I just noticed it’s been almost a month since I contributed to the blog. My, how time flies when you aren’t thinking about it. We have been busy with guests; after Susan and Joe, Peter and Debbie visited and then Riley over spring break. We enjoyed all; each brought their interests, ideas and perceptions which was interesting. Sydney and I have got to know ours pretty well by now.
Riley gets the Easiest To Have award, all he needed was sun, food and rest. He got all three and returned to Moscow Saturday with his batteries recharged, ready to tackle the last eight weeks of the semester. Turns out he is a pretty damn good diver, too. In the dozen dives he has in his career he’s already light years ahead of where I was at 50 dives. I do believe he is what may constitute a ‘natural’ when it comes to water, a more relaxed person I’ve not seen. Except maybe his mother. We had six terrific dives, during one Riley touched a sea turtle; a light caress of the shell and flipper to let Speedy know we came in peace. It was pretty neat to watch. Riley also gets his money’s worth as he drains every last drop of air out of his tank, to the point that he has to use air from the Dive Master during his safety stops. Now, that is economy!
We fed Riley sushi, most days let him sleep till he woke and then he camped out by the pool or beach for his allotment of sun. He got us up at 5:30am Saturday morning to go watch the sun rise at the SE end of the island. It was inspiring to be the first in Mexico to see it because there is a place, complete with a sign in Spanish and English that says this is the eastern most point in Mexico and if you watch the sun rise from this spot you are the first to see it. Unique is the best way to describe it.
Sydney and I begin our countdown until we leave on March 26. It’s going to be hard to leave a place that you’ve come to know so well, that has become home. I guess it means we just have to come back. It’s going to be different to return to a life where we have more responsibilities, albeit not related to 8 to 5 anymore. That’s what I’m looking forward to; our new routines at home with no work. Since we’ve not played that game yet, it will be fun to see what develops.
Yesterday, we spent the morning cleaning the condo because the little, bitty ants have been increasing. And I left a package of candy out which attracts them, well, like ants. (Guess I should’ve thought of that.) Anyhow, we cleaned top to bottom with Sydney even mopping the tile floors with her broom and a solution of vinegar and soap in between her bread baking. She has really become accomplished at this art, using a blend of whole wheat, regular flour and avena (oatmeal). We are thinking of starting a line called: Loaves by Sydney, when we get home. We resettled from our guests and are now ready for our last week. We plan on diving 3 more days, the last being a long dive day: morning, afternoon and evening. Three-a-day workouts, you know?
Yesterday afternoon we spent at the beach getting our sun allotments, along with our quotas of reading. I closed my eyes and listened to:
The sound of waves
The cry of seagulls out over the water, “Mine, mine, mine” they say
Dogs barking back amongst some buildings behind
A boat going by, the sound of the hull hitting waves, the drone of the engine
Mexican children playing baseball, Spanish in youthful voices
Mexicans in the ocean swimming, laughing
A jet flying high from Cancun
I spent time watching three Mexican men on the dock nearby searching for fish to spear. They made a spear out of a length of welding rod (?) and had fishing line attached. We talked to them later and they had one fish. I saw the one guy go 0 for 12 on his throws.
We also watched the sunset, which never fails to provide an aura of beauty. Looking west the land is flat and there are no obstructions to prevent the sun from literally sinking in the west. We have tried and tried to see the rumored blast of green light which follows the sun’s sinking; it’s a myth.
That evening, Sydney beat me again (18-11) in Cribbage as we waited for the chicken and rice to heat. She may be on her way to winning the 2008 Isla Mujares Cribbage Championship. But, it’s not over till the skinny Mexican sings, as they say. We are looking forward to attending the National Masters Cribbage Championship in Portland, Oregon in September.
Don’t know what we’ll do today, probably ride our bikes into town to post this entry at Adrian’s Internet Café, do some grocery shopping as Sydney has promised a batch of mango salsa for cocktail hour tonight. She also wants to buy some sunscreen that is made out of shark cartilage or some such potion. Aside from that, probably read Three Cups of Tea which is a very telling story of one man’s devotion to helping his fellow man. We’re definitely going to miss the reading when we go home; I hope we can somehow devote a couple of hours a day. Like we tell the kids; it’s all about choices.
Last, but not least, we want everyone to know that Hadley completed her Masters degree this past weekend! She has obtained it in Child and Family Development at Boise State and will go through commencement in May. Congratulations, Hadley, we are very proud of you for accepting the challenge of higher education. You have set the bar for all of us. Josh, you’re a great guy to be supportive of her the past couple of years.
So, if your family needs an overhaul, call Hadley, she’s your gal!
Thanks for reading; it’s been my pleasure to share. Adios, Esteben
No comments:
Post a Comment