Things keep changing, people come and go, we've now moved from autumn to almost summer again. Wow. At this point, after having been in Mexico almost two years, I don't think I could move back to the U.S. any more than I could cut off my arm. It is so different here, and although things still don't move as quickly or reliably as they do in the U.S., Mexico seems to be catching up in many ways.
Here's a synopsis of these 7 months: I began writing professionally, so that took up all of my writing time and I didn't have the energy for blogging. But now I've managed to start up again, and I'm happy about that.
Christmas was terrific, I went to my town of birth (Napa, CA) and spent a week with my family and long time friends. It was absolute magic.
New Year's Eve at La Vendimia was also excellent, as one would expect, and it was crazy and fun.
I've been riding my horses more, busy moving pens and fencing around, and very soon I will be at my adopted family's ranch next door, where my horses will be able to move around more and finally set some shade!
Memorial Day Weekend was terrific, and once again we went to the Day Of the Horse. I'm including some photos of this year's show. This year didn't have the fanfare of last year, but I ran into people I know now, and I also got to ride with my new friend Angele, who is originally from France!
I talked a couple of grizzled Mexican cowboys into letting me ride a mule into the arena. At first they said no, the mule was dangerous. I asked why. "It doesn't know anything," was the answer.
"I am a trainer, and I do know things," I said in my improving Spanish.
Finally after much discussion, they let me get on the mule and they led it to the arena gate. The poor beast didn't want to go inside, so I coaxed him in, and his big ears were waving all around. Suddenly he balked, ears forward, and I realized he had seen his shadow and was scared of it. I kept him walking while he watched that scary dark thing on the ground. When we got to the back of the arena, the mule let me know that he didn't like the sponsor posters AT ALL. I let him know that they weren't going to kill him. We then passed one of the barrels left from the barrel racing. The mule spooked, I took him back to the barrel and had him just stand there quietly, and he got the idea that maybe this arena thing wasn't a slaughterhouse after all. My friend Angele rode in on a black horse that is the mule's pasture mate, and the little beast finally felt more secure as we happily rode around, we did a couple of barrels at a merry little trot, and had a blast. When I took the mule back to his owner, it tried to follow me! Apparently I made quite an impression with the Mexican cowboys, because they were all asking me questions and praising my ability. Apparently that little mule had bucked off and cow-kicked more than a few people, but with me he was as gentle as an old friend. That was the highlight of the day for me.
This year they also had miniature horses, little pretty horses with lush manes and tails. They are uncommon here in Mexico.
They had the boys doing fancy lariat demonstrations, the dancers, music and fun and as always, great food! The Day Of the Horse is a great way to spend a Sunday.
Oh! I am also poised to work at CETYS, a prestigious prep school here. I am being hired to be an English teacher. I substituted there for three weeks while the Director of English was away, and I had a ball teaching the kids. These kids are bright, curious, amazing minds! That will be a whole other section here, so stay tuned!
