This is a picture of Carol Dunphy and me. We worked together at Canadian Airlines in Toronto in 1995-1996. She has turned up here in Ajijic! A member of my Book Club in Halifax, Madeline Comeau is here too. It seems Carol is married (43yrs.yesterday!) to Madeline's brother! I met Madeline many years ago at this Book Club not knowing the connection , of course. Small world! Another lovely lady, who we met here is Sonia Breeze from Dartmouth. I suggested Madeline get in touch with her before coming , which they did and so now we include her in our festivities too! Friendly place. Of course Barb and Wally needed to meet these folks too and that is how they all ended up here on our terrace for dinner last night! What fun.Jack has finally bought a barbeque. It is a charcoal one.....and he is not happy about that. However, now after two Scotches dinner will be ready. Hurrah.
It is spring here in the mountains now. We have orchid trees in bloom as well as the Jacaranda trees. The horizon seems to be a blaze of colour. The mornings are still a little cool (60 degrees)so we have to get our chores done early to be out of the sun mid afternoon. Once the sun sets it is cool again. What a delightful climate. We love it.
We have joined a gym. Two blocks away. We have been very good about going.....yeah, it seems you must not only pay...but you must attend as well. How unfair. However, my bones are thinning and as well as the calcium, that I am not good at remembering three times a day, this may keep me mobile for a few years more. Jack is trying to strengthen his legs which are weakening . Oh my, this getting old SUCKS !!
We were in Guadalajara this week to see the opthalmologist again. The "bump" on my eyelid has not grown in three months and this is good news. He is not sure this is basal cell carcinoma, but the only way to tell is to remove it and do a biopsy. I will follow up in Canada. He thinks it should be looked at every six months. I will do that.
We were enthralled with the CBC coverage of the American president's visit to Ottawa yesterday. Maybe it is a new dawn.....!
Earlier this week we went to a wonderful concert. A Canadian family of Russian decent. Both Mom and Dad played the piano, doing four-hand arrangements of Mozart Symphonies, some Beethoven and arias from Mozart, Handel .Their beautiful daughter sang Massenet amoung other arias in this most magnificent soprano voice. They are the Zarankin family from Toronto. They played to a full house and gave their very best to entertain. Sonia, Barb and Wally joined us and we loved every minute of it.
Barb is a member of the Garden Club here and so each month she invites me along to view some of the most delightful gardens in the area. This week was no exception. This house was perched high on the mountainside and the garden was on many levels. The Gardener, an America woman from California gave full credit to her Mexican gardener. She had a whole stone wall with niches for pots of Bonsaii. They were incredibly tiny and perfect. The meandering footpaths through this garden were spectacular with a blaze of colour everywhere. Most enjoyable. Then Barb and I headed back here for lunch at our favorite hotel, under the trees.
And so another week passes here on the shores of Lake chapala. Gracias mi Mexico.
I must share this. I read this recently and it resonates with me.
Mahatma Gandhi said: "The things that will destroy us are:
politics without conscience
wealth without work
knowledge without character
business without morality
science without humanity
worship without sacrifice."
What do you think?
