In San Juan Cosala, Mexico
For breakfast I had the last noodle cup. I walked for an hour from the house down to the church in San Juan Cosalá and back up the steep cobblestone streets. I was breathing fast and had to stop to catch my breath. By 10:30, I was ready for a nap.
In the afternoon, I walked ten minutes down the hill and around the block, then back up the hill to the spa, Monte Coxala, to find out when Toñio and Beatriz were coming. I knew they were coming Sunday. I needed some help getting groceries and figuring out how to get to Ajijic. They finally arrived, with Beatriz’s mother, Beatriz, and I visited with them for awhile. Then Beatriz took me into Ajijic and drove me back up to the house with my groceries just in time for another nap.
I had brought gifts with me on the plane, boxes of cards and journals, for family and people who helped me. I put together gift bags for folks that I knew were at Jorge’s house -- Beatriz, Beatriz and Toñio, and Jorge and Aida. Each day the first week I tried to keep handing out gift bags. Lorenza, Karina’s sister, got one item the first week and then I gave her another gift after the yoga lessons. Also, I gave Peter and Karina a gift bag.
I knew Jorge lived next to the tennis courts at the Raquet Club. On Sunday, they had all gone to his house to play cards. So I walked down the dirt road to the cobblestones and then on the concrete sidewalks to their house -- fortunately they had invited me to visit. They were playing Canasta and Aida’s parents were also there. They offered me a sandwich and I watched them play cards. After Toñio finished playing and Aida took his place, he engaged me in conversation so I could practice my Spanish. However I didn’t understand much unless he spoke slowly. Then he was asking me questions about Becky and why she wasn’t with me. Before leaving home, I had practiced writing in Spanish what happened to Becky so I was prepared. Still the whole conversation came down to “Está enferma” -- she is sick. I was emotionally on the edge of crying but was too embarrassed to do it in front of everyone. Concerned about walking in the dark, I left and walked back to the house. I was an absurd tourist in México.
The thunder storm that night went right over the house. It was so loud I thought the cement vibrated. My Mozart and head phones didn’t block out the thunder nor did the ear plugs later. I don’t know when I finally went to sleep.
