Airbnb at the end of a long cold day, chatting about feminism and rights and pl

The whole crew. Highland Park, Los Angeles

Part of our crew from back in the day, Adela, Evangeline, Maria, Martin all bought houses within minutes of each other in adjoining L.A. neighborhoods. Adela treated us all to dinner at this hipster Spanish restaurant in

Girls (Adela, Evangeline, Anita) brunch Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles

Girls (Adela, Evangeline, Anita) brunch Rancho Palos Verdes, Los Angeles

Birthday Lunch at Casita Mexicana in Los Angeles 2022

Birthday Lunch at Casita Mexicana in Los Angeles 2022

Friends in Arizona

Friends in Arizona