I dropped by Mom’s place today to remind her (for the sixth time) that I’ll be leaving to go to Mexico tomorrow. I’m heading back to teach at the San Miguel Writer’s Conference for the 4th year in a row, and I wanted to be sure that Mom would be okay while I was gone. While she sat beside me in a nest of newspapers, I wrote in giant letters on her calendar, “LAURA IN MEXICO” across each of the 13 days I’ll be gone. This trip means more to Mom than some of my others. Mom used to go to San Miguel herself every winter, for a dozen years, way before I ever went there, to escape the New Jersey snow. She even thought of moving there, but never quite rallied the courage. Three years ago, I brought her with me to visit her old friends while I attended the conference. It’s hard to believe ... [Continue Reading]
The Virtual Vacation Mexico: Arrival
I always love the sweet promise of setting out on a trip before dawn. But it wasn’t until the end of a long day of travel, when I boarded the shuttle that would take me to Susan’s house, that it really hit me that I was in Mexico. The moment I walked out of the airport door, 85 degrees slapped me like a wave. I immediately stripped off my down vest and my black wool cardigan and wished I’d had the forethought to put my flip flops within easy reach. A huge sign, Bienvenidos, arched over the roadway, welcoming me as we exited the airport. As I chatted with my driver I peered out at my surroundings. We were driving through scrub country—lots of cactuses and a fair amount of trees, grazing land for cattle, a lot of empty space, and few small villages. I tried to puzzle out the Spanish ... [Continue Reading]
The Virtual Vacation Mexico: The Start Of The Revolution
Today, Susan needed to go to Dolores Hidalgo, a small town a little more than an hour from San Miguel, to replace her ceramic water dispenser and its wobbly wooden stand. I went along for the ride and got a Mexican history lesson in the bargain. The first Mexican Revolution, Susan told me in the car, the one that freed Mexico from Spanish rule, started in Dolores Hidalgo on September 16, 1810 when Father Hidalgo, a Spanish priest, stood on the steps of the church and gave the rallying cry--the grieto—a fiery Spanish version of, “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.” Father Hidalgo was one of four men who led the Revolution—and one of the others was Ignacio Allende, whom San Miguel is named for. September 16th is the Mexican 4th of July, and every year, ... [Continue Reading]
The Virtual Vacation Mexico: Dexter And The Missed Pedicure
This morning I headed out in search of a pedicure before the conference begins. I was wearing open toed shoes and my toes look like crap. I stripped off the old polish before I left California, but now they have red ghost residue on them and look tawdry. I'm not particularly vain, but I think my feet should be more presentable. I followed Susan's perfect walking directions and headed off on the 20 minute walk downtown through the dappled, cobbled streets. I practiced my "Buenos dias," to the people I passed on the street and enjoyed the freedom of movement of setting off alone. I carried the dog-eared detailed street map I'd saved from last year's conference in my hand and easily arrived at the salon Susan had recommended when they opened at 10 AM. But no luck--they were fully ... [Continue Reading]
