Monday, April 30, 2012

On my way to the Casa - Street Scenes in San Miguel de Allende


I'm heading home today about 12:30 after time at the jardin.  Cruising down Reloj, heading to Calzada de la Luz.  Uh oh, bus versus car on left, versus utility pole on the right. 

It's a holiday weekend so someone who probably doesn't live here had parked in a no parking area.  Happens all the time.  First off, everyone starts honking.  It's not for the bus driver to plow through.  No, it's to get the owner of the truck or car or whatever is blocking to hear the horns and come out and move the offending item.  Horns blared, everyone waited.   Horns blared again, now more are waiting.  No one came.

What to do?  The bus driver got out and looked.  Nope he couldn't go forward.  Only thing behind him was me, so he began to back up (note backup lights) to angle the bus to try to get up on the right curb.  Nope that wouldn't work either.

I looked in my rear view mirror and the traffic behind me was all the way down the street.  No one could go anywhere.  I, for some weird reason, find these things to be an adventure.  Always knowing that the ingenuity of the local people will come up with a solution.

They did.  Men began to head to the offending vehicle.  Lots of them.  And more. 

They began to rock the car - at least fifteen of them by now.  I, on the other hand, am now out of the car and trying to photograph this.  They rock the car and get it up on the left curb.  The bus driver gets back on the
bus ready to head forward.  Lo and behold, the owner of the vehicle appeared, apologized, waved, got in and drove off.

The rest of us followed behind to our destinations.  Me chuckling under my breath.  It always works out - somehow.  Elapsed time - 15 minutes more or less.


It made my day!
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Saturday, April 28, 2012

A 90th Birthday Celebration for "Old Joe"


 I've
known him since I arrived in San Miguel.  He would walk briskly into the jardin after working out daily.  Always with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face.  It's still there.  "Old Joe".  About twenty-five of us gathered on Wednesday along with his lovely wife Alice who is 80 to celebrate.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world.  In the party of gatherers was Ollie who is 94 and still plays golf twice a week.  Old Joe still works out daily.

Sharp as a tack, he always has a quip or a fun conversation.  He is notorious for LOVING Girl Scout cookies.  Every year I try to bring some back for him from the granddaughters who are Girl Scouts.  For a couple of years Joe was ill and we all thought he might not make it.  So I would give him the cookies, not sell them to him.  Finally after a few years I said, "Joe, you're going to outlive me and you have to pay for your cookies again."  He thought that was hysterically funny.

Even the owner of the restaurant was there to bring the cake to Joe.  The owner's son was mesmerized watching the whole thing.  Candles that kept relighting after he blew them out had us all laughing.  The little boy couldn't at first figure it out.

The little boy was confused at why the candles kept relighting.

Then, when he realized it was a joke, he was smiling just like his Dad.  I love how the whole Mexican family is included in things like this.  It made my day..........and "Old Joe's" too.  Here's to you old man.  May you live on forever.  You will - with all of us.  You enrich our lives.
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Friday, April 27, 2012

Birding in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 I've wanted to write this week about all the birds that I see on a regular basis from up here on the hill.  With water nearby in the presa, the abundance of plants and cacti in the canyon, it is a nature preserve of sorts for all manner of wildife.  Especially birds, egrets, ducks and the ever present hummingbirds.

Imagine my surprise tonight when I had the drapes closed against the west sun when I heard beautiful singing.  I knew it wasn't one of the birds I hear on a regular basis.

I opened my drapes to the sight of an absolutely white parakeet.  What a surprise.  It seemed to me that it would wander around a bit eating seeds and things.  Then take off for other parts, unknown.
It didn't. 

The dilemma is and was Velcro, the cat.  The consummate hunter, she too had heard the singing and was now downstairs, inside. on her hind legs looking out the window at something to chase and.........

No way.  Not on my watch.  I went up to the roof.  Velcro always follows me.  Aha, gotcha.  Left her there. Got one of the many birdless cages I have up there for decoration and came back down three stories to where the parakeet was still hopping around.  It is somewhat domesticated.  Probably flew away from a nearby home.  I caught it rather easily.  It's in the cage in my bathroom (the only room with a door) until I can either find its home or let it go on the canyon ridge.

Never a dull moment in MY house.

I had intended to talk about the vermillion flycatchers, the kiskadees, great egrets, snowy egrets and hawks, among others.  I think that will have to wait for another day - soon, I promise.

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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Supporting loans through Kiva.org

For a couple of years, thanks to a fellow blogger, I've been involved with Kiva.org. It is a micro lending organization that provides loans all over the world. Often repayment is a dollar or less a month.

The latest loan I've made is to Ismail who owns an auto repair shop in Iraq. He is 46 years old. He and his wife have five children. His total loan is $2400 US. Of course I didn't loan that amount but the total he borrowed through the micro lending program. What has touched my heart is that Ismail is paying $2.09 a month on his loan repayment to me.

The photo of Ismail that I received in determining to make my loan caused me to think he was in his early 60's. As I said previously, he is 46. I'm sure the wars and conflicts have caused that premature aging. I can't even imagine the difficulty that he and his family endured during the war there.

I've loaned to women farmers in Pakistan. Women entrepreneurs in Brazil and many others. Typically I loan in third world countries where the idea of loans is a new thing that can change lives significantly.

If you have $25 that you don't need, make a difference in someone's life. That is the minimum. It is SO easy to do. Just go to Kiva.org and read all about it.

I don't think you'll ever be sorry that you helped another person to be able to make a living.

Monday, April 23, 2012

BLOG STATS - WHO KNEW?


WHO KNEW IS RIGHT!  Again my son John showed me all kinds of things about the blog that I never knew.  Things like where people came from to read the blog.  How many people read a certain blog.  What operating system, which I didn't even know what that meant, they use.  But the coolest is where the readers live.  Not specifically their address but the country.

I'm flabbergasted.

This little writing that I do, mostly for myself and my family and friends is read all over the place.

Who knew?

The countries obviously are the USA, Canada and Mexico.  Get this.  Also RUSSIA (a lot), UK, France, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, Australia and Brazil to name a few.

Holy moly.

I have no idea how they find the blog.  I can't imagine why they read the blog.  But I'm absolutely thrilled that they do.

So to all of you out there from those faraway countries, thanks for stopping by.  Wish you would leave a comment and tell me something about yourself.

I'm fascinated at the prospect.
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Sunday, April 22, 2012

COLOR ME MEXICO!

Surprise!  The blog has a whole new look.  Thanks to my talented and creative son John.  It only took him a year of trying to convince me that my blog was breathtakingly boring for me to agree to a change. 

My fear was that I would lose the archives.  Oh me of little faith.  Voila - John added color - the colors of Mexico - which are exactly what I was known for in my design business and in my life.  I'm thrilled with the change.  There is more to come.  More on the blog roll which had totally disappeared to somewhere.  A box for ongoing photos of all manner of things.  And, a few other surprises.

Hope you enjoy and like it as much as I do.  Viva Mexico!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Fodder for Blogs



Dinner parties are "fodder for blogs".  If I just sit back and listen, all kinds of subjects arise.  My favorite question to ask when meeting new people is, "How did you find San Miguel?"  Then the most interesting stories come out.  People are really pretty darn adventurous.  Many hear about the town, having never been to Mexico, load their stuff in the car and head to a foreign country!  Unbelievable to me.

People think I'm adventurous.  I am in some instances, but when it comes to things like where I'm going to live, how I'm going to survive financially, how I'm going to survive on a daily basis as it relates to health care and other important issues, I do my research.  So I'm not as adventurous as people think.

Before I ever drove down here alone,"mumblesomething" years ago, I rode down with someone so I could see what the process was at the border, how the roads were and what to expect.  Others just wing it.  THEY are adventurous.

Interesting topics of discussion can also be interrelating with locals, Mexican Nationals, the language barrier and differences in culture.  In addition, its fun to hear what the surprises have been for new people that they didn't expect.  Be it the inability to find some food product, to the complexities of the legal system.

I remember some of the things I had to learn when I came.  I thought it was interesting that you couldn't pay your bills online but had to walk to the place of business to pay them.  Some of that has changed, but not all of it.  I now find it kinda fun to walk to pay those bills as you establish a relationship with the person that you see each month or two.  Conversations ensue and it can be the highlight of the day.

Little things like that - relationships with locals - for me, add to the joy of life in Mexico.
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Thursday, April 19, 2012

Reaching Critical Mass



I've done it!  Probably a year or so ago I admitted to myself I had reached critical mass.  Not another inch of space to put one more thing.  Not even a half inch.  I have been satisfied with that thought now and have not been tempted to want to buy anything in the realm of outsider art, Haitian art or folkart..............until today!


I received an email from http://www.slotinfolkart.com/ reminding me of their auction this weekend.  They also reminded me that I didn't have to be in Georgia.  I could purchase online from the comfort of my bedroom computer while gazing on the vibrant, fuscia bourganvilla outside my bedroom wall of windows.  Uh oh.


Uh oh is right.  Just for the heck of it I decided to look at the online catalog to see who of the artists I have collected possibly had work up for auction.  Yup, there was Benny Carter, Haitian art, Mexican folkart, B.B. Craig face jugs.  Oh well, I already have things by those well known "outsider" artists.  Wait, they also had works by Vollis Simpson - his wonderful whirligigs. 

I so remember being at his place about four or five years ago.  The wonder of his creations, big and small would have delighted the child in all of us.  I so wanted to acquire one of his creations - still do.

Oops also Mose Toliver.  An illiterate black man who used any materials he could find in Alabama to create.  Shoe polish if he couldn't afford paint.  Old boards or whatever to paint on.  His work is very, very distinctive.  His work has such a naive, simplistic look. His work has escalated in value.  I would so enjoy having a Mose Toliver piece to look at daily.

Last, but certainly not least is Jimmy Lee Sudduth who created in Texas.  I don't know what to say about his work other then I get a knot in my chest when I look at his work.  Isn't art supposed to move you?



The photo of B.B. Craig's face jug just disappeared from this screen.  He was the "father" or founder of what has become a huge genre of pottery.  I even journeyed to see all the face jugs one could possibly experience several years ago.  An example of one I bought is above.


The trips I've taken to meet the artists, the enjoyment of looking at these quirky pieces on a daily basis have enriched my life.  The above piece of "used refinery equipment" repurposed into a bird or crane was purchased in Wisconsin at Foreverton.  A huge environment with creatures as large as two story tall buildings.  It takes your breath away as you walk among the creations of Dr. Evermore.  Wouldn't Dr. Evermore be surprised to see this creation in a garden in Mexico?


 If you're looking for a new interest in your life go to the website of Slotin and buy one piece that speaks to you.  Much of these things are not expensive.  You will be surprised.  Well, the work of the well known outsider artists can be pricey, but definitely not in the realm of the typical art market.  It's fun to expand your horizons and learn something new.
 One of the last pieces I took a photograph of today is a Kewpie doll from a carnaval years ago.  I've had her so long and moved her so many times that I don't even remember when or where I bought her.  I know it has been at least forty years ago.  Even though I usually sell things within ten years of purchasing, some things I keep forever. She is one of them. It makes me smile everytime I look at her.
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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

UP in the Air!



While having dinner on a roof terrace the other evening, I walked over to the ledge by the street to look down to see what was happening on the street.  While walking closer this building caught my eye and stopped me dead in my tracks.


Although I've driven on Barranca and walked on it more times then I could begin to tell you, I had never noticed this building before.  Interesting isn't it that you notice things at eye level, not necessarily three stories up in the air.

As you can see, this building is the width of a door with its jamb.  What is this building in San Miguel de Allende?  Does someone live there?  What is its purpose?  One street over from Barranca is the entrance to the bullring.  Does this building have some connection to the bullring?  The side of the building is as interesting as the fact that the building is this narrow.  If anyone knows the story of this building, please let me know. I'm intrigued about it.  There MUST be a story.


This photo is the door at street level.  Nothing outstanding until you realize the width of the building.  I have a friend in Houston named "Narrow Larry".  This could definitely be Narrow Larry's home.........and to add to the fun of it, Larry is actually an architect!

The "narrow house" on Barranca - San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Sunset over the roof tops in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 If a picture is worth a thousand words, then I need not say anything.  Other then
 ENJOY the sunset over the roof tops and going down
 behind the mountains.
 Life is good.
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Saturday, April 14, 2012

The things you forget about Mexico

Last Sunday, Easter, I sat on the floor looking at old photos. Mostly family photos. But, I also came across photos of Guatemala and Mexico from the 70's, 80's and 90's.
It is truly astounding the differences that are readily apparent when looking at old photos.

Some of them are:
Toll roads - no longer two lane roads with steady streams of eighteen wheelers that block your path for long, long periods of time. Well, there are the "free" roads - I'm lucky to be able to avoid them.

Paved roads - through villages that were, back in the past, rutted dirt roads which eighteen wheelers had used during rainy season. That created a catywampus rut system that almost defied gravity when driving a regular car over and around those same ruts.

Telephone service every day. There were times when it would be two to three weeks without service. Just eleven years ago!

Dial up internet - Ah yes, I remember when I moved here that I could make my bed, go upstairs, make my coffee and come downstairs to the computer. Maybe, just maybe I would then have internet service. Now it is in the blink of an eye.

Grocery stores that smelled like bad fish - We had only one large grocery store eleven years ago in San Miguel de Allende. I had to hold my breath when I would go in while my stomach rolled. Now, besides the great tiendas and specialty stores, we have a sparkling clean Soriana and even better Mega which is owned by Costco. Great stuff - even Kobe beef! No longer necessary to drive to Queretaro for groceries.

Middle class families
who now can travel in country in their nice cars with their children in shoes and well dressed. I remember a time, forty years ago, when it was not unusual to see all the children barefoot in the villages along with many of the adults. It is a delight to me to see them visiting and enjoying life. In the warmer climes you still see children barefooted and adults in flip flops. I'm envious that they get to live that way year round.

Undeveloped beach villages Puerto Vallarta and Cancun come to mind. What a difference thirty-five years makes.......sadly. But, lest you think there are not still those funky, undeveloped areas, trust me there are still plenty left to discover. I'm keeping those to myself!

"Shade tree mechanics" They've always been here and hopefully they'll continue to be here for all of us to use, forever.

Great Masters of Mexico What a difference to know that those artesans who I knew so long ago now have web pages, have been recognized world wide for their amazing talents and can make a good living, in most instances, from the arts and crafts of Mexico.

Think of it and usually you can now find it in Mexico. Maybe not in the village you live in but somewhere in Mexico.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Car Repair in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

 I have had this car in Mexico for eleven years.  It's a 1998 Nissan Pathfinder with almost 150,000 miles on it.  Who knew you could have a car with that many miles?  I sure didn't.  If I had, I could have saved a lot of money over the years when I replaced cars every few years. 

I just read an article where a woman was finally selling her car that had over 550,000 miles on it.  It was an old car, but she maintained it well.  Now she's in her mid 80's and doesn't want to drive anymore.  THAT is my plan for this car, hopefully.

I've never had a car that was so easy to maintain and so inexpensive to have.  The secret is a mechanic named Luis in Col. Guadalupe who is talented, knowledgeable and honest.  He's the only person who has worked on this car in all the years I've been here.  I've recommended him to anyone who would listen.

I would venture to say that in eleven years the annual cost to maintain the car with new sparkplugs, oil change, filters, hoses and assorted things has not even reached $1,500US!  My last trip to Houston, Luis told me to get valve gasket covers because he needed to do that job.  And, while traveling to and from the beach, there was a screeching sound after 8 hours of driving when I put my foot on the brakes.  Not while I was driving it in town however.  I haven't left town since January because of that - at least in the car.

Yesterday Luis got the car with the mission to check everything before I drive to Texas in May.  Also to do the gasket cover job and to check out the brakes.  Usually the car is gone for one day.  Not this time.  He arrived this evening after two full days of working on it.  He was apologetic for how long it took.  He had to replace the brakes in addition to the valve gasket covers, the spark plugs, etc. etc. etc.  (My son had forewarned me that the gasket job was a lengthy and time consuming project). 

He was also sorry that he had to charge me 2000 pesos for that work.  Approximately sixteen hours worth. In American dollars, about $160US.  I wanted to hug him.  Instead I smiled, thanked him and shook his hand. 

The best part of it all is that I have great confidence in his ability.  Never have I had a car problem on the road.  I credit Luis for that.  He  always brings the replaced parts and explains to me what was wrong with them and why he had to change them out.

You might notice if you look carefully that part of the car is one color and the other is slightly darker.  That is from my $180US paint job that I had at the beach last year when they took out all the dings and dents and "repainted" the car.  It makes me smile every time I look at it.

I can't wait to park between that Ferrari and Bentley when I get to Houston!  Don't you know that my car must drive them crazy...........for the short time I'm staying in that place!

VIVA MEXICO!
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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Peaceable Kingdom

Stopped by my friends Ron and Fred's house yesterday.  I wanted to see how their gardens are blooming.  Beautifully.

Unexpectedly though, the fun part of the time I was visiting was the escapades of "Reina" the cocker and "Cally" the cat who adopted them.

The photo above is not in perfect focus (probably because I was laughing).  What you can't tell is that the cat has her paws around the dogs neck and the dog has her paws around the cat as they wrestled.  This went on and on.  Around the house they would go.  The cat leaping on the dog's back.  The dog going after the cat. Ron and Fred tell me this goes on all the time.  We were laughing until we had tears in our eyes.

It was just pure unadulterated joyful fun - both for the animals and us.

Life is good. 
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Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Street Scenes

 Walking around town today, running errands such as paying the telephone bill, having a capuchino with friends, picking up more DVDs. 

I looked up as I approached a wall and zowee this bourganvilla was beyond brilliant.  Everywhere you look its either the jacaranda trees, bourganvilla, lilies, hibiscus - a plethora of beauty.

As I was leaving Juan's Cafe Etc on Relox after buying the DVDs, a young boy was blocking my exit.  He was about six years old.  He had a postcard in his one hand of the Parroquia.  He was facing the Parroquia.  He  held up the postcard so he could look at the image and then at the real thing.  He did this so intently several times that there was no way I was going to disturb his viewing of the two images.  Memorable.

The other thing that is ALWAYS memorable here is that the traffic always stops to let you cross the street.  No its not because I'm a gringa.  They stop for all people.  It still touches me to see the courtesy of this. I will wait for them to go and they always, always wave me across the street.  Delightful.

It IS these little things that make life a joy and oh so memorable.
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Sunday, April 08, 2012

Easter Egg Hunt - 2011

Oops, here's the photo that didn't post on the last blog!  Sweet isn't  it?

Easter Time

Traditionally in our family this has always been one of the most important holidays.  For a special reason. 

When the kids were little, I loved to sew and ALWAYS I made new Easter outfits, usually out of the same fabric for all three.  There was a fabric store where you could get three yards of fabric for $1 US dollar!  Many outfits for $1........  Then for the girls I would be a little bonnet and purse.

When the children were teens, there dad died right around Easter.  As a distraction each year we planned a family outing for several days.  Usually to Galveston.  Renting a beach house.  Inviting friends.  Dyeing eggs.  Having an Easter Egg hunt in the dunes.  What fun!  We still had the Easter baskets and usually a new outfit too.

Always a special family time.

Even when the grand kids starting being born.  Still dyeing eggs.  The Easter Bunny hiding the eggs wherever we happened to be.........New outfits. I sat today and looked at all the years of eggs, plastic grass, new Easter bonnnets.  What fun. One year everyone got bunny sunglasses instead of Easter bonnets.  .Great memories.

Now I'm in Mexico and until last year, that family tradition had not been carried out by me.  I had so much fun getting new outfits for Matilda and Sebastian.  I scoured the town to make Easter baskets - no simple task as a chocolate bunny or jelly bean was NOT to be found - not even the green Easter grass for the basket.  We dyed eggs. Instead of Easter candy, we had stuffed bunnies. What fun the anticipation was to have an Easter Egg hunt in Grammy's garden.  Lots of good hiding places.  The children had so much fun.  They squealed with joy each egg they found.  A joyful memory  for me, my son and the children.

Not this year, sadly.  Their mother selfishly would not let them come for a couple of hours either to dye eggs or to have an Easter Egg hunt.  It is heartbreaking when someone puts their own unhappiness before the joy of two little children. 

I am saddened that this year no Easter egg hunt.  No Easter bunny.  BUT I did get to give them their new Easter outfits on Thursday.  Hopefully next year the family traditions will continue............

Thursday, April 05, 2012

"Survived til 70 Party"

 I have made lots of great places to read and relax and rest.  At the time I was creating these spaces both on the roof terrace and in the house, it didn't occur to me that I would reach a time when the three "r's" would be that important.
 I now realize that I have a great world to enjoy the three "r's" for the future, after turning 70 this weekend.  Besides the environment of my home, the town is perfect for rest, relaxation and reading too.
 A REALLY funny thing happened yesterday.  In view of the fact that the big 7-0 is coming up in a few days it caused me to chuckle both during the phone conversation and afterwards.  Life is all in the perception isn't it? 
 When I turned 50 (and was still wearing a bikini and NOT thinking I was old) my daughter wanted me to start wearing a "clapper".  It was advertised on TV as a safety device for elderly people.  If you fell, you could clap your hands, providing you were still conscious, and supposedly emergency personnel would show up.  I saw the humor in her suggestion.  It was apparent from our conversation that buying a "clapper" for me would be a waste or her money.

So, it was particularly humorous yesterday when I got the call to see if I wanted to join "The Health Group".  A dear friend is a member.  I had heard of the group but didn't know its purpose.  The name in and of itself sounds really, really serious.  I tend not to be too serious about things like that.  So here's the gist of it.
There are close to fifteen women, single, who are available to help each other out in case of an emergency or health issue.  Driving to Dr, staying at hospital, notifying authorities, checking on each other, etc.etc. etc.  One's medical history is given out to each member in case they are the person who accompanies you in a crisis situation to the hospital and everyone has a set of keys for each other's house.

The more my friend talked, the more I realized that it is a worthwhile endeavor.  Especially since I know each and every one of these women and they are a FUN group.  Oh, they also have lunch out once a month.
I'm not only celebrating another birthday this weekend, I'm moving into another "season of my life". 
My daughter will be SO proud and happy. 

So the "Survived til 70" Party will take place on Saturday.  I couldn't decide whether to call it that or my Second Annual 35th Birthday.  After some thought, not much, I realized that it is highly doubtful that there would be a Third Annual 35th Birthday, so I'm sticking with the "Survived til 70" idea.

Life is an adventure or nothing, isn't it?
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Sunday, April 01, 2012

Decades and Decades of Life

 It seems absolutely impossible that the person in this photo is me.
I sat and reflected this morning about the decades of my life.  I don't think I've ever sat and tried to figure out where I was on my 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th and 60th birthday before - quite an interesting feeling.

At 10 we were in the throes of moving from where I was born, Chicago Illinois to Shreveport Louisiana.
Talk about culture shock.  It was a whole new world.  One where I could barely understand what people were saying because of their accent.  One where I couldn't find the restroom in the school because at that time, they referred to the bathroom as the "basement" and there wasn't one!  It was an adjustment.  One that my mother never adjusted to in her life - she always missed Chicago.  I always thought it was strange that we left our home, but then later in life I realized my parents were starting their forties and I guess looking for a new beginning - somewhere where there was little snow, according to my dad.

At 20 I was already married and had a new baby girl.  What an exhilirating but scary time.  I was always afraid that I would do something wrong with her.  So I just loved and nurtured her.  We were living in Alexandria, La., where my husband, who was in the Air Force, was stationed at England Air Force Base.  That base no longer exists but the hospital, St. Francis Cabrini is still there.

At 30 Houston was home.  The beginning of a long love affair in a city where if you dreamed it or wanted it bad enough you could make it happen.  I loved the entrepreneurial spirit of that city - especially during the 70's through 90's.  Oh my a lot of wheeling and dealing went on there.  But I was a Mom with three little kids. A Girl Scout leader (and loved it), room mother, Carnival chairperson, tutored children with reading issues and read to kids in the library once a week.  I loved my life at that point.  A "stay at home" mom.

At 40 I had already been a widow for four years. My life was changed forever.  Living in Nassau Bay in a house that I bought in just my name was a VERY scary thing but it was a good move for the kids.  At 40 I was working for a Fortune 500 company and starting my own business.  In retrospect, I had no idea what I was doing to start a business.  I started it with a $100 investnment by writing letters to everyone I knew, telling them about the business I was starting.  My first design job came from one of those letters.  The rest is history.

At 50, living back in Houston in Montrose, I was an "empty nester".  The kids were all out on their own.  The business was going gang busters and I was having the time of my life.  It was "rockin' and rollin' time".  I threw my own birthday party that year - it was a reggae party with the limbo stick, a reggae band and a fun time was had by all in the pool.

At 60 I was already firmly ensconced in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.  In the house that I live in still. The only decade that I have stayed put in my life.  Isn't that interesting?  It has been a decade of ups and downs - losses and sadness but also a decade of new beginnings with two new grandchildren.  Many things to be greateful for.  The contentment I have felt living in this house is something that eluded me  many times over the years.  For me, this has been a great time to explore, not only the country, but my mind and other things.  Writing was something that never occured to me.  It has enriched my life over the last five years as I never could have imagined.

So now, in a few days, that woman in the photo above, will be hitting the 70 mark. No longer can I kid myself that I'm not "getting old" - or, ha, that I'm there!  But I'm still curious to see what the next decade brings.  And, I wonder where I'll be when I turn 80 - hopefully I won't be permanently horizontal.
The doctor recently told me when I went to him for my back pain that "70 is the new 50"! I just laughed.
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