Category: Mexican Moments – A Book

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 24

Too Hot to Bark The dogs of Pedregoso are even too hot to bark. Their larynxes are stuffed with sweat and they can only utter a tiny yip. The smartest dog I’ve seen this month is surfer dog. Three times a week he hits the Malecon and literally paw surfs. He swims out (I’m saying…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 23

Wait Until Dark Election rallies are clogging up our narrow streets and the Malecon. Stages are erected at a moment’s notice, while crewmen unload 500 plastic chairs. I’m convinced Mazatlan has a white plastic chair for all the residents, at least 500,000. Mexicans use them for every single event — from a wedding to a…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 22

Hola Señor Fox Late June begins with a deja vu moment. I get a call on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. that our Hospice brochure will be on press and to “come.” As in right now. During our 20 years, Soren and I have been to maybe 400 press runs together or separately, and it was…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 21

Time to Give Back I began my working career as a writer. While I had fun typing Spiderman scripts for the boys at the Canadian Broadcast Company, it was time I hauled my IBM Selectric around to something more creative than timing Spidey scripts in a sound studio. Tobey Maguire in a movie? Ha! A…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 20

Build it, and They May Climb it In Mazatlan there are very few front yards. It’s all wrought iron gates and flowers creeping through tiles or concrete slabs. In Pepe’s casa, there is a large concrete slab, but he has plans. The bricks were dumped — 1,000 more or less — the sand arrives, the…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 19

There is Something Wrong with Me Patricia is now alone in her Shirley Valentine Flat. I believe she’s adoring every moment. She joins us for yoga and tennis. Patricia has always been a much better tennis player than us and our round robin group welcomes her higher level. For various reasons, we can’t make three…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 18

1,000 Bricks a Day Gina arrives first. She’s had a long day, as she chose to burn her air miles through a complicated route via Mexico City, with a nine-hour layover. Gina travels like I used to; hand luggage only, very sensible and a breeze to carry up our 25 steps — she’s on the…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 17

Juan and the Pit Bull Last July we happily hired Ligia (lee-he-ah) Sanchez Canizales as our weekly housekeeper. I knew she was feisty when I first met her, I knew she’d be reliable and I knew she would work faster than a whirling dervish. I was just unprepared for the pit bull in her —…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 16

Daily Adventures Early one morning we can see there’s a big commotion on the Malecon. Sirens are blaring, traffic is blocked, police are on the scene, as well as press photographers. It doesn’t take long to learn that a large section of the concrete overhang belonging to the Belmar Hotel had collapsed during the night.…

My Mexican Moments: Chapter 15

A New Year Has Begun Christmas Eve we spend with friends munching on sumptuous BBQ ribs at Paulina’s in Centro. It’s BYOB, which suit our various tastes and budgets. The small restaurant is packed, the service is fast, and we all agree it’s a terrific way to spend Christmas Eve. Christmas Day we meet up…