I am back in Melaque.
After 12 hours of sleep, it was good to be walking the streets of my little village again. Where birdsong -- and the occasional gas truck -- acts as my alarm clock.
I followed the weather here on the internet while I was gone. The worst part of summer seemed to linger through all of November. Giving some of the earlier visitors from The Great Frozen North a taste of what we face in the hottest season.
But last night night was cool enough for a sheet over me in bed. And this morning was made for walking.
The day had me in a great mood.
Then I happened across a couple of scowling men. From their pallor, I assumed they were recently-arrived northern tourists. My Chamber of Commerce gene kicked in. I would lead them to a happier place.
I followed their gaze. Two streets leading to the beach had been excavated. Probably awaiting new pavers.
"Interesting," said I. "How long has this project been going on?"
The Scowler-in-Chief looked at me as if I had just broken up their Rotary meeting.
"Too long. What is wrong with these people? Why do they wait until people are here to start tearing things up?"
I ignored the venom in his "these people" comment.
"Actually, people are here all year long. Tourists come every season."
The S-in-C gave me the same irritated look, as he clipped out: "People with dollars. The people who keep this place running." Completely oblivious to the three young Mexican workers standing nearby who were simply shaking their heads.
I have written on this attitude before (for whom the taco bell tolls and breaking spring). The belief that Mexico is a Disneyland that operates several months in the winter solely for the benefit of people north of the Rio Bravo. Where only the best services can be expected at criminally-low prices.
My mood was too good to spread the pearls of cheer in that particular wallow. So, I wandered off to buy some pesos -- for time on my mobile telephone and to pre-pay internet time for my next journey north.
It is good to be back in a world where the potential for stress is legion -- and where so little energy needs to be spent to keep it at bay.
Mexico may not be home. But it is certainly a place where I feel free to enjoy life in the manner it is served to me.
Even when my neighbors seem to do their best to trap the unwary tourist. The hole is man-sized. Where the sidewalk ends. The broken chair is a warning that a distracted pedestrian could have similar legs.
My, that's quite a hole.
ReplyDeleteHonduras has so many holes, crevasses, cave-ins that I heartily dislike night driving. One never knows if a hole is marked or not. I noted that you wrote, "Mexico may not be home." I understand. Really, I do.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have been a Rotarian, unless they were a very young Rotarians, and I doubt younger people would be retired....
ReplyDeleteOld Rotarian's simply no longer give a xxxx about being bothered by the nuances of day to day life, no matter North or South of the border.
Must have been Shriners, or some sect of the Masonic Lodge....you know the real old stogy folks with the funny hats.....
Glad to see you back in civilization, try to get your ducks in order NOB and stop this foolishness of Bi-Continental living....'
Maybe the S-in-C (or was that SOB?) should consider that it's not all that nice for folk in Melaque to be doing heavy labor in the heat of the summer. Perhaps you could have asked him how those major road repairs were coming in January in Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteSaludos,
Kim G
Boston, MA
Where very little heavy work gets done in the depths of winter.
"Giving some of the earlier visitors from The Great Frozen North a taste of what we face in the hottest season."
ReplyDeleteYes, I felt that heat then, but had a great time, regardless. And I always do!
On the other hand, some people, always have something to complain about, sounds like they have not learned how to enjoy life, and we have all met them...
The heat was not one of the things I missed while I was in Oregon.
ReplyDeleteThe other reason is that it usually rains most of he summer months -- making road repair highly impractical. But logic was not at issue. It was a traveling grump show. I always wonder why people spend so much money going to new places when they could complain at home.
ReplyDeletePoint well taken. The reference was an inside joke for a Rotarian friend.
ReplyDeleteNor do I need a home right now. There will be plenty of time fr that later in life. If I prove to be unlucky.
ReplyDeleteWhen we say "man-hole" in Mexico, we mean it. The Bolivians could have used something like this to capture Che.
ReplyDeleteWell we Rotarians do have good sense of humors.....
ReplyDeleteI am one myself.
ReplyDeleteI actually feel that Mexico is home. I was terrified by the idea that we might have to go north again when we were having visa problems. Actually we would probably have gone south if things had not worked out.
ReplyDeleteYour "S in C" is why I prefer to live in Mexican neighbourhoods.
And it is why I love my neighborhood in Villa Obregon.
ReplyDelete