Family Week Is Over. Now For A Little Peace And...

It's time for a deep sigh!

This last week was the week that I look forward to all year long.

And today is the evening that I enjoy almost as much!

First of all, my Mexican vacation shifted gears last Tuesday when my sister and Mother came down for our annual week in Mexico. Sis joins me for a week in the Spring, too. But, this is the one where we all get together.

My stays are always longer, but Mom can only stay away from my Stepdad for a week at a time. She gets too worried after about 6 days. My sister doesn't trust her husband to feed the goats, dogs, chickens, and himself without her reminders. And neither one of the husbands like to fly enough to join us.

This is the perfect chance for the spouses to get a break from each other. And Mom, sis, and I get a chance to catch up on things.

We spent the week doing a little bit of everything. Swimming in the bay. Enjoying good food. Shopping. Sitting around the room with our feet up share good conversation.

One night we had dinner at our favorite italian restaurant. Yes. You heard right. Italian. Right her in Mexico. Don Memo's is run by a family we've become good friends with over the years. Memo is the greeter, bartender, and jack-of-all-trades. "C'mon, C'mon! This is the place! Better than McDonald's", he calls out to passersby.

Madai, his wife, does most of the cooking. Lasagna. Spaghetti. Calzones. Salads. Chicken. My favorites are the Pollo con Champinones, chicken with mushroom sauce, and the cucumber salad. Both are out of this world.

And then there's Michel. Their 6-year-old daughter entertains and charms the guests. It's not unusual to see a guest on the floor in a corner helping put together a puzzle or reading a book with her.

In the words of Don Memo as only he can say it, "Whadda Life! Whadda really life!"

On another day we went to Playa Las Gatas, aka the snorkel beach. This time we didn't snorkel. We sat in lounge chairs. We sipped a beer or two. We had lobster tacos and seafood shishkabobs for lunch.

Mom bought a silver ring from her favorite beach vendor. And the day was finished with Mom and sis taking a couple of chairs out in the water and sitting in the warm splashing waves. I think it's about their favorite thing to do.

Their last day in town was the Day of the Revolution, complete with a parade. The parade is famous for it's length. The kindergarten kids started out about 8 in the morning. At noon the secondary school kids were going past. We could still hear the parade at 1:30 from our room where the ladies were packing.

This afternoon it was time for them to leave. We said our goodbyes and they headed back to the cold, soggy Pacific Northwest. I got on the bus to return to Barra de Potosi for four more weeks of Mexico.

I don't mind playing tour guide and translator. And I don't mind going shopping for souvenirs. For them, not me. But, by the end of the week Mom has asked me "Are you sure you wouldn't rather have the tamales?" at dinner enough to last until next year. And sis starts picking up the habit. By the last day they have me biting my lip so I don't say what I'm thinking about the questioning of my meal choices.

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't trade our annual Mexico week for the world. But, any good thing is only good in moderation. A week is just right...

I have to admit, sitting here in the peace and quiet on the porch of the little pink house in my favorite Mexican village is very relaxing.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go have a tamale for dinner.

Buenos Noches, Amigos...