Focus on Mexico Blog

I had a great surprise on the March 28th program. One of our participants, Owen Oliver, turns out to be my cousin. Owen is a dedicated student of Geneology and once we learned we were both from around Windsor, Nova Scotia, we started to compare notes with who we knew. It wasn't long before Owen suspected we were related.

During the program I searched and searched for the Redden book, which was compiled some years ago by a family member tracing our history. Finally, yesterday I found the book, scanned a number of pages and sent to Owen. He just got back to me with the following news:

• Marie,
     I am so grateful for the information you sent me. Your second great grandmother Jane King is my fourth great grandmother, so we are cousins.  I hope you're half as pleased as I am. Remember we were friends before we knew we were related. I still can't believe how small this world can be.  The information you send helped me make the conection.  Thank You, Thank You.
    Your sister-in-law, Mary Ann Fader Redden is also a cousin of mine through the Caldwells and of course David Young's sister is married to my cousin as well.  I think we are also related by marriage through the Brown family but haven't made the connection yet.

Indeed, it is a very small world!

I am tickled pink to find out Owen and I are related. I hit it off right away with Owen and his wife Jackie, well before we discovered our relationship. In fact the whole group of March 28th were exceptional, so much so that Karen made Certificates for them as they named their group 'Focus on Magic', and magical they were. We are looking forward to getting to know them all better as, one by one, they find themselves returning to Mexico to start their new lives; I have no doubts they'll all be here sooner than later. One of the great rewards of our job at Focus is the wonderful people we meet, many of whom become close friends.

What could be better?

Celebrating my 99th Birthday on Purpose; Just because I Can… 

On February 5th, 2009 I am choosing to celebrate my 99th Birthday. Want to hear why?

We moved to Lake Chapala, Mexico in 1995. In May 1998 we had just finished marketing a project called Birds of Paradise and decided to take our new puppy (Rusty) and the motor home and do a “walkabout” around Mexico to explore other areas.  We love Lake Chapala and wanted to learn more about the culture and people, so we set out to explore other areas. (Note: Important point for the following story - at that point, we kind of imagined ourselves ‘retired,’ never to work again.)

After doing a little research we had a number of places we wanted to stop off at. One of them was Catemaco, the Town of Witches and Warlocks, close to Veracruz in the Mountains. As we drove into town, we pulled up to one of the few locations where you could park a motor home. It was across the street from a wonderful cold clear lake. The town itself was as clean as could be and the people seemed very content living in their beautiful little town. Hardly a soul spoke English.

Ray’s Spanish was better (by a stretch) than mine, so I got him to ask around to see who the best ‘witch’ (more appropriately, cureando??) in town was and arrange an appointment for me to see her.

Next day, we arrive on her doorstep and enter a modest room which is her ‘office.’ A simple flimsy curtain covered the back door to her home, which was alive with activity from family members, including children. I couldn’t help but wonder if someone might spring through the curtain at any time during a treatment; at that moment I had no idea what kind of ‘treatments’ she even might do.

She asked me what I’d like to have done and through Ray, I told her I didn’t know, but asked her “what do you do?” She mentioned she reads cards and could do a cleanse, for instance. So after the cleanse (which is a whole different story), I had her read my cards with Ray translating.
It was uncanny how she zeroed in on my life and the people in it. Only one thing she said that didn’t jive. She said our business would flourish in 1999. (Recall, I said we had ‘retired’ in May 1998, and this was just a couple months into our so-called ‘retirement.’)

We left, and continued our travels around Mexico, forgetting my visit with my witch. We arrived home in November and through a series of events (yet another story), we ended up starting Focus on Mexico in January 1999. (We were so busy in the process, the prediction from the witch was buried in the past.)

We sold our condo and signed a contract to build a new home so we needed to find an eight-month rental. At the time, there was a scarcity of rentals, plus we have large dogs which added more limitations. Ray kept bugging the agent to find us a rental anyway and we needed it for October 1st. She told us about one that was being renovated, but wouldn’t be ready when we needed it. We followed her to the property and said we’d take it as we had faith it would be ready.

October 1st we were in her office and she handed Ray the keys and told us the phone number and address, which we hadn’t known when we saw it. We were quite astonished to learn that the phone number had 1099 (Oct 99) in it and the address was 99 Margaret Court. Then we remembered what the witch had told us: “1999 is going to be a very good year for your business.” Shortly thereafter we attended the Black and White Ball for the School for the Deaf charity and they had egg shells with numbers in them as raffles. I told them I’d take all with 99 or 9s in them.

I won:

1. A trip anywhere Continental flies
2. A dinner for two in a new French restaurant in Guadalajara
3. A weekend for two in a resort in Melaque

From that moment, I knew 9s were going to play a big part in my future.
So here we are coming up to February 5, 2009. Last year I ‘celebrated’ my 36th birthday (again) and I was deciding which birthday I’d like to celebrate this year. Then it hit me; I really must celebrate my 99th.

• 2009 is the 10th Anniversary of our starting Focus on Mexico (1999)
• I was born in 1949
• Before Feb 5th, 2009 I am still 59

Today is Feb 6th and last night we had our Farewell party for our Focus on Mexico program and as is tradition in Mexico, I got my ‘face in the cake’ to celebrate my 99th birthday and got to have a whack at the Piñata. For lunch, we took the group to the estate of Omar O’Rourke and they graciously also had a cake for me (and flowers) and low and behold, another ‘face in the cake’ opportunity.

and Nine Hours to get back home...

We rolled out of bed on November 24, 2006 (American Thanksgiving) at 6:00 a.m. It was the final day of our friends', Ray and Janet Gillard from Edmonton, visit and we had to get them to airport for an 8:30 a.m. flight. A quick cup of coffee and we were on the road. A mere thirty minutes later we pulled into a parking spot at the airport, waited with them through the check-in procedure and off they went. Simple enough; now it was time to head home. On the way back the plan was to stop at our new house and take some pictures of the construction. We were soon to find out that although I would definitely be taking pictures today, none would be as intended.

As we pulled out of the airport parking lot and turned the corner we could smell something burning. Before we had a chance to wonder about it, POOF! The hose belt to the radiator blew up. Great. Sunday morning on the side of the road, at the airport - half way between Guadalajara and Lake Chapala. Ray looks at me and asks if I had my purse with me. We were obviously going to be in need of some pesos. I slowly shook my head, no. He hadn't thought to bring his wallet. Who thinks of these things at 6:00 a.m. in the morning. Then I suggested he phone Bill and Karen. Whoops, we both forget the cell phones also. Great. Plus of course neither of us had any I.D. whatsoever.

While we stood there pondering our situation with the hood of the Honda in "help" position, a taxi pulled up behind the Honda and got out to see if he could help us. Within seconds a police car pulls up behind the taxi to see if he can help. Once they saw the big hole in the hose the taxi driver asked Ray "Tiene dinero? (Do you have any money?)" Ray reached in his pants pocket (which were luckily the ones he had worn the night before) and found $400 pesos (around $40 U.S.). The policeman takes a tool off his belt and dismantles the hose and Ray and the cab driver take off in search of a parts department that just might be open on Sunday.

I stay with the Honda. The cop gets ready to head off and tells me that he will be in the area if I need anything and will keep an eye on me. We both smile and off he goes. (Thank goodness he didn't ask to see our papers.)

Five minutes later, another policeman stops to see if he can help. I explain (can't believe he actually understood me) what happened and he pushes the Honda up the road a little (off the curve) as the traffic is picking up. Then he tells me that he will be in the area if I need anything and will keep an eye on me. We both smile and off he goes.

A little while later Ray and the cab driver come back with a new (generic) hose and thankfully they also bought a screwdriver (the cop with his tool back on his belt was long gone) and installed the new hose. Ray pays him $150 pesos for all this effort (we were now down to $100 pesos). With a big sigh saying "that wasn't so bad", off we go - heading home once again. Not quite so soon. One mile up the road we smell something burning. Oh no, not again. Ray pulls over just in time so at least the new hose doesn't explode again. Now what do we do with our last $100 peso note and still no phone. Up the road a few yards is an Oxxo store (like a 7-11, you know the ones that are always open.) Thank you God. We wait till the Honda cools down a bit then slowly drive it up the road and pull off at Oxxo with a wonderful phone hanging outside. Ray goes in and with the $100 peso note buys a phone card. Luck of lucks I had Bill and Karen's phone number in my head.

Ray gets Bill on the phone and asks Bill to bring his truck, pick up some rope along the way, and come out and tow us home. Unfortunately the battery is dead. Great. Bill suggests (bless his little heart) that we call the Green Angels (those wonderful mechanics hired by the Mexican government to patrol the highways). Ray explains we are a little short on money and asks Bill to call the Green Angels from his place in case he gets stuck on hold.

So for about ten to fifteen minutes we make small talk waiting for the Green Angels to arrive. A car (that had certainly seen better days) pulls up and out comes a father, mother and four kids. The kids run for the four mountains of gravel beside the store and I watch wondering what they are so excited about. Then the roar of a plane overhead (remember we are still very close to the airport). The family had come out to watch the planes go overhead. Miguel (whose name we will never forget) comes over and tells us he's a mechanic and offers to help.

Within seconds, feet off the ground and head buried in the hood, Miguel is pulling things apart and talking to himself. Then he pops back to the ground, over to his car and lifts out his tool box, a five gallon paint drum. This he turns upside down on the ground and everything falls into the dirt. He pushes things back and forth till he finds the required tools and back to the Honda.

About this time I am having trouble keeping a straight face. I whisper to Ray to ask if he thinks it appropriate if I discreetly pull out my camera and start filming this happening. I knew I had to write this up as a Blog. So out comes the camera and I start shooting.

Miguel works away happily on his own for a while, then hollers for Maria Guadalupe, his wife, to bring him a different tool. Now she is under the hood with him and he is giving her a lesson in mechanics on the spot. The four toddlers age six, five, three and two are burying themselves in the gravel as they eat their sticky candy. Yum. I get it all on film with no one really noticing. The two year old falls and hurts his finger and comes crying back to Mom. So I take his picture and show it to him to calm him down. He is fascinated.

The other kids start posing and wanting their pictures taken. Now I have a license to shoot and no longer need to be discrete.

Still no Green Angels; hey who cares. We got our own little mechanic. And I am getting great material for my Blog. Along comes a big tow truck and stops to talk to Ray and asks if we called them. Ray explains no that we had called the Green Angels but they hadn't arrived and now we have Miguel so we are in fine shape. Thanks but no thanks. The truck drives away. Ten minutes later he is back and says our friend Memo called him to come and we need to pay him. Great. Memo as it turns out is the nick name for Bill. Remember Bill was going to call the Green Angels who by the way offer their services free, courtesy of the Mexican Government. Free we can afford. $450 pesos, the going rate for the tow truck (who Bill called when he couldn't get the Green Angels), we don't have, plus Ray explains we have it under control, we have Miguel. The nice tow truck man explains that though we aren't going to use his services, our friend did call them out and we will still need to pay. He kindly offers to come by our house tomorrow and receive his fee. Thanks so much. See you tomorrow. (He came the next day and Ray paid him without complaint. Afterwards we both agreed that it was great that Bill did call the Tow Truck as they could have been our only hope. Plus we found out that Bill came out in his car to find us and we were of course long gone.)

He no sooner pulls away when Miguel shows Ray this handful of parts and says we need to go buy some new ones. Ray and I look at each other. It is quite clear by the look of Miguel's car that we certainly can't hit them up for a loan. Ray sheepishly asks can Miguel (wife and four kids) bring Ray and I back to Chapala to our house to get some money. After we get money, we will go buy the parts. No problem at all Miguel says and everyone piles on board. Lucky for Ray he gets in the front seat with Miguel. Maria Guadalupe and the four darlings and I are happily clustered in the back seat. During the trip the kids are fascinated with me and keep touching me and trying to chat with me. We all have a good laugh as we try to communicate. Little Maria (the five year old) gives me a bite of her candy sucker. You remember the one that she was licking in the gravel pile. Goodness. What could I do? Wasn't so bad.

Since Sunday can be a busy day with all the families out, there was quite a bit of traffic and Miguel wasn't too keen on driving bumper to bumper so he turns on his police siren and we careen through the traffic, lickity split with all the drivers turning their heads in question as we whiz by. I am still flashing pictures from the back seat.

We come up the hill to come into Chapala and as we come down the other side Miguel says to Ray "no frenos". Even I know that this means "no brakes". Using the hand brakes Miguel gets us to a spot where we can pull over. Under the car and he confirms, "frenos no funciono". Here we go again. No worries, back into the car and using the hand brakes Miguel drives all the way around the Libramiento and stops in front of the Refractionario (parts shop). They are closed. Of course, it is Sunday. Plus we still have no money and we are pretty sure that Miguel isn't overflowing with pesos either.

Ray is now standing beside Miguel thinking to himself that one of our friends really should drive by right about now. He looks across the street at the Pemex and there are our friends, Bev and Bruce Fraser, getting gas, bless their little hearts. Over we go and explain the situation and ask if they can run us to our house to get some money and then we'll come back for Miguel and find a parts shop that is open so he can fix his car and then get back to ours, we hope. So Bruce and Bev drive us to our house. Ray asks me if I just want to stay home and he'll go back and work with Miguel and get the car and truck fixed. I said absolutely not. I wouldn't miss this for the world.

Ray runs in and gets his wallet, and then off to the ATM machine for some money; as it turns out we don't actually have any at home either. Ray quickly runs into the ATM and just as quickly runs out. The debit card was not in his wallet. It was in front of my computer right where I left it the day before. Back to the house for the card and this time we pick up both cells and my purse. We're good for anything now. We get back to the ATM machine and there are three ladies inside (and a small line out building outside) who don't know how to make it work.

We told Miguel and Maria Guadalupe we'd be back in ten minutes and that was almost an hour before. After fifteen or twenty minutes Ray buts the lineup and goes in and helps the ladies figure out how to the use the machine and finally, after each taking their turn, they are out. After the line up fades, Ray gets some pesos and back to Miguel and his car.

No Miguel. Maria Guadalupe explains that Miguel has gone (on foot) looking for an open parts shop. We jump back in with Bruce and Bev and drive in the direction that Maria pointed. All the way through Ajijic and nothing, back to check with Maria - Miguel isn't back yet. We drove through San Antonio and back to check with Maria - Miguel isn't back yet. Bruce and Bev are thinking they could be sitting at home enjoying their Sunday so graciously offer us to drive them home and keep their car as long as we need it. We get her to give us some blankets to cover the seats, just in case.

On the way back we find Miguel who is happy to sit on the blankets as he has quite a bit of grease on his person. Miguel confirms that it is Sunday and there are no parts shops on the Lakeside that are open on Sunday. So it is back to near the airport where Ray had got the part earlier. Miguel instructs Maria and the kids to stay with his car (although we were all prepared to bring them along). Ray offers her $200 pesos (we have lots now) to buy the kids some lunch and points to the Subway across the street. She immediately refuses and Ray had to convince her it was for comidas for the kids in order to get her to accept the money.

We get to the parts shop and Ray and Miguel go in for the parts. Ours are no problem but they don't have the right part for Miguel's brakes. No problem. They get two different parts and do a Mexican fix. Sadly I forgot to take pictures for this part. Now off to the Honda and everything will be fine. Not quite. Miguel had brought from his ten pound pail the right tools for two of the parts he needed to replace on the Honda, but alas not for the third part which controlled the power steering.

Ray explains I will need to drive it back to Chapala with no power steering. After all he is going to drive Bruce's vehicle. I shake my head no and Miguel jumps in with me and drives us back with Ray following in the other vehicle. Fortunately we don't have a built-in siren but we managed to go at lightening speed all the same.

We get back to Miguel's car and the family and Miguel pulls out the necessary tool and finishes fixing our vehicle first. As his head is under the hood Maria goes over to Ray and tries to give him the change from lunch. Ray refuses and she tries again. Miguel has his back to us so Maria quickly smiles and sticks the change in her pocket. Our little secret.

Then Miguel tells us it is ok for us to head off and leave him there to fix his. Ray told him absolutely not. We weren't leaving until we knew his car was fixed and they were all right. Miguel was worried about us wasting any more of our day so he literally was running back and forth to fix his car hollering to Maria for this part or that and to try the engine while he was underneath adjusting.

I of course am still taking pictures. I notice Maria watching me and I am sure she is wondering what I am finding of such interest. So I get Ray to explain to her what I am doing. This is going to be a Blog story on the Internet. Maria breaks out in a big grin and hollers to Miguel still under the car that he is going to be a famous mechanic in Canada and the United States through our Focus Blog on the internet. That brought laughs all round.

Finally Miguel finishes and takes the water can he uses to add water to the car and washes up a bit and wipes his hands on his pants to dry. Ray asks him what we owe him and Miguel tells us nothing, he wasn't working in the shop, it was his day off so no charge. Ray asked what the shop would charge for such as day as this and Miguel quietly says $400 pesos so Ray gave him $700 and after a fashion Miguel agrees to take it. Maria is delighted. Christmas is right around the corner.

I ask if I can take their picture and Miguel, Maria and Ray cozy up for the shot. As we are saying our thank you's and goodbyes Miguel and Maria invite us to Christmas at their house. They say they don't have a lot but would be honored if we joined them for some Pozole and maybe a little Tequila. I said only if I can bring my camera for the "rest of the Blog story". They agree and we are due to go there in a few days from now. We can't wait. We bought some toys to take with us along with some food.

My heart swells with pride at our new Mexican friends and their sense of natural giving without hesitation. What started for them as a free Sunday to take the kids to see the planes ended up with Maria and the kids sitting in the car on the highway in Chapala for hours (without one complaint even from the two year old) and Miguel working all day on our vehicle. Never a thought to turn us down or that we might have ruined their day. We needed help. They were there. I truly love the Mexican people.

That night we were sitting on the terrace enjoying a glass of wine and examining our day. Ray and I both agreed; we wouldn't have missed it for the world. I said I was so happy that our car had broken down. Otherwise we wouldn't have met these beautiful people and made them as new friends. And you wouldn't be reading this Blog.

Thank you Mexico, our adopted home. Stay tuned for the "rest of the story" after Christmas!

4 Comments:

 Lisa and Andy said...

I just wanted to thank you for the newsletter. I love to read it from cover to cover.

This morning - while Andy was making egg and cheese omelet- I was reading aloud your blog about your adventures with your car, Miguel and his family. We had to laugh out loud - I know it was not funny at the time- but we were delighted with your story and your good hearts.

10:56 AM   

 Lilian and George said...

Just checked out the Monte Coxala Spa and WOW! we are so looking forward to that! We'll have to start buying lottery tickets to win enough money to stay there some day...

Also, your blog site is wonderful! You do seem to have a lot of fun - it's always a matter of getting the right people together, and I would think that anyone joining your group would fall into that category - what do you think? Automatically adventurous and willing to try new things and participate... We really look forward to exploring the area under your expert guidance.

Yes, over the years I had always experienced Mexicans as warm and loving people, willing to give you the shirt of their backs if you treat them as equals, especially when you (try to) speak Spanish with them. So it doesn't surprise me how they helped you with your car problems. But oh - what problems you had!

10:58 AM   

 Vivian and Gordie said...

just read your "car adventure" on the net and it is priceless.

Who would have imagined a day like that. I get so tired reading and hearing about the crises in the world. Stories like this leave you feeling good about man kind and the knowledge that goodness will prevail.

11:05 AM   

 Jack Morine said...

I read your car trouble story and couldn't help but think what would have happened in boston in the same circumstances. While you were gone for parts someone would have stolen the wheels off your car.

Then the cops would have come along and told you to get your car the hell off the road.

It's wonderfull how the mexican people with so little are so willing to share with others.
The way you and Ray handled your troubles that day tells me something. You're becoming Mexicans.

I bit off more than I could chew (literally)

But I have a happy ending…

I love muffins and I have a wonderful “Alive” cookbook called “Fantastic Flax” where I found my favorite Muffin of all time “Flax Muffins with Chocolate Chips” (only I use Carob chips).

A few days ago I lovingly made myself a batch. This morning I poured myself a cup of green tea, got out a beautiful muffin and came up on the terrace to enjoy the view while I savored my treat. Two bites later I bit into my crown which had somehow come unglued.

It is 1 p.m. on Saturday and I race for the phone and call Dr. Haro, my dentist. The receptionist (who is also a dentist) tells me they close at 1 p.m. and Dr. Haro is just finishing with a patient, then he is driving back to Guadalajara.

Anyone who knows me knows I’m not really good at taking NO for an answer. So in my most persuasive tone I tell her that I am going to Ana’s birthday party in a couple of hours and I really must be wearing all my teeth. I said “I have my purse and keys in my hand and can be there in five minutes.” She tells me to wait while she checks with Dr. Haro and then tells me to rush right over.

In by 1:05; out by 1:30 p.m., my emergency appointment goes well. Instead of just re-cementing the tooth in place, they notice it is a little higher than the other teeth which would put extra stress on it so they filed it down to match and then gave me a quick cleaning and polish. Then they send my off to my party, all teeth back where they belong. Thank you Dr. Haro.
To drum up future business for Dr. Haro (for those of you that are here on the lakeside or when you visit or return), I’m going to share this favorite healthy muffin recipe with you.

Flax Muffins with Chocolate Chips
Muffins are an American mainstay, but here is a recipe with an Old World twist.

1/2 cup whole flax seeds
1-1/2 cups (375 ml) kefir or buttermilk
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup flax meal
1/2 cup dried cane sugar, e.g., Sucanat or Rapadura
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup (60 ml) almond oil or melted butter
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Soak whole flax seeds in kefir for 2 hoursPreheat oven to 380 degrees F (190 degrees C).

In a large bowl, mix flour, flax meal, dried cane sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, beat eggs and combine with almond oil, vanilla and kefir-soaked flax seeds. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and gently stir until smooth. Finally, fold in chocolate chips.

Pour the batter into 16 medium muffin cups so that they are no more than 3/4 full, and bake for 20 minutes.

Let sit on a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes before serving.

NOTE: I have made a few changes to the recipe:

1.  Instead of chocolate chips, I use carob chips
2. Instead of cane sugar, I use Agave Nectar and slightly reduce the quantity
3. I add a cup of fresh or frozen blueberries
4. I also add 4 or 5 pieces of crystallized ginger cut in small pieces

Enjoy!
Marie Dwyer-Bullock