World Beginnings

Once a cousin told me “Susan, your life is like a roller coaster but I am happy on my merry-go-round”. What a great metaphor for life! The Lake Chapala area of Mexico is home to over 10,000 ex-patriots and it is said there are four women to every man. One of the popular sayings here is that the men are looking for a “nurse with a purse” and while there are many women up for that role, I really don’t know any of them. Life here can be much like a crazy ride as people learn to navigate a different country, culture, and laws; although, some will argue there are no laws. So, no surprise to hear the incredible life stories of the women who show up here with their lives in three suitcases and others with a complete house in tow. One quality we share is a sense of adventure and rather than fearing the horse will bolt from the merry-go-round, we grab the safety bar on the scariest ride and get ready to scream. As this dark, sad year draws to a close,   friends are moving on and discovering...

He wasn’t always like this. In the distant foggy past his mom walked him to school, made his lunch, watched him as he made life’s way. Washing clothes clean, folding and placing carefully with mother’s love. Now slumping on a  dead-end corner to nowhere balled up defeated by life demons. No one notices. Two shoes scavenged from trash foul, piled on the street... loosely clinging to his feet. One dingy grey  trainer, bound with dirty tape. One worn out men’s dress shoe no laces to hold them to his aching feet. Such is his broken, mismatched life. So far from his mother’s dreams. Jocotepec, MX , 2018