Chacala in November

The amazing Mexican sky in Noviembre

Feeling better than I had all summer and fall, I flew to Chacala with Mark on November 4 and stayed until the 22nd. I love the fall weather there, the ocean still bath-water warm and the nights just beginning to cool enough so that I didn’t need the fan blowing on me. My body was very happy to get out of the cold of Arkansas and spend a few weeks in the tropical climate. There were just a few tourists here and there.

Mark and I on our rooftop at sunset

Lots of changes are happening in Chacala. A portion of the beach-facing land and a huge amount of adjacent land behind has been sold off to developers and is fenced off, blocking the historic road to the beach, and closing the “palm grove” where the RVers parked each winter. All the “squatters,” families that have lived in small wooden homes on that part of the beach, some as long as 40 years, have been “relocated” and their houses razed. All except for one family, that is, Esparanza and Leobardo, who have a bunch of kids, all teen and adult now, (nine I think), many of whom still live there. They are holding out for more money from the developers, I hear, and have refused to leave.

But, although there is a sense of sadness in the pueblo, there is acceptance also,and village life seems to go on. Lots of building is happening throughout the pueblo, and the small businesses and the fishing continue, although I suspect business is down. As regular visitors hear about the “fence” they are reluctant to visit, so the guest homes have more vacancies. Chacala is still a beautiful place to visit though, and the beach and bay still among the most beautiful and pristine on the west coast. We can still access the entire beach, of course, as it is Federal Land, but must enter from the north end of the beach to walk the beach in front of the fenced area.

My casita is looking wonderful. In spite of some roof leaks that occurred in the summer downpours, we got out the furniture and were able to get the house in order and ready for guests.

Entrance to Casa de Ana

Mi sala, open air style

I was able to attend the monthly meeting of EBACH, the club run by the students in our scholarship program. That weekend they painted the entire Learning Center as part of their community service. They are the best. Unfortunately, money is really tight this year for our U.S. and Canadian donors, and we will have to make cutbacks to the scholarship program and other programs in the Learning Center.


Some of the Scholarship Students, complete with a new baby (and me in the background).

We made our usual Thursday morning trip to the Tianguis (flea/craft/vegetable market) on in a neighboring village, La Penita, and we ran right into a charming Revolution Day parade.





The boys would stop every 50 feet or so and make a pyramid.

Tired muchachas (and one muchacho) after the parade.

A very serious General Porfiro Diaz, the autocrat who was unseated in the Revolution.

Mark had some friends visit from Denver, including another doctor, and three nurses. They gave a CPR training program on the beach for our new lifeguard and other people interested in helping to reduce the drownings on the beach.


Mark teaching chest compression technique for an infant.

Mark's colleague, Genie, supervising chest compressions and breaths.

I fly home for a few weeks and then hope to drive down again in mid-November. Maybe for a few months, health allowing.

Flight into Health

One good thing about Arkansas in the winter is the sky. Buddy and I just took our evening walk down the road, Walking west, the sky at 5:00 is all fire and flame through the trees. Then walking back east, the full moon is out in a clear dusky sky, hanging majestically over a band of violet, which turns to turquoise as it falls to the horizon. Oh my, what colors.

Sunset in Arkansas

The other good thing about Arkansas is the winter birds. Sitting in my morning chair looking out to the lake, I saw that the yellow-bellied sapsucker has returned and is poking up and down the trees. The nuthatches are also back and chasing the chickadees from the feeder. The chickadees have snacked unmolested all summer, but no more. The nuthatches are such bullies. They even harass the cardinals and sparrows. My Christmas cactus, which sits in front of me on the hassock, is in full glorious bloom. The blossoms are fuchsia and 3-4 inches long.


The lake is down 9 feet this winter (allegedly to do some repairs on the dam) so the channel is not as wide, and there is some 15 feet of rocky shore line below the sea walls. On nice days (that means above 60) I like to walk along the shore looking for treasures.

After a very challenging summer and fall, I have had a little flight into health, I think, feeling quite well the last few weeks. I am taking oral chemo (Xeloda), four pills a day, for a week every other week.

So, on Tuesday, I'll drive to Dallas and on Thursday, Tim will drive with me across the border at Loredo and across the mountains to the coast. We will be loaded to the top, including the roof, and with Buddy squeezed into the back seat. 

All I have to do in order to stay in Mexico is to arrange couriers to bring me the drug every month. The drug is covered by Part B Medicare, so they will only send me one month’s supply at a time.  So far, I am set up for visitors to bring me pills for January, February, and maybe March. If I still feel well, I will stay through part of April as well. My doctor is all about my quality of life, so I have his complete support on this.

I have lost most of my hair, and Buddy just had his summer/Mexico haircut.

Before (both of us with hair)


After

Thank you to all who have already sent me Christmas messages and other blessings.  I'm sorry to tell you that this will have to serve as my Christmas message, as you will get no other. 

I wish for you the most peaceful, joyful, loving holiday season ever, full of blessings. And I will be thinking of you all with so much love.

Ana

Thanksgiving Reunion

Our Thanksgiving weekend began with a birthday cake for Tim,

I was blessed to have my entire family here for Thanksgiving weekend. Andy and Kim, Jacob and Emily drove in from Columbia, MO and stayed in my house. Tim and Amy and their four children, plus Amy’s mom, all from Dallas, stayed in a nearby condo on the lake. My nephew Ken and wife Ginny, from Houston, stayed only two nights in a motel, and Mark and my other nephew, Rick, from Michigan, slept in the empty house next door to me, which we often borrow. So let's see, that makes 15 of us.


We had dinner at the condo, thankfully. Tim is the turkey cook, so all that happened there. And as the kitchen and living area at the condo were more spacious than my little house, we ate dinner there also. Such a nice treat for me.

Charades with Sydney and Emily acting out a movie?

Jacob modeling Grandma's wig. Everyone had to try it on.

Brooke is 2 1/2, beautiful, and quite a character. Giving only a nod to the doll house and other toys in my playroom, she gravitated, as last time she was here, to my small collection of hearts of rose quartz and other gemstones on my dresser. She carried them around with her, arranged and rearranged them on the coffee table, lost them over and over in the sofa cushions, and chose a special one to take back to Dallas with her. I look at small children’s preferences and behaviors as a reflection of their destiny. I wonder if this means she will be a woman with an extraordinarily loving heart, or maybe a heart surgeon.


Brooke examining my necklace

On Saturday after Thanksgiving, we all went to Lake Oauchita, a State Park nearby, and took an "Eagle Tour" on a barge. The sun was NOT out and it was very cold. Fortunately, we saw several magnificent eagles, so that made the experience worthwhile.

Mark scouting for Eagles

Look carefully for the eagle in the tree.

And on the wing

Carly and Emily trying to stay warm