A hearty handshake between Fidel & Mel. For those of you that think no one visits Veracruz – well Mel Gibson was here yesterday – once again.

I caught the above photo on our Governor’s web site. There is a link over to the left of here as well as a link to Mexico News (in English) – both are good resources if you are here – or even if not

The news on Mel is he visited a prison in Veracruz yesterday, reportedly to scout locations for a new movie. Gibson filmed Apocalypto in Catemaco, Veracruz.

I’m not sure Mel has a gentle handshake going there? Did you know that the Mexicans do not squeeze hard when shaking hands – you would think with the macho this would be the case – but it is quite the opposite.

Read this about ‘Greeting’ from a European advice on Mexico relations site:

Mexicans are warm and cheerful people, and physical contact is a very important aspect when greeting. Avoid distancing yourself and try not to avoid physical contact, since your coldness could be considered as a rude attitude. When greeting a businessman, protocol states that a handshake is the most proper, though a “Mexican” handshake last longer than in most European countries. Remember not to squeeze too tight. When a business relationship has moved on to friendship level, your handshake might change into a brief embrace. It is a simple ritual, but a very important one, which can more completely be described as a handshake, followed by a “bear hug”, accompanied by a light pat on the back and finished off with a second handshake.

Now you know.

There is a reason they come here to shoot films – THE SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL – but keep that a secret and Stay Tuned!

The Datura plant from our window. (ENLARGE Here)

Those readers that have been here a while will recall I sometimes refer to Michael Dickson’s Blog; additionally I usually include it as being one of my favorites as he so often waxes poetic and is a talented former newspaper writer – color me green with envy of his writing skills.

But beneath his superior and envious writing capabilities we lead very parallel lives he and I. I have known this for quite a while. We both have young guapa senoritas for wives; we are about the same age. We think a lot a like from what I can gather from his several Blogs. And of course we both are gringos living in Mexico.
Today his Blog entry is as follows (shown here without pemission):

How many old coots of 63 get to sneak out of bed on high, cool Mexican mornings, leaving a young, sleek Guapa Señora to snooze on sweetly?

And tiptoe past a bedroom window where yellow datura droop in the mountain morning sunlight of springtime?

Very few. We know only one, a lucky one.

I laughed because this morning for me it was EXACTLY as he so poetically described; his Blog entry begs the question: “How many old coots of 63 get to sneak out of bed on high…Very few. We know only one, a lucky one.”

I made the following comment on his Blog:

“I am a 61 year old living that description this morning – precisely as a matter of fact (throw in a roaring waterfall) – ain’t it GRAND!

John Calypso
April 29, 2008 9:00 AM”

The ROAR is Louder than the view of the waterfall from the Window.

Indeed it is GRAND I can assure you. I had to add the fact that I am 2 years his junior which I am sure is not enough time to catch up with his writing skills…but Stay Tuned anyway.

Domingo Action at a Popular Naolinco Street Corner (ENLARGE Here)

‘Love the Street surface – Actually most are wide by Mexican Standards.

Sunday we decided to go for the day to Naolinco. It is on Federal Highways 190 and 180 north and slightly east of Xalapa about 32 kilometers (20 miles). I had been there a couple of times back in 2005, but Anita had not been there. We decided to take the bus rather than drive the BIG white Ford truck up the winding hills with its bad clutch.

We caught a nice new bus departing just feet from our driveway in Ursulo Galvan. For 18 pesos the two of us rode into Xalapa transferring to an older packed out smaller bus that for 30 pesos took us to the Naolinco bus terminal. Thank you Joaquin for the excellent transfer information.

My original introduction to Naolinco was by a fellow who didn’t bother to learn the name – he appropriately called it “Shoe Town”. Naolinco is renowned for shoe and leather production and sales drawing many visitors. The town is dripping with charm with its colonial architecture, lush green and relaxing landscape, and it is known for its exquisite cuisine, derived from secret recipes that have been guarded and passed on from generation to generation. Annual festivities include the celebration of Naolinco’s patron saint, Saint Matthew, in September (the 21st this year), as well as All Saints’ Day and the Day of the Faithful Dead.

Shoemaker Statue at the Beginning of Town

A bit of history: The town of Naolinco was once an ancient Totonac settlement. It was founded in 1534. The name, derived from Nahuatl, means “four seasons.” The botanically rich Chiconquiaco mountain range surrounds Naolinco and extends towards the Gulf of México.

As the story goes Naolinco is further named after Guadalupe Victoria, also known as Naolinco de Victoria. José Miguel Ramón Adaucto Fernández y Félix was a Mexican revolutionary rebel soldier of the Mexican War of Independence. He fought for independence against Spain in the early 19th century. He chose a new name for symbolic significance: “Guadalupe” to give thanks, to what he claimed, the protection of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and “Victoria” which means Victory.

Guadalupe Victoria became the first president of Mexico after the overthrow of Emperor Iturbide. Victoria died of epilepsy in Perote, Veracruz, in 1843 where he was interred. On August 25, 1845 he was declared “Benemérito de la Patria” (Hero of the Nation) by Congress. In 1925 his remains were moved to the mausoleum at the base of El Ángel de la Independencia in Mexico City.

Plaque on Government Building Wall – on the Square Around the Park

The winding ride up that starts at Banderilla just north of Xalapa is beautifully lush green. The bus we rode up on was almost like a replay of the bus ride in the film “Romancing the Stone.” Leg room for a 6 foot plus guy is not available. I think my knees are bruised from banging against the metal seat in front of me. I secured an isle seat on the return trip where I could keep a leg out in the isle.

Although on this day it was cloudy. We encountered a lot of mist as the bus breathed heavily lumbering up the winding road. Naolinco is in a volcanic field in the Sierra de Chiconquiaco range. We saw a lot of black rock scattered around the hill sides.

We encountered two smaller towns on the way; first Jilotepec and then Coacoatzintla. Some clever joven had blackened out ‘tzintla’ leaving simply ‘Coacoa”. A weak attempt at “cocoa” I suppose?

As reported it was cloudy and misty so I didn’t get any terrain photos – but you can see some photos from Marie’s fine Blog entry here.

We left at about 9:30 AM arriving in Noalinco at 11:45 AM –seemingly a long time for about 45 miles distance. We missed breakfast so we headed to a restaurant I liked called Pilatos . Last time I was there the building on the square around the park was purple; this time it had been painted a red-ish orange. You hike up a spiral stairway to the second floor dining room. We each had three mushroom and queso (cheese) empanadas. Anita requested they include squash blossoms flowers she had spotted at the grill. Yum, scrumptious! And inexpensive – food is excellent and a bargain in Naolinco.

This Grand Building Houses Pilatos Restaurant – 2nd Floor (ENLARGE Here)

From there we walked through the park to the other side of the square to where we found what turned out to be the best small specialty shop with unique and reasonably priced items – Artesanias Tierra Quemada. We went there early on and then returned when we believed they had the nicest and most reasonable offerings to find a small remembrance.

Our Favorite Shop – All Things Nice! (ENLARGE Here)

A lot of the pottery was done by one artisan whose small photo was near some of the work. I thought the picture was there to show the wood fired oven used for the process. I scooted the frame around to get a photo of the picture. While moving it back I knocked over a very small pottery incense stick holder – it tumbled to the floor – ooops! Add this to our bill. The proprietor refused to accept our efforts to pay for the broken item – kind of different that. Can you imagine breaking something in the United States and the store management insisting that we didn’t have to pay? It was a 15 peso item – And he helped us gather the few broken pieces that came home with us – I will glue it together to assuage some of my bumbling stupidity.

Naolinco is About Color – Artesanias is NO Exception

The Photo That Broke the Pottery ;-( (ENLARGE Here)

There are a couple of malls and plenty to see and do in Naolinco. If you are in the Xalapa area do not miss the short trip to Naolinco. When there checkout both Pilatos Restaurant and Artesanias on opposite sides of the square around the park which by the way is a lovely place to sit and rest your feet after a lot of walking.

This entry is about a thousand words (my self-imposed targeted limit) and I could easily do a 1000 more on Naolinco. And I sort of did with this PowerPoint show (Click Here) 12000 words, a picture being worth a 1000 words, by way of 12 photos – you get the idea – visit Naolinco and by all means Stay Tuned!

I am guessing that the price of things varies more in Mexico in part because news doesn’t travel as fast. You have to wonder how small tiendes (stores) or mercado merchants set their prices – probably as much word of mouth as anything.

I have actually reasoned (done the math) with friends operating small stores showing they are not making any pesos selling something – in some cases losing money and not even knowing it.

Yesterday as we walked around Coatepec discovering a couple antique stores (Mexicans don’t typically like to buy anything used), more coffee stores and even a new ice cream parlor.

The owner/operator of the ice cream parlor was a middle aged new mother with a very young baby on the floor of the rather starkly appointed new ice cream store. We don’t normally eat ice cream; cold fat in the stomach is not the best food for you. We decided to try a small cup of the homemade ice cream. Apparently Coatepec has some reputation for excellent ice cream.

The pleasant proprietor was rocking her baby’s plastic cocoon carrier with her foot while talking with us about her one week old business. Her husband has been in business operating an ice cream cart that is pushed around the area. She had been working for 80 pesos a day (less than 8 US dollars). She thought she might make more with the little shop.

It was busy with several customers while we were there chatting and eating our 8 peso per small cup of ice creams. We figured she has already made a half days former wage in the time we were there (of course gross receipts).

In lieu of a computer, almost universally these entrepreneurs have a spiral notebook where they enter each sale. She explained she would know better what is more popular in flavors, and of course whether the enterprise was working. I always imagine what these people could do with a computer, an Excel spreadsheets or an even a more detail laden data base program.

We wished the new mother and business owner great luck and walked on. In the Mercado we found nice Roma tomatoes for 5-6 pesos a kilo whereas just the day before we saw 12 peso Roma’s at Chedraui (our local Super market chain). Also the getting ever more expensive avocadoes that were 38 pesos a kilo ($3.60 US) at Chedraui were 28 pesos in the Mercado. This works out to about 50 cents US per medium avocado where three years ago they were 20 cents each.

Any bread product has gone up 30-35% in the last few weeks. Tortillas the Mexican staple have gone from 4 to 7 pesos over the last couple of years. All this while salaries have barely budged from three year ago rates.

My friend Vicente works at the Coke bottling distributor loading palettes of the ever popular coke line. He has not had a raise in two years; in fact the performance expectations have become increasingly higher while paying less for more work. Coke does have computers. They do work studies pushing the workers based on time studies.

All this is not a lot different than what is going on NOB – but as I began this piece with a careful shopper has still better opportunities theme. The last time I left the States one orange was about 75 cents at the low end. In the city around here you can buy 4 oranges (about a kilo) for 15 pesos – but in the Hood we can get 4 kilos or 16 oranges for 10 pesos (95 cents). Keep in mind they drive these oranges to your door – weigh them with a scale and bag them up. Eventually the word will get out and we won’t see such generous prices I think.

I found a note from a few years ago where we were buying 5 kilos of oranges for 10 pesos (the exchange rate was about 5% better then as well).

Electronics are still more expensive here – bring your computers, sound equipment and televisions from the U.S. This weekend I will sell my fifth laptop here in Mexico and buy new in the US when we return – always makes someone looking for more power for less happy and me well as I get a new computer every year.

There are still deals to be had in Mexico as compared to the U.S – but inflation is rampant. I will fill in the blanks to the rest of the story when we get back to the states in June where I will know better how prices have increased there – we will see where inflation has taken the US in 8 months. Stay Tuned for the rest of the story.

I wonder if I were just deciding whether to move to Mexico now, in today’s climate, if I would still do so. Thankfully I am currently free to pose this question. There is something about boldness and fearlessness and being free enough to speak what is on one’s mind that warrants freedom. Shakespeare writes, “to thine own self be true as the night follows day, that would be false to no man.” I believe he is absolutely right.

Today a friend asked me if I was willing to admit that I am (or was) a hippy. I explained that the term was vague and thus I wasn’t sure how to answer. I’m not sure what the benchmark is for the title. The quality of one’s life and the richness of one’s spirit is ultimately the benchmark. When you are fundamentally committed to something that is right, you just decide to go down fighting – period. No matter what it looks like or how others wish to label you.

I’ve seldom been optimistic about humankind or America. The evidence never looks good in terms of forces for good actually becoming prominent. But I am a sucker for hope, and that’s very different. I believe that we do have signs of hope, and that the evidence is underdetermined. We have to make a leap of faith beyond the evidence and try to energize one another so we can motivate the best in one another. But that is what being a sucker for hope is all about or is that a hippy mantra left over from the 60’s? Either way I remain hopeful.

Yesterday a friend told me a disturbing story told to him by an actual victim of a border crossing incident. There were beatings and a death involved; a very disturbing report. The details are not important, but the knowledge of such types of events is.  When one group of people regards another as less than human their actions towards that group can be shockingly ugly.

When you have tacit authority with gangster mentalities at work among disadvantaged people, it’s even more devastating because often times it is much less regulated, less priority put on it and so on. As I listened to the story of abuse and murder I realized how powerless I was to personally be able to help.

In situations like this there is no crucial role for persons like myself, one man deeply concerned about the progressive potential of American-Mexican relations; one that has love of not just those people who live on one side or the other of the border but both peoples.

It is disheartening to hear the truth as it relates to the treatment people face when they have made perhaps a wrong choice opening the door for monsters to abuse them – harsh justice for the more desperate amongst us. The question raised is just what is fair treatment for a border offender? Yes the argument that these people made their bed on this one will be there – but does the penalty meet the crime?

Believe the reports of injustices wielded by people in authority at borders edge. I have to wonder how these gangsters muster up the hatred that kindles the spirit to take another’s life. That kind of hate and misguided motivation simply is beyond my comprehension; but not beyond my awareness as it is going on. Life may be as fragile at this time in history as it has ever been.

For the expatriates living south of the border we may be in a lot of jeopardy – especially those close to the Frontera. What conditions will befall us through all this discontent? Are we safe here in Mexico or are we potential victims of retaliatory hate crimes?

These two countries must find leadership that cares for all people. To lead people you must love people. To save people you must be willing to serve people. I have to wonder who is at the helm of these two nations, certainly people not with the aforementioned leadership qualities.

When I hear of such atrocities occurring in the United States of America my spirit gets sapped. How could relationships with neighbors have deteriorated so in this the 21st century? There is hope for change – I’ll stand on that for now. Stay Tuned!

I love Google and their clever logo alterations befitting of a day. Today being Earth Day is especially great.

For the Calypso family everyday is Earth Day and has been for the last 34 years. While I have been accused of a lot of character flaws, the one I like the best is that I am a granola head with my head stuck up the environment – I can live with that.

Being that all things Green is in vogue right now. I simply must sit on my hands and thank the stars it is happening – albeit so late. It is hardly worth saying, “I told you so.” when encouragement for some kind of a wake-up call is the better part of valor.

Water conservation seems to have taken a back seat to most of the Green craze. I know they have been installing low water use toilets for some time and in the deserts like Las Vegas they have converted many a lawn to ground rock etc. But, there is a vast amount of improvements to wasted fresh water right out there for the doing.

Some ideas are getting a rain barrel or better yet get a higher capacity storage tank and run your gutters into it. Use this water for plant watering, car washing etc. Remember rain water is soft too!

If people just saved their sink water (gray water) from brushing their teeth, washing their hands,taking baths and showers and dare I suggest, having done the dishes in the sink; of course all the while using biodegradable soap products. Then they fill their toilet tanks with that gray water – think of how much fresh water would be saved and the soapy water in the bowl would help keep the bowl cleaner – no need for any of those blue bowl cleaner solutions.

Water like gasoline is going to really get expensive in the next decade. Getting a jump on conservation of fresh water will put you in the advanced conservation citizens group. Today think about the many ways you can save fresh water. Or really get serious and consider compost toilets. OK I’ll stop now. Have a GREAT Earth Day. Stay Tuned!

Yesterday Anita, my amigo Vicente and I attended the Bull Fights in Xico. As previously reported this wasn’t going to be my first; it was 34 year old Vicente’s first. But, I did come away with some new observations and thoughts about the event.

Let me set the stage. It was a beautiful, couldn’t ask for better, weather day. The sun was out. The sky was cloudless. The temperature was in the low to mid 80‘s. It was purrrrfect!

We arrived an hour early not really knowing what to expect. We could have waited another half hour. After getting our tickets for 150 pesos for a seat on the shaded side of the arena (130 pesos to sit in the sun), we waited near the Westside entrance for the gates to open.

This early there were mostly police and a crew of tough looking hombres crowded near the door; nearby was a dark tinted window SUV just feet from the door. All the official looking hombres had white Mexican shirts. I saw one of those hombres had running up his neck and behind his ear a curly wire leading to an ear piece; he looked officially important.

After most people were seated Governor Fidel Herrea Beltrán and his entourage were seated not far from Anita, Vicente and me. Fidel in white cowboy hat and pink shirt is the current very popular Governor of our State of Veracruz.

Our Governor Waves to the Crowd at the Bull Fights (ENLARGE Here)

This morning I reflected on how different sitting near the Governor at a stadium event was here in Mexico as compared to the United States. You can imagine the inspections you would go through and security involved with being seated in the same arena as California’s Governor Schwarzenegger – let alone sitting just a few seats from him.

The seats were uncomfortable, obviously designed to maximize capacity not to accommodate the spectators comfort – very utilitarian.

There was a pretty terrific brass band directly behind and up a dozen rows from El Jefe Fidel.

The Matadors Often Cue the Band from the Arena Floor (ENLARGE Here)

The rather magnificent gold domes of the central cathedral in Xico peaked over the northern end of the arena. The colors were dramatic. Fancy painted faced senorita’s were escorted around the stadium in shiny new Jalapa Ford vehicles throwing candies to the crowd. The distance from the stadium walls and then further the seats precluded the senoritas from launching much candy beyond the wall.

Xico Cathedral Peeks Over the Northern End of the Arena (ENLARGE Here)

The stadium near full, trucks driven off from the arena – a crew came out and removed the colored sand circle depicting the 40th anniversary of the Bull Fights in Xico. We were about to get down to brass music and brass tacks.

40th Anniversary of the Xico Bull Fights (ENLARGE Here)

I am not going to show pictures of the bulls or the fights. I will write that they entered the stadium with a healthy dose of testosterone. They certainly didn’t look like they had been wounded in any way prior to entering on a full run through the gate. I am also not going to get into the details of the process and go directly to my comments about the practice of the bull fight as entertainment/art.

My first impression is that the shouts of animal cruelty are way over blown. Now before you get outraged read on. Any of us that live in Mexico can attest to the amazing amount of ritual and tradition that comes with the territory. It was one thing to read about Mexican traditions and rituals, but altogether something else to experience it.

We watched six 1000 pound plus bulls being ritualistically prepared for barbeque in less than three hours. This means maximum average time allotted the slayings was 30 minutes per beast; 10 minutes of that is letting the bull run around, bang into things and chase guys in pink leggings and tight pants while twirling pink or red capes. OK so now we have about 20 minutes of some pain and suffering inflicted on these beasts. Not nice at that and it certainly gave me pause to watch some of it.

The actual deaths are swift when done right; and believe me when it is not the crowd voices its displeasure. I didn’t get a sense that this was a blood thirsty crowd – in fact, quite the contrary.

I have hunted and fished and killed farm animals in my life; in other words I have seen a lot of food while in the still alive mode. I recall a deep sea fishing trip where we men would hook into a grand marlin and work it on a taunt line for 30 to 90 minutes until the mighty creature of the sea was worn to exhaustion, at which point the beautiful fish reeled into boats side would be gaffed with a large sharp hook mounted on the end of a pole and then dragged into the boat by two able bodied men, where upon the silver blue fish would be struck with a club repeatedly in the head until dead. Later that mighty fish might be stuffed, fitted with glass eyes and mounted in someone’s den.

I have been on hunting trips where a wounded elk was chased down 5 miles in the snow. The blood trail was followed this distance where upon the mighty beast bled out and exhausted falls. That animal too might end up on an office or den wall somewhere far from the forest.

You get the idea, these are macho rituals; rights of passage into manhood – bringing home the bacon by the mighty conqueror.

The Matador (ENLARGE Here)

El Cejas was the Best of the Best (ENLARGE Here)

There are those of you out there that will surely say I have never participated in these things thereby justifying my right to righteous indignation even though I might enjoy a steak, pork, chicken or fish on my table. But my food was bought in nice tidy little white packages and I certainly wasn’t involved in the death dance of that food – some one else did my killing for me.

Someone whom I like very much commented here, [The bull fight is] “…one of the cruelest, if not the cruelest activity of mankind against nature…” I just can’t accept that as being anywhere near factual. I don’t want to ruin your day with a lot of mankind’s travesty against nature here as we are about to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow, but please this little Sunday afternoon dance of death is a far cry from the cruelest activity perpetrated by mankind towards nature – I guarantee it.

This is little more than the same types of events where men have celebrated gathering food for their families like an American Indian buffalo hunt, or the king’s finest bringing in a deer or turkey from the woods, or the modern day hunter or fisherman celebrating the food gathering process and successes.

I don’t have space to get into the rock star quality of the matador. The adoring young girls admiring round rumps and sock stuffed tight fitting pants; Mick Jagger had nothing over theses guys.

But I will close with this thought. Around much of Mexico there are dogs leading lives of quiet desperation on 22 inch lengths of rope wallowing in their own urine and feces, sometime for years. I won’t even get into the starving street dogs. These poor creatures are probably yearning for a run in an arena and a 20 minute death rite rather than those slow and ugly deaths they seem to be destined to without even malice of fore thought by their Mexican owners.

If you want to get outraged you need to look no further than this as amazing cruelty. Think about that while your dogs share your homes and beds. Stay Tuned!

Today four miles west of Ursulo Galvan there will be a bull fight in the Xico bull fight arena. We have been coming here going on five years, but have never been there – today we will attend.

The Bull Fight in Mexico is part of the fabric of our adopted land.

The macho men run with the bulls in the streets of Xico every July. Roy Dudley the original extranjero of Xalapa having lived in the area more than 30 years, his life was changed forever from injuries sustained from that activity. We men can be very stupid doing strange, thrilling things that make no sense.

But, today we will be pure spectators avoiding any participation relating to those grand beasts.

I thought about avoiding this subject totally because it is controversial – but – nah! Yes, there are those amongst my readers that will even be disappointed; who have characterized the possibility of my attendance as out of character to my peace, love and all things 60’s, as well as my not even being a beef ingester.

But, this is after all a place where I express my thoughts and experiences, and here the truth should be known. There are few things I don’t write – and this won’t be one of them. So if you are against the brutal art of the bull fight just slide right by tomorrow’s entry because it will have some report of this afternoon’s event.

I wonder how many Bloggers out there have their opinions or at least their report shaped by the will or opinions of their readers. Some Bloogers, even ones I know, have been threatened and some amongst those have disappeared. Perhaps comments do a disservice to a ‘diary’ format. But, I like the interaction. As mentioned before I have learned some things even by way of correction from some readers.

Here I have certainly put my foot in my mouth on more than one occasion simply by voicing an opinion. I find that curious. The fact that some people might be fearful or bothered by even hearing what I have to say about something.

When I read comments on popular Blogs or even news items, it amazes me how passionate and even hateful people can be towards one another. The written word is indeed a mighty sword, authors Salman Rushdie and Marjane Satrapi whose lives are in permanent danger from their eloquent pens as examples.

I know some say there are things better left unsaid. I think I am too old to learn any new tricks in that regard. But I am learning to value my opinions more – I will not continue to dispense unwanted or worse still unsolicited opinions that are not well received. Here my thoughts and opinions will remain my own because any and all readership is purely an elective.

Opinions certainly can shift one’s direction. I am sorry for those that are afraid to read mine because right or wrong they are given most often out of a sincere concern for the receiver. And to my personal conduct – well I am flawed and I am not afraid of suggestions for correction.

Also the fact that some may become afraid to hear my opinion says something to the power of the word, and perhaps even my own personal power.

If I didn’t have any incongruities, how dull would that be? Today a bull fight, tomorrow perhaps an animal shelter – go figure, and Stay Tuned! If you dare.

Mother & Son – The Grand Canyon – May, 2001 (ENLARGE Here)

My parents are dead now – so I can talk about this. Probably should have brought it up when they were alive. I wasn’t writing a Blog during their lifetime – too bad for both them and me.

I am sitting here in my second story oficina at Calypso Casita. Hadn’t planned to write a Blog today – and for you Mexico seekers or sages this is not going to titillate your fancy – but it is on my mind.

Our son recently celebrated (more than I probably want to imagine) his third year living in Los Angeles – he is not yet 18 years old – but will be before years end.

It is an unusual set of circumstances that led arguably overprotective parents to allow their only child to grow his final years to adulthood away from home in the city of Los Angeles – no less.

Actually it is kind of an old world apprenticeship into real life that set the stage for that. As I have mentioned before from 0 to 15 he spent 24/7 with us. We lived mostly in isolated locations and home schooled his entire secondary education.

So far so good with all this – he is successfully living on his own in Los Angeles. But, that situation and really most of his upbringing were out of the ordinary – to say the least. Of course the jury is still out. We parents can only do so much and then our birds must leave the nest. Well, in most cases – did you see that recent film “Failure to Launch”? Pretty entertaining actually.

So today as I sit in the office enjoying an absolutely sublime weather day and a pretty darn good view peering through my neighbors 9 foot plus shrubbery to the voluminous cascade of water roaring cross the small valley I started wondering what aforementioned son is up to – I mean I know he is at work – at least I think he is…

For some reason my wondering why I don’t see him on Skype today got me to thinking about my own relationship with my parents. He is supposed to check in with us daily on Skype – old over protective parent qualities die hard you see.

Did you ever get in serious trouble for something you were completely innocent from having done? Twice this happened to me as a child – one of which I am prepared to talk about now that I am over 60 and even though I am not an introspection type typically.

When I think back this is actually funny – which I suppose is why I am sharing it here.

I was a Boy Scout. Back in the 50’s and into the early 60′s (my time frame) they had Jamborees and oft times weekend campouts – I seldom missed one. During one of these events I was with a group of people and I made the remark, “Join the Navy and ride the waves.” As I remember the context was relating to our collective launching out in aluminum rowboats.

After making this casual utterance I was pulled rather harshly off to the side by an adult sternly asking, “What did you say?”

I smiled and weakly returned, “Join the Navy and ride the waves.” Now that this adult supervisor had heard this utterance twice he went in for the kill.

I was escorted away and ultimately sent home early for having uttered such a heinous sexual innuendo.

Honestly I have no recollection where I originally heard that saying – but know for sure I had NO idea there was any double meaning relating to the fact that female Navy personnel were called Waves.

No one, but no one in the adult community believed my pleas of innocents. I really had no idea what the problem was and no one explained it to me because they were convinced I knew exactly the hidden meaning of this vulgarity.

My parents were disgraced and of course read me the riot act with the same response of refusing to believe my claim to confusion and innocents. I am here to tell you I was in trouble for a couple of weeks from that event. Somewhere along the line, I don’t recall when in the sequence of that real life drama, I discovered the double meaning – I was astonished, embarrassed, angry and hurt – I think all at the same time.

I suppose in my parents defense it could be reported that it wasn’t like I was this innocent wallflower kind of a kid – one might even have characterized me as rebellious, precocious and a bit of a wise guy.

But the facts are I had no idea about that little saying and I was totally innocent much the same as if your 3 year old yells “Shit!” from hanging out in the garage with dad a little too much.

Did that experience make me a kinder and gentler parent giving my child the benefit of the doubt upon occasion – you betcha! It may have taken a step or two over my tongue for that memory to kick-in but it never left the inside of my thinkpot – to this day.

Of course, there was a host of things for which I was guilty for uttering or thinking that I was never ‘caught’ for – but remembering the injustice seems to be more to the forefront of my memory – even now.

Before you jump down your child’s throat with both feet be very sure that they are guilty as charged because just maybe even after you are gone that time they really were telling the truth might come back to haunt them, and you.

I feel better now. Stay Tuned!

A lot of people ask what it costs to live in Mexico. Of course any answer must be fluid as it all is changing – so here is an overview of current events. Doing the math for our tax reporting I computed that we live in Mexico for about twenty-five dollars a day. We know expats that live on as little as $20.00 a day and at the other end – well the sky is the limit.

We do own our casita and small rancho outright – so this does not include rent or house payments; but does include taxes and energy costs.

We have no medical insurance programs and are currently only covered by car insurance for driving in Mexico. So if you have any US medical insurance or U.S. auto insurance these would need to be added.

We eat better than most of our neighbors (certainly healthier). Also, we think the food is better and healthier here as compared to the U.S.

We donate money directly to street people and buy things occasionally for our friends and neighbors – but we do not participate in organized charities for the most part – we did donate to the flooded areas south of us.

Like the United States there is a lot of inflation in Mexico – not sure what the current situation in the States is as we have not been there for going on eight months – but from news reports and information from friends in the States things are getting increasingly more expensive.

Our CD’s in the US are paying about 40% less rolled over from last year. In the last year there has been a 5% loss in the number of pesos that are exchanged for dollars. Nothing is working for the better these days in terms of dealing with banks, exchange rates and cost of living.

Living on a more or less fixed income is a constant juggling act to keep up with the quality of life you had in the past – of this there is no doubt.

Mexico real estate in our area has leveled off a bit, but it is still expensive and somewhat unrealistic relative to the rest of the economy here – it seems to be tracking with the U.S. but at a slower pace. We feel there will be some value adjustments in the near future – again simply trailing behind what is currently going on in the States.

The cost of houses in the U.S. is mind numbing for me. Because any comparison requires a lot of study and complex realistic analysis, it is quite simply too difficult for me to get into here. I would describe it generally as you can get more for less here in our area as compared to the west half of America which I am familiar with.

Labor costs have increased slightly – certainly not equal to the other cost of living factors – again following the U.S. Our friends are working harder to make ends meet.

You can get a house built for less, your car fixed for less, your dental and medical costs will be less, fuel and energy costs will be less, and services are less expensive.

The fact remains it will be considerably less to live here in Mexico – our fuel prices are less – diesel is nearly half the cost compared to the U.S. Food has gone up 25-40 % but remains a bargain compared to the U.S.

While the Mexican Government requires a foreign couple to earn nearly $1500.00 US dollars or more a month you can live on less than half that – but won’t qualify to be here at that income level.

A friend in Colorado writes, “It’s getting very bad here in the states for everyone the price of regular gas is $3.30 plus per gallon and $3.99 plus for Diesel. Food has gone through the roof. Propane is $2.94 per gallon. The cost of living has taken a toll on all of us. Foreclosure is up to 25% in Colorado.” Ugh!

Billie makes some interesting observations regarding what we gringos bring to the party here in Mexico. It is statistically apparent that we extranjeros are a positive financial infusion to the Mexican economy.

The longer we are here the more I personally feel like we can’t afford to live in the United States any longer – it is easy to see that if we did our life style would be far more limited. We remain happy here in Mexico, feeling safer and more content. Viva Mexico! Stay Tuned!