Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Run Free

Death seems to be the theme this season.

Don Antonio, elder statesman of Flor del Campo, lost his life after being attacked by a swarm of bees last month. He was survived by his wife, a women I had never seen without a smile on her face, until I held her hand at her husbands funeral. He had many children, but poverty has scattered them throughout Mexico and the U.S. His infant grandson had his grandpa's eyes. His community is in mourning.

I mourn as well. Antonio was a gentle spirit, kind and generous. He build his adobe brick home with his own two hands. He worked the land, raised a family, lived a virtuous life, touched lives. His rough, work worn hands were always extended in welcome for me, or anyone we brought to his community. I will always remember him, dancing at a new years eve fiesta, rejoicing when electricity was finally brought into his home, and beaming with pride as he showed visitors the new cement that replaced the dirt floors in his modest adobe home. When a team of college kids came to replace the cardboard roof on his home with fiberglass tiles one summer, he was up at dawn, helping to tear off the old roof, supplying the workers with nails, and old rusted hammers. The second day of work, we needed word to replace the roof beams. Quietly the old man mounted his horse and rode up the mountain. He returned hours later, dragging a tree he felled himself. With an axe, he and the other men in the village stripped the tree, and sawed it into planks for the roof. He was a hard worker to the moment of his death. He had ridden out to milk the cows in the frosty early morning, when he disturbed a bee hive. Over a thousand stings, and lack of transportation, roads, and a telephone meant he never stood a chance at survival.

His would be one of two funerals I would attend in one week in Mazamitla. Grief and Love are a universal language.

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The next one to meet her mortality was Puzzles, my pet cat of 20 years. On my fifth birthday, my parents gave me a little black and white kitten, my first pet. I named her puzzles because she looked like a jigsaw puzzle, with black and white pieces that fit together just so. She was instantly my best friend.

Puzzles was with me through the death of my father, and numerous other pets. She saw me through my entire educational career, start to finish. She was there for every boyfriend, and every breakup. She loved me when I felt unloved, and she stayed by me when I felt alone. She was a beautiful soul, inside and out.

After twenty years together, we parted ways this morning. Saying goodbye was hard, but she earned a peaceful, dignified death, and the best way I could think to thank her for her years of companioship, was to give her the finish she deserved.

Run free sweet puzzles.

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As for me, I am, as the blog says, a hopeless romantic in love with life. Finally free from my crippling depression, I have stopped planning my death, and am instead, planning my life. I think it's going to be a beautiful one.

Friday, November 24, 2006

The Thanksgiving post

I am thankful for my family.

My Mom
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and my Brother
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We are a small but loving family. We've had a really rough year. Through it all, we have always been able to look to each other for support and encouragement. For the first time this holliday season, we are all very far away from each other, but our love and committment to each other is not diminished by time or distance.

I am thankful for my "other" family, the Flores'.
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Syl, Heather and Taban, my other siblings. My life is so much richer with them in it.
Syl Sr. and Teresa of course, the kinds of friends you can't afford to be without. They stood by me when others would have run, and saw me through the toughest year of my life with complete love and unwavering support. I love the Flores' with all my heart and soul.


I am thankful for my students. These kids kept me going when nothing else could. Each and every one of them is remarkable. Their futures glow with promise.
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I am thankful for my friends. Though the things I went through personally this year were more than many of them could handle, I appreciate the ones that stood by me, held my hand, or prayed for me when there was nothing else to do. I also appreciate the ones that provide those little moments of diversion in life. Just time to think about something else, a little less serious, a little less painful. My dog friends, my work friends, my school friends, my Mexico friends, my old friends and my new friends, I wouldn't trade one of them for the world.
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I am thankful for the opportunity to work in Mexico, with beautiful people in wonderful communities. I am thankful for a job that is fulfilling and enriching for my mind, heart and soul. I am thankful for the ability and the occassion to love as much as I do, these people, and this work. I am thankful to be doing something to make a difference in the world. I am thankful to be working for people I love and respect. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow with every passing day.
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I am thankful for my dog, Moxie. She is my heart and soul. She makes me laugh, she keeps me in the land of the living, her bright eyes and genlte prodding kept me alive this year. She is an angel in a blue mottled fur suit. I love her more than I should I suppose. She is my everything. Thank you Moxie.
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I am Thankful for my health, both physical and mental. This year has taught me to make the most of what I have. So I have launched a campaign to become a stronger, healthier me. Better able to take on the world, and make the best of what I have.

On that note, I am thankful for Effexor :)
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I am thankful for my car. Poor Spooky, She's really been through the ringer, but she keeps right on ticking.
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I am thankful for lenient judges, good attourneys, excellent counselors, doctors and social workers. I am thankful for timely phone calls and veterinarians. I am thankful for my own life, and thats something worth writing about.

-Rachael

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Day at the Dog Park

Moxie went to the Dogpark with her buddies on Saturday and had a fab time. Here are some pics.

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And that was our day. We are heading back to Mexico this Saturday.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Love will find a way

Just a little tribute to those people in my life that represent love. (If you feel left out, its because I didn't have any pictures of you.)

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Dia de los muertes

November 2nd was "Dia de Los Muertes" here in Mexico. This was my first year to actually be here for the celebration.

The belief is that this is the day when the living world and the spirit world are the closest, and family members and loved ones that have passed away, cross back into the living world to visit.

Families build elaborate altars to their loved ones, with soap and towels for them to clean up after a long journey and plates of lovingly prepared favorite foods to ease their hunger. The altars also have lots of local flowers, special candles, pictures, and notes and letters to the beloved one.


All day, November 1st and 2nd, we watched as hundreds of people streamed down the road past our home to the cemetary to clean and decorate grave sites. I have included some pics of the cemetary the day after, not a single grave not lovingly tended by family and friends.

Its really a lovely holiday. Enjoy the photos.

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Thursday, November 02, 2006

Some random school pics

Some pics of my kids at LAM International School.


Meghin looking lovely!
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Jeffrey after he lit the cookfire at el tigre
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Jeffrey and Meghin
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Meghin and Jazmin
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Meghin and Mary
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Making a volcano
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Everyone working together
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Huge mess!
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Making earth models
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Kenneths Birthday
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CAKE FIGHT!
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The boys in the "computer lab"
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Jeffrey and Moxie
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Kenneth and Meghin
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A beautiful Mazamitla Sunset
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In other news, I've started compulsive pie-making. This apple pie was yummy!
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