January 3, 2009. Mexico. Traditions and Customs.

How many times does it take for a tradition to be instituted into the life of a Family? It is our custom on New Year's Eve, for Ken and I, to go to dinner at the best restaurant we can find in the area where we are visiting. Charleston was the first. Andrew and David and Ken and I were staying for a week at Kiawah Island, a barrier island in the Carolina's, and for the first time, we four chose to go to dinner in Charleston, to a wonderful French restaurant on New Year's Eve. The boys were early in their teens. We had such a good time that we decided to do it every year. Now is this a custom for our family or is it a tradition? Before that time, we celebrated at home with the boys, along with friends and their children. What we have never liked are the large noisy events that ring in the new year. Everything seems so very forced. We prefer the quiet celebration with family and/or friends. One year we were in The Canary Islands for New Year's Eve, with Suzanne and David along with Andrew and we all decided to attend a large party being held by the resort, thinking that it would be interesting to see how non-Americans celebrate. The evening was warm, with the event held around the swimming pool. We discovered that drinking was the order of the night. Our evening ended shortly after midnight when Andrew assured the Russian men that the custom in America was to jump into the swimming pool to celebrate the New Year. As they were all in business suits at the time, we five decided it was wise to vacate the area. Now as the Russians spoke no English and Andrew spoke no Russian, I never did figure out how the "custom" was passed through to these Russian tourists, but no matter, everyone certainly had a good time. The next day we all decided not to attend a big party again. But last year we changed our mind with the party here in Mexico.

This year, Ken and I celebrated at our favorite restaurant in the Marine area. Ken made our reservation two months ago, using the Internet and received two e mail confirmations. Our reservation was for seven o'clock. When we arrived at Tikul, the very nice man at the desk said that it was impossible. He did not have our reservation, and the restaurant was full. Our response was to talk to him very nicely, and perhaps convince him to tuck us into some corner. He was very apologetic as we had with us the reservation confirmation number. But we were not on his reservation list, which of course is the only one that matters. Finally, as I looked at the list of reservations, and realized that they were holding tables for 9:00 and we were there at 7:00, We finally promised that we would be gone at 9:00, so he gave us a wonderful table off to the side at the back
and we ate dinner, although the courses arrived more quickly than is the custom in Mexico. They also offered us a complementary liqueur after dinner, but we declined as our deadline was fast approaching. Most normal people would have just walked away to find another restaurant when told the reservation was lost, or they would have had a temper tantrum. Our way was the better way, that resulted in the best service from the waiters and the manager we have ever had in Mexico. And we made our New Year's resolutions too, one of which as to always phone to confirm the reservation!!