April 4, 2009. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Learning from Elders.

It was painful to watch but humorous too. We got to watch during our whole lunch time. A wedding was to be held on the beach just in front of our favorite restaurant at the Hotel. When we walked up, forty chairs were set up on the beach in proper order, along with a long table in front of the chairs that looked out at sea. Soon two men arrived with a cart full of white cloth and they got busy. One man was thin and young and one man was heavy and older, but the main difference was quickly obvious in addition to the age and size. The older man had done it all before, while the young man was learning.. First task was the white cloth and skirt on the table. They worked together on that job. Next was to cover the chairs with white linen. The older man showed how it was done, and he started on the right side and the young man started on the left, with twenty seats on each side. Soon the older man is over helping with the other side. The hardest part came next. A white ribbon was to be tied around the chair, with a pretty bow tied at the back, all perky and proper. The older man showed the young man how to tie the bow, and the older man started on his side. Soon he was done. The poor young man, even though he twice went over for another lesson was never able to tie the bow properly. His bows looked terrible, and he knew it. Finally he went and asked the older man to tie his bows, so it was done. Finally, an orange ribbon was added to the bow to complete the look.

I felt sorry for the young man, because I can not tie a flat bow either. My Mother tied all my bows and she did such a good job that I never learned. My Sister also can tie a flat bow, so the backs of little girls dresses look so cute. My friend Mary too. But not me, and not that young man at Paradise Village. Perhaps he will practice, so at the next wedding he can do his fair share of the work. It kept me amused through the whole lunch.