BORN AGAIN

Joe attempts to snap out of his malaise by taking a bus from Quito to Banos, and comes upon a restaurant where he meets...
It turns out the gentleman who takes my order has long blonde hair and speaks Spanish with a rather heavy Italian accent. I ask him (in broken Spanish) if he’s maybe Northern Italian? He replies yes, he is from Milan! I excitedly go on to tell him that my father/grandfather come from Sicily.
BAM!
We become instant friends!
He sets me up with a room upstairs, and we hang out late that night drinking copious amounts of excellent Italian red wine, with his woman, Corina, an Ecuatoriana who is the actual owner of Cafe Hood, and speaks English pretty well.
By the time I head upstairs to bed in a rather pleasant drunken stupor, my spirits have been lifted massively. The next day, I go with Ivan (The Italian guy) to the famed aguas caliente, which he goes to everyday, and excitedly extolls their many health benefits to me. The funny thing is, this guy knows everybody in Banos, man. He’s introducing me all over the place, the aguas caliente, the bars, the town square - everywhere. It’s like ten days of constant drinking and celebration.
After that, I start making my own way around town - hiking, exploring, etc., when I meet this kid Patricio. Suddenly, we become fast friends too, and he soon introduces me to his entire family - with a special introduction to his lovely younger sister, Rocia. This takes things up another notch on the merriment level!
Dancing. Partying.
Yeah. This weekend we all go out to this local club, The Leprechaun. Me, Patricio, Rocia, and their cousin Miguel. After a few drinks, it’s like some kind of spiritual euphoria overtakes me.
Man, I still have the rhythm!
Holy shit! I can still do it!
My body just starts moving in pure inspiration.
Synchronicity. Abandonment.
I feel more alive now than I have in years… over a decade - easy. I mean, I feel like I’m back in Rudy’s, a great old dive bar in 1980’s Hell’s Kitchen. Back to the good ole days. The pimps, prostitutes, drug dealers, all cheering me on as I jump off tables and do - ‘The Push-Up Dance’. Pure joy, man. It’s like I am one with the beat again, adrenaline flowing, and I have transcended normal reality. Rocia, Patricio, Miguel, and their friends are both amazed, and amused.
All these young cuties are flirting with me - and I’m 43!
Oh my God!
A second youth.
After a long time, I head out into the night air - my clothes, my body, my hair drenched in sweat. I thirstily pound down beer after beer. Looking up at the clear sky, I savor the moment, thanking the Universe for permitting me this miracle.
The joy goes on for maybe another couple of weeks… more hanging out with Ivan at Cafe Hood, the aguas calientes, the bars. We - me, Rocia, Patricio and Miguel go hiking, and especially dancing.
Man, it’s fuckin’ crazy!