JULY 2009 PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO

We’re still here and love it more. Life here runs at a pace not seen in 40 or 50 years in the U.S. Daily the bottled water truck, the ice cream man, the bottled gas trucks, and various farmers go down our little street. Pineapples, tomatoes, mangos and papayas for sale outside our gate. On the cobblestone streets littered with holes and jutting manhole covers, traffic moves at a slow pace. Weekly health workers come and inspect the property for standing water (mosquito farms) and biweekly the trucks spray all front yards. A flock of parrots land in a mango tree in the school yard and chatter loudly to announce their presence. We pay our utilities at the Supermarket or the local version of 7/11, the OXXO (oh ho). Life runs at a slow pace and we love it.

Five weeks ago Ted experienced a stomach ache that wouldn’t pass. A quick visit to the emergency room led to one operation, a few days of recovery before another more serious operation with 4 days in an induced coma with a 60% make it odds and a week in intensive care. After a total of 23 days he was released to recover very slowly at home complete with an iliostomy bag. Age makes the healing process very slow. The worst part beside the operations, was that the insurance we carry refused to pay. They weren’t about to keep him indefinitely so as it stands, he got excellent treatment and somehow, the hospital will have to write off the bill.

During his hospital stay a small kitten fell onto our roof. Hours later it managed to get down and spent a rainy night crying on a car tire in the neighborhood. Finally at 7:00 A.M. I brought it in. Now we are a complete family again, Ted, myself, one dog and one kitten. Life is getting better every day.

Today his proof copy of his first book arrived, Footprints on a Small Planet. I will let everyone know when it is available for purchase. For now we’ll sit and heal, living a life long forgotten or never known to most people.


P.S. A couple of tips we’ve discovered on our travels. For years our salt has turned to cement from the moisture in the air. Adding rice kernels just made cement with rice. In Buenos Aires we saw all the salt shakers with a couple of black beans in them. I tried it and in a couple of days, the salt was loose and poured. Works also with other powdered spices.

Leaf lettuce would wilt in a couple of days after going in the refrigerator. Now using a fabric towel bought in the automotive section of the store, very lightly dampened around the lettuce or cilantro or other vegetables and placed in a plastic bag, the lettuce stays fresh for up to two weeks. Saves a lot of shopping time and money.