Jeff's Mom Gloria died last week.
I heard she was 87 years old.
I would see her around Vallarta now and then, during the summer especially, walking around in her track suit.
Gregorio knew her much better than I, and would call out to her. She'd give a big smile, and wave. I bet she knew alot of
people, and she did kinda stick out. Tall, thin, gringa, white hair pinned up in a bun ... cruising.
I only spoke with her once, on the beach in Yelapa. I was sitting on the sand, and she under the umbrella, in a beach chair. We discovered I was born the same year as her daughter, 1960, and her daughter was born in PV.
She went on and on, telling me stories of that time, not
that long ago. She said there was only one taxi and one police car ! One taxi and one police car !!
If you have been to PV recently, you'll know things have changed enormously.
It hit me right in the face that day on the beach, listening to her. Not a knock out punch, but a wake up punch....
time passes with a blink of the eye, no matter what, we can't stop it. Surrender and enjoy the passing.
Thanks Gloria.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
Dia de Revolution
Pitch dark at 7:00 pm. The light on the large boat that sailed in earlier sways in the night. There are no sillouettes,
only darkness. There are no stars and little movement, just the light swaying with the tide.
My first few times alone in Yelapa, I would be wake up in the night, and see the sailboat lights, or the fire flies, and wonder how or who could be floating out in the sea, or in my
kitchen.
Tuesday, Nov. 20 was Dia de Revolution...1910 .... !!
School kids parade down the beach, dressed in traditional costume, young boys dressed up like Poncho Villa. Older
kids put on a gymnastics show.
Later in the afternoon there was a Dance Performance at the school. So well done. SO much work going into the costumes and the organization.
Always so much going on. The locals always up to something ... I gotta get out more !!
Many US people celebrating Thanksgiving. Myself and 6 other Canadians joined the group. A happy tradition to go to April's Passion Flower Garden. If you have never been there before, well the whole thing would "blow you away"...
Dana sings ... and people dance ... a great night.
Home by 10:00
I am trying, again, to get some kids to come by for English Tutoring. My volunteer work here. I had 2 great students
last year, but they moved back to Morelios. Very very tricky to work out a schedule, and kids are shy, and reluctant, and stare at me with a blank face, even when I think I am speaking my best Spanish. I've been at it at a while, so I'm begining to get in their rhythm.
For instance, after the afternoon meal at 2 or 3 and a siesta,
if you're lucky, they are back at it again, so 5 or 6 in the after
noon works well for them. It didn't work so well for me, but
if I want to be involved, I'm going to have to adjust, and I already have. I will have tutoring lessons, in my home,
Fridays from 5 - 6. But.
I can't start this Friday because Mimi and I are going to PV to buy paint and supplies to get her Establishment up and running again. An old concept, called " Flying by the seat of your sarong "
There won't be Mimi's LIVE Friday Nights anymore, at least for a while. We'll start with a library, clothes exchange, pastry and light lunch. Homemade Pickles anyone, Coleslaw ?? Candy Apples ??
I am happiest when I stay busy, active, involved.
That's not a hard thing to acomplish in Yelapa.
Listen , more than you talk, and be very, very flexible.
You'll have friends all over town, in no time .
only darkness. There are no stars and little movement, just the light swaying with the tide.
My first few times alone in Yelapa, I would be wake up in the night, and see the sailboat lights, or the fire flies, and wonder how or who could be floating out in the sea, or in my
kitchen.
Tuesday, Nov. 20 was Dia de Revolution...1910 .... !!
School kids parade down the beach, dressed in traditional costume, young boys dressed up like Poncho Villa. Older
kids put on a gymnastics show.
Later in the afternoon there was a Dance Performance at the school. So well done. SO much work going into the costumes and the organization.
Always so much going on. The locals always up to something ... I gotta get out more !!
Many US people celebrating Thanksgiving. Myself and 6 other Canadians joined the group. A happy tradition to go to April's Passion Flower Garden. If you have never been there before, well the whole thing would "blow you away"...
Dana sings ... and people dance ... a great night.
Home by 10:00
I am trying, again, to get some kids to come by for English Tutoring. My volunteer work here. I had 2 great students
last year, but they moved back to Morelios. Very very tricky to work out a schedule, and kids are shy, and reluctant, and stare at me with a blank face, even when I think I am speaking my best Spanish. I've been at it at a while, so I'm begining to get in their rhythm.
For instance, after the afternoon meal at 2 or 3 and a siesta,
if you're lucky, they are back at it again, so 5 or 6 in the after
noon works well for them. It didn't work so well for me, but
if I want to be involved, I'm going to have to adjust, and I already have. I will have tutoring lessons, in my home,
Fridays from 5 - 6. But.
I can't start this Friday because Mimi and I are going to PV to buy paint and supplies to get her Establishment up and running again. An old concept, called " Flying by the seat of your sarong "
There won't be Mimi's LIVE Friday Nights anymore, at least for a while. We'll start with a library, clothes exchange, pastry and light lunch. Homemade Pickles anyone, Coleslaw ?? Candy Apples ??
I am happiest when I stay busy, active, involved.
That's not a hard thing to acomplish in Yelapa.
Listen , more than you talk, and be very, very flexible.
You'll have friends all over town, in no time .
Monday, November 19, 2012
poem: beautiful sea
beautiful sea
new born babies ride the ponga
dressed up from head to toe
they'll sleep in baby hammocks and in
old wheelbarrows
pretty girls with precious bundles
head up river, home
grandmother to meet them with
a bundle of her own
poem : river walk
river walk
my blood flows in this river
cool water rushes through my veins
swallowed by the power
a path of constant change
ancestors have called me here
to gather up the bones
grinding them to river rock
turning ashes into stones
a restless soul digested
ruby lips belong to me
a lost lagoon with her mouth
wide open
spits me out into the sea
High Season Saturday Night !
Just to give you an idea of what a High Season Saturday
Night in the Village may consist of.....
It's rare that you will experience all these sights and sounds
simultaneously, over a prolonged period of time, but not impossible .
If you live out of town far enough, most of the excitement may float right over your head, and out to sea.
For others, the sounds of life echo thru the canyons, producing a chaos that words can not describe, yet I shall try.
Keeping in mind, I wouldn't trade my swinging bed in this
Palapa in Yelapa, for any Condo in Redondo !!
November Saturday Night ............
many more boats coming and going, local ponga boats too
and fro, riding the waves out into the pitch, girls screamimg,
boys laughing.
big yachts, small yachts, with spotlights big enough to
light up the playita.
more boats, playing music that assaults, then disappears.
wedding at the Hotel Laguanita, fireworks !!
fire dance at the Baracudda,
R&R&R at Angelina's, Juanito's Jukebox blares Rancho
Polka music,
Brian's blues or Jeffs maps at El Cerito,
Quinenera at the Casino, Church Bells, Church Band,
Cantina on the upper path, especially poplular at 9 am
ATV's cruising the beach, making pick ups and deliverys.
Dogs barking, as usual, fights break out.
Not long before the first fisherman arrive to start their
day, the party has taken a needed rest, but will start back
up Sunday, shortly after 9:00.... AM !!
Vive Yelapa !!!
Night in the Village may consist of.....
It's rare that you will experience all these sights and sounds
simultaneously, over a prolonged period of time, but not impossible .
If you live out of town far enough, most of the excitement may float right over your head, and out to sea.
For others, the sounds of life echo thru the canyons, producing a chaos that words can not describe, yet I shall try.
Keeping in mind, I wouldn't trade my swinging bed in this
Palapa in Yelapa, for any Condo in Redondo !!
November Saturday Night ............
many more boats coming and going, local ponga boats too
and fro, riding the waves out into the pitch, girls screamimg,
boys laughing.
big yachts, small yachts, with spotlights big enough to
light up the playita.
more boats, playing music that assaults, then disappears.
wedding at the Hotel Laguanita, fireworks !!
fire dance at the Baracudda,
R&R&R at Angelina's, Juanito's Jukebox blares Rancho
Polka music,
Brian's blues or Jeffs maps at El Cerito,
Quinenera at the Casino, Church Bells, Church Band,
Cantina on the upper path, especially poplular at 9 am
ATV's cruising the beach, making pick ups and deliverys.
Dogs barking, as usual, fights break out.
Not long before the first fisherman arrive to start their
day, the party has taken a needed rest, but will start back
up Sunday, shortly after 9:00.... AM !!
Vive Yelapa !!!
What's Next ?
Holy Cow !!
Time flies .... and my mind wanders ...
to quote Nick Chopty.
September melted into October, and yet it still doesn't feel like November .... The humidity is about to break soon, it has to !
It rained at the Russell wedding ceremony, November 4th, a short, light sprinkle. Even though the air is wet, and the skies cloudy,
that may have been our last rain until June !!
Yelapa has taken on her high season personality. Voices
and flashlights on the path. Signs on poles announcing
the latest Restaurant opening, Movie of the week, Yoga Schedule, Spanish Lessons Beginning....
Life in Yelapa could never, ever be dull....
Whales are returning too. There have been quite a few so far, even a Mama and Baby right in the bay, in front of Casa Vieja.
Flying fish, and Dolpins and Whales, and that's just while I'm having breakfast !!
Yelapa is a very popular destination for weddings, all which seem to include fireworks now !! Even Birthday Bashes on the Beach give us a firework display, and Quincenara's
at the Casino !! Lily likes it less then me, but not by much !
I am going to give it all I got to keep this Blog active.
It is my inspiration, and motivation to stay connected to my craft, to my writing.
I discovered this passion of mine on the corner of Elizabeth Ave. and Lakeview Drive, sitting on the curb waiting for Rosalyn to appear ... I was and would always be, a writer.
So going full circle, I dedicate this blog, to the little girl sitting on the corner, right now, waiting for her friend,
dreaming her dreams, and believing in all her possibilities.
k
Familar faces, new stories,
Time flies .... and my mind wanders ...
to quote Nick Chopty.
September melted into October, and yet it still doesn't feel like November .... The humidity is about to break soon, it has to !
It rained at the Russell wedding ceremony, November 4th, a short, light sprinkle. Even though the air is wet, and the skies cloudy,
that may have been our last rain until June !!
Yelapa has taken on her high season personality. Voices
and flashlights on the path. Signs on poles announcing
the latest Restaurant opening, Movie of the week, Yoga Schedule, Spanish Lessons Beginning....
Life in Yelapa could never, ever be dull....
Whales are returning too. There have been quite a few so far, even a Mama and Baby right in the bay, in front of Casa Vieja.
Flying fish, and Dolpins and Whales, and that's just while I'm having breakfast !!
Yelapa is a very popular destination for weddings, all which seem to include fireworks now !! Even Birthday Bashes on the Beach give us a firework display, and Quincenara's
at the Casino !! Lily likes it less then me, but not by much !
I am going to give it all I got to keep this Blog active.
It is my inspiration, and motivation to stay connected to my craft, to my writing.
I discovered this passion of mine on the corner of Elizabeth Ave. and Lakeview Drive, sitting on the curb waiting for Rosalyn to appear ... I was and would always be, a writer.
So going full circle, I dedicate this blog, to the little girl sitting on the corner, right now, waiting for her friend,
dreaming her dreams, and believing in all her possibilities.
k
Familar faces, new stories,
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