On the road of life there are always topes along the way

Today is the first day I've worn long pants since October.  That's because once again, we are on the road- after 3 months of the tropics, we are enroute to some of our favorite inland destinations.  Some are old favorites and many will be new.  Today as I sit in the patio of Casa Encantada in Patzcuaro, I realize that I am one of the kind of travellers who enjoys the familiar.  I love coming back to Patzcuaro, a pueblo magico and home for so many artesanias of the indigenous tribes that reside in this area of Michoacan.   Each pueblo is famous for a specific art, wood, paper, reed, clay etc. and each one ends up with wares here in Patzcuaro..the largest of the pueblos around Lago Patzcuaro.  Today is the real start of our road trip...but let me back up and tell you where we've been. 

We've just finished the week of Sailfest which raises funds for the poor children and school projects in Zihuatanejo.



  I volunteered selling tickets, but what I really hoped to do was expose more people to the handsewn goods of "Sol Sisters" and I would say we enjoyed moderate success.  These colorful oilcloth products can now be seen in the hands of many people strolling the streets of Zihua and beyond.  A portion of my sails went to the festival.   For many ex-pats here in Mexico, being involved with large projects is their way of life.  The energy and committment is admirable, and perhaps at some point in my future, I will want to be involved in a bigger way, but for now, we like to say our charity is more of a personal thing.  We feel that we are connected in our hearts and hopes to the family of our student Doraliz. 

Doraliz's life is like the village roads and secondary highways of Mexico, the path is not direct or smooth...there are many topes along the way.  This year I sense a maturity in Doraliz that wasn't there before.  No longer is she the "fashionista" wanting to shop for clothes and hinting subtly and sometimes not so subtly about what she would like.  I think her life is now one that is maturing as she sees her family struggle and it's not always happy. 



Recently her uncle, who is one year younger than her has come to live, with his mother in their small home that functions as a store, homework outpost, daycare center.   He comes from a small pueblo south of here and is awaiting surgery at the General Hospital in Petatlan.  But first the family must save the funds required to cover the costs for the drugs that might be needed.  Doraliz's older brother Julio who I've not seen this year, has had a major change.  I've now been told by Doraliz's Mom that Julio is living with his "Novia" and is going to be a father soon.  Lilly, Doraliz's middle sister has dropped out of school.  We suspect she has an underlying behavioral/learning disability and she just cannot keep up with the work at the secundaria.  Her mother has shared her fear that at 14 she will become pregnant as she loves babies and spends her time caring for the neighbors children.   Doraliz's father is no longer employed.  He lost his job and is now the "househusband" cooking,washing ,cleaning and building an addition to house the people who may end up living with them.  Mom is now employed by the city government in a small clerical role, but with only an elementary education, Doraliz has been asked to go in and help her with her paperwork.  She is also struggling with what could be potentially serious health problems, kidney disease.  She tells us that she shouldn't have drunk so much Coca-Cola as a child, and perhaps that is the cause.  We hope she will recover as her family depends on her income.  And Doraliz is in need of orthodontics.  So one of our goals when we return is to get the information needed to assist Doraliz to access dental service here.




 At our recent Nino's Adelante breakfast we started the process speaking to the local administrator of the program....Doraliz's life is not the life our children enjoyed.  She is often worried, tired and hungry and all we can do is help to fill in some of the areas that we know she needs support for.  And help her navigate through the topes of life for the majority of poor here in Mexico.  She and her family share a happiness and love that is obvious and we hope that the love they have will bind them together through their difficult journey.  

 

 

So our lives are full of joys, some sorrows and many emerging realizations that life is for many not the fortunate experience our time here is.   Many people have said to me that our dog Cori enjoys a higher standard of living than the majority of people and as we embark on our 2 week roadtrip. I think I would agree.  It's been fun booking "doggie friendly" accommodations along our chosen route.  He's already had a fabulous time on night one on the beach in Troncones at the Inn at Manzanillo Bay.   What's not to like when you have your own bungalow, thatched roof airy space and direct access to the beach.   He loved the place and as locals, we can enjoy a reduced rate at this popular spot.  Today, our accomodation is once again fantastic.  The colonial charm and artistic style of Casa Encantada is popular- we are lucky to be here.   So as we leave the familiar territory of places we know and love...I hope to be able to feel the inspiration of Mexico and share my travels once again.  Let the beauty continue and let that beauty carry us in safety as we venture on new paths to Colonial treasures.