NO CHRISTMAS CARDS

Today in my local paper there was a column that seemed meant for me. It was by Linda Campbell of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. It related to my current drought of Christmas cards, which has caused me some worry. She wrote:

"Sorry, but you won't be getting a Christmas card from me this year. I missed that deadline big-time.....writing meaningful end-of-the-year notes got procrastinated right up to Christmas Eve."

I always think I am going to send tasteful Christmas cards, or funny little letters telling about my doings during the year, and sometimes I do that, but most times I just put it off until it is too late to do anything. I've been paid for that shortcoming, because now I don't get very many cards. It's somewhat embarrassing to walk out to the mailbox and return with just a few bills, catalogues, or local fliers for insurance companies. I hope the neighbors haven't noticed. I did make Christmas cookies, though.

Next year will be different I swear. I'm going to have pictures, of my new house, and maybe one of myself where I don't look too fat, or of the bougainvilla in my back yard when it recovers from the freeze we had the other night. And I'll add a personal note for everyone on the list, telling them that I really, really remember them and I hope they remember me.

Happy new year!!

NO PROBLEMS IN MEXICO

A friend asked me to go to San Carlos with her to stay in a family condominium. I'm proud of myself- I said "yes" without a moment's hesitation. Why is that such a big deal? Because where I live in Southern Arizona all we hear is that it is dangerous to go to Mexico, via Nogales, now because a big drug war is in full swing. People don't walk on the streets of Nogales any more because there are bodies found in the morning, (without their heads). It is a war between the Mexican government and the big drug cartels--the cartels seem to be winning. I am not exagerating.

San Carlos is on the Sea of Cortez, and to get there you have to drive through Nogales, or swing around the side of it. Adventure is not my middle name, but I thought at my age "what the hell" and so I told Kate I would love to go, especially since Kate's son and 15 men would be going too. Kate's son is in the diving business, and they were all going on a diving and spear fishing jaunt. Kate and I had a car and the condo on this lovely beach all to ourselves.

Now I want to talk about this lovely little town of San Carlos for a while. The sea of Cortez is calm and inviting here - sunsets are incredible. Everyone is laid back, and eager to help you find things. We would stop to ask directions of a man fixing his car and he would be so gracious and helpful despite our minimal Spanish -- waiters would describe the entire menu in great detail. The shrimp were enormous, the beer was cold. I slept as though I were not an insomniac (which I am).

The way home was uneventful except for the sight of rifle bearing policemen at checkpoints along the way. At the Border in Nogales you wait for a while in a long line of cars. I always have a little worried feeling that for some reason my passport will not be up to snuff, because as beguiling as San Carlos is, I would still like to get back (with my head).

Later I have begun to think that when my money runs out, which is not too far-fetched to surmise, I would like to go to San Carlos to live. I could walk the beach and collect shells, eat fish every night, and learn Spanish so that I could really talk with those delightful people. I would be an immigrant going the other way.

I'VE MOVED !

There has been a lot of time between my last post and this one. It wasn't my fault, though. I moved to a new house but my internet carrier didn't, so its been silent for two weeks. Apparently my "Earthlink" had a hard time moving from one place to another. Trying to call Earthlink (you try it sometime) is a wild and frustrating experience. You can only talk to someone in India or the Philippines and they speak in another language which I am unable to understand, not having an ear for languages. I tried to get rid of Earthlink and get another carrier more oriented to the English language, but I didn't seem to be able to do this. I could only hope and wait until they were able to move my service (it took two weeks). Yesterday it came. I was given a five buck coupon for Starbucks to compensate for my trouble.

Why do these companies farm out their customer service to people in foreign countries who do not speak workable English? I know, it's because it doesn't cost as much. But they lose in the long run. If I could get rid of Earthlink I would do that. And I would advise anyone who asked me not to go there. God knows there are plenty of Americans who would like this job.

Moving was not too bad. I can only say this because I have children who virtually did it all. I think they were afraid that I would fall and break my hip and that would mean worlds of trouble. My daughter likes it, though. She likes to organize things and make lists. Moving, particularly for old people, is a bonanza for her. I think she should start a business for this--not moving big things, but making arrangements and moving little handheld objects that commercial movers can't really do well. For example, you should see how the books in my own collection are arranged after the move == better than the Dewey decimal system. And the kitchen!

Two of my sons came for Thanksgiving and fixed all of the toilets, restructured some of the furniture that had to be taken apart, and hung pictures. If they hadn't, these things would have languished for weeks, even months, while I looked for a handyman. Particularly the toilets. It is so good to have toilets that don't run or leak, or that you have to jiggle.

All in all, it has been a good move. I love my little house and I hope to stay but who knows in these uncertain times.