"You know how I'm sure they're finished out there?"The carts. They're using carts to move their wounded and the supplies."
I could hear George C. Scott's voice as clear as that. In my mind, of course. The George C. Scott who transformed himself into George Patton, that is.
But why that quotation? There I was in the Los Angeles Airport waiting for the next leg of my flight. This time to Manzanillo. And a week of confirming whether I wanted to spend the rest of my life in Mexico.
What would make me think of one of the most famous war movies of all time -- at that moment? And then it struck me. Just like George Patton knew that the Germans had lost the war when they needed to resort to carts, I could see what was happening around me.
I have written before how flying is no longer an adventure. At one point, I referred to it as the penance we must serve for our enjoyable vacations.
But that penance has the sense of being a war refugee. In the waiting area, there was almost no noise. People stared blankly into the middle distance. Not really looking at anything. Just waiting, Waiting for all of this to be over. And, in the background, the uneven clicking and clattering of luggage wheels.
But George Patton was wrong. Some of us were on our way to new adventures. Adventures that would include:
- A new town
- Some challenging weather
- The joys and travails of the beach
- New neighbors
- A new culture
- The challenges of Spanish
- Lessons of a new house
Over the next few days, I will share what I learned -- and put some questions to those of you who have been through this.
So join me as I toss my bag aboard the 10:45 to Manzanillo, and we will share a week of experiences together.
I'm about ready to slap you! I want to hear it ALL and hear it NOW! And yet you are dragging it out, enticing us all. I just can't wait to read the next installment!
ReplyDeleteFabulous sunrise! Sunset? Anyway, fabulous. Sometime we ought to each post our favorite sunset shot. Or has it been done to death?
ReplyDeleteI with Wayne. I have experienced a LOT of people that made a quick trip to Mexico to never return - something you certainly are entitled to - but then perhaps I am jumping the gun here.
ReplyDeleteThat written I should mention that no one should make a living decision in a week - especially Mexico where life runs much slower then the typical gringo reality. Mexico is about subtleties. It is more direct - less between you and the actual threads of life.
Of course I am prejudice towards my part of Mexico where it is more tropical and less arid than much of Mexico. Also where you can experience tiny villages and big city within 15 miles or less - burros and hummers sort of speak.
It is past time for you to spill your guts hombre - remember I was the guy that wanted you to take a laptop ;-)
Pushy aren't I?
Sky on fire.....great photo.
ReplyDeleteOkay, stop teasing us. I want the bottom line and then you can fill in the blanks. Are you renting the house?????
Bliss -- It is a sunset. Melaque has some glorious ones over the bay.
ReplyDeleteWayne -- If the Indiana Jones franchise can reinvent the serial model, I can just as easily jump on the band wagon.
Juan and Billie -- One virtue I hae learned on my trips to Mexico is patience. Actually, what I have learned is that mañana is a mindset I can live with.
ReplyDeleteThis approach also gives me an opportunity to see if I can reconcile some of my thoughts. We will soon know how it works.
So, what did you bring us?
ReplyDeleteI am ready to burst. I want to hear it now. I am not a patient person. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunset photo! I look forward to more.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Kim G
Boston, MA
(where occasionally sunrise over the bay is breathtaking)
Kim -- Melaque has the most amazing sunsets I have seen. I suspect it must be the mix of the east-west axis, the humidity, the background clouds, and the angle of the sun. Whatever it is, when the rains part, we always get an amazing show.
ReplyDelete