January 31, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. My Days.

Breakfasts are easy.  Everyone gets their own.  I always sit in a comfortable chair in the living room while Ken and Ian eat sitting at the dining table.  Rita makes coffee.  All morning we read.  Almost nobody talks.

Today, Ian and Rita went to the pool at 10:00, taking their reading material with them.  Ian rolls Rita down in the wheel chair.   I joined them at 11:00 and Ken came down at noon.  We must have been quite a sight sitting under our little hut by the pool with the walker and the wheelchair side by side.  Ken and Ian came up for lunch at 1:00 as Ken was weary of sitting.

Our treat of the day was when Ian brought Rita and me a sandwich each for lunch.   And he brought us an apple each for desert.   I swam and sat in the hot tub too.  By 3:00 we were ready to go up to get out of the warm air and the sun.  The breeze always keeps you cool but I can not avoid getting some sun when I get into the pool so the sun beats on you if only for a short while.

The rest of the day was devoted to television and reading.  We watched a bit of junior curling, then the hockey all star game, followed by the football pro bowl.   I don't see much TV but I do enjoy what I watch.  Half and hour here and there with me always with the clicker is my idea of heaven.  My days are not fancy nor dramatic but they certainly are pleasant.

January 30, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Golf Club.

Sitting on the balcony looking out on the 18th fairway is an ideal place to have lunch.  You can watch the whole final hole from tee to putt.   You get to see the errant shots and the missed puts and calculate their final score just by how they play the last hole.  Today a group from an all inclusive resort, Marival, had come to play.  As each group finished, they came to the deck for a drink.  There was a bus load full.  After each group completed their round, the others on the balcony cheered and heckled.  It was a festive atmosphere and lots of fun.  Three days a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, a group comes from the Marival to play at our golf course.

The service is slow at the gold club so we four enjoy our leisurely lunch, which always includes looking at birds.  I saw my first Great Kiskadee from this balcony many years ago.  Today we were sitting at the edge.  On the other side of the low wall is a hedge full of red flowers, which were attracting hummingbirds.  We saw several right beside me.  Now I must look up their name.

Over the years,  we have enjoyed several beautiful places we like to go for lunch.  The balcony of the golf club is one of the most enjoyable, not the least is that the same waiter looks after us every time we come.  Every year he is there and every year he greets us warmly and looks after our every need.  Today was our first time to have lunch at the golf club this season.  It will not be the last.

January 29, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Eating Like Kings.

Rita is the cook and Ian is the scullery maid.  Ken and I are living like kings.

I do not know why but for breakfast Rita cooked us a big breakfast;  pancakes and bacon along with fruit and coffee.  Ian always cleans up the kitchen and loads the dishwasher so Ken calls him the scullery maid.  He seems well trained for his task.  The breakfast was delicious and the kitchen spotless after our meal.

Tonight for dinner Rita cooked fresh tuna that she purchased across the street at the farmers market on Tuesday.   She sliced the big piece into steaks so Ken got his steak rare while Ian and I prefer our tuna medium rare.  Rita prefers somewhere between Ken and Ian with her tuna steak.  That tuna was great.  With it we ate a large salad and potatoes.  Our dinner was wonderful.  And Ian cleaned up the kitchen.

Ken and I are being thoroughly spoiled.   We are enjoying every minute living our life as a king and queen in Mexico with Rita and Ian.

January 28, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Getting Old.

Ken and I are delighted to have gotten old.   Many of our friends and family members have not been so fortunate.  When we married in 1958, Ken had a life expectancy of 42 and here is is at 79 still walking and talking.  Despite our infirmaties, we keep focused on what we are able to accomplish.  We try very hard not to compare what we could do 5 years ago, let alone 25.   But every now and then, our reality jumps up and slaps us in the face.

Today we 4 wanted to have lunch at the restaurant on the side of the canal right at the edge of the Time Share, Paradise Village.   We have walked there hundreds of times in the past but this morning we discussed whether or not we would be able to walk that far and then walk back.   We did so well walking to the market the other day that we felt we could try even though the distance is much further.    And we did well with me in the lead, Ken in the walker behind me and Ian pushing Rita in the wheel chair holding up the rear.  

Lunch was lovely, sitting outdoors looking out to sea in the shade.  When it was time to come home, Ken and I decided to take the shuttle back to our condo while Ian and Rita stopped at the market as they made their own way home.  By the time we finally got to our condo, Ken could barely keep his balance even using the walker.  Both of us had a nap immediately upon our return.  Our abilities today are so much less than in the past that it is difficult to not emphasize what we can not do.   But we just laughed and enjoyed our nap.  Next time we will stop for a rest half way there and in the meantime, we are happy being able to walk and talk, despite getting old and being infirm.

January 27, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. By The Pool.

Last year, I visited the pool once.  This afternoon, I remembered why I missed it so much.  The day was beautiful.  The sun was warm but in the shade the breeze kept you cool.  Rita, Ian and I spent all afternoon sitting by the pool.  I loved every minute.

After I swam and did my exercises in the deep end, I went into the hot tub.  The water in the pool is heated so it is not cold but it cools you down when you get out of the water and feel the breeze, so I  head to the hot tub.  It is a place where people chat.   I talked to a lady from Indiana.  She used an expression I had not heard for years.  When she told me she lived in Northern Indiana, I asked her what people do for a living in that area because I recalled it was mostly farms.  She thought I was asking what she did, and she responded by saying that she was a housewife.   I had not been given that answer for at least 40 years so I laughed and responded "Great".  

It turned out that her husband had been in the military and they had 3 children.  After he retired, they moved back to their home town in Indiana where he joined the National Guard.  In addition, he works part time as an air craft mechanic for a company, which was his job in the Air Force.  Now in addition to looking after her own house, she helps care for her 5 grandchildren.  She is delighted with her life and was a charming lady.  What I found so refreshing about her was her choice to be a house wife.  She was proud of her job and was pleased to tell me about her life.   I cheered her on.

Later in the afternoon, we three drank a margarita, the first in Mexico.  Ken joined us and the afternoon wound down in time to get ready to watch the sunset on our balcony.  It is a grand life.

January 26, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Restaurants.

Restaurants come and go.    When we returned to Mississippi this October we found that two of our favorite restaurants had closed, which is irritating but understandable.   Yesterday, we were delighted to find a little place down the road still open for business.  We four ate a delicious lunch after walking from our condo, which by itself was a miracle.  So far, it is Ian's favorite eatery.

The place opened five years ago selling tacos for $1. each.   The Mother Rosie did the cooking and was only open for lunch.  Bit by bit, the menu was expanded.  And they opened for  breakfast too.   The little place was just by the side of the road, covered by only an umbrella.  Each year showed improvements.  Now it is totally open to the elements but is covered by a thatched roof.  And the bathrooms are clean and tidy and both have doors, a definite upgrade.

The prices are still modest.  Each taco now sells for 17 pesos and as the pesos now are 16 to an American dollar, it comes pretty close to a dollar a taco.  I ate a shrimp burrito which was full of shrimps and had lots of flavor.  Rosie's son waited on our table.  Ken and I were delighted to have found this little restaurant still serving good inexpensive food.  When we left the place was full.  I felt as if I had found an old friend.  We will dine there again.

January 25, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. My Hair.

"I love your new hair style",  said Marlin to me.  She is the head lady of our condominium project.    We had just arrived at Playa Royale and she was greeting us with a big hug and a friendly smile.  Last year she was helpful to me by getting medication from the pharmacy in Puerto Vallarta, thus saving me a taxi ride.   But I did laugh when she commented about my hair.  Last year I had no hair at all so my hair style this year is a definite upgrade, and Marlin noticed.

Actually my hair looks awful.  It sticks out in all directions but at least it is hair.  The growth is slow.  When I had it trimmed at the Hard Rock he cut off one half inch.  And the hair I do have is fine like a baby.   All my life I had been blessed with hair that was easy to manage but now it is impossible, so I brush it in the morning after my shower and for the rest of the day I do not look in the mirror.   And that was what was so funny about Marlin's comment.   Both she and I knew it was a joke!!

January 24, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Walk.

We four went for a walk.  Our goal was to walk to the Market for lunch and then walk back.  In the past, there was no problem, but this year there was only one able bodied person in our group so the walk was a bit of a stretch to our abilities.  But we did it although we must have looked odd.

I was in the lead as it is easier for me to walk a bit faster.   My neuropathy legs make me unstable so I can not walk in a straight line and I don't really know where the ground is, so I look a bit drunk.  But I can walk fairly quickly.  Next behind is Ken, using his walker and coming slowly.  Behind him is Ian pushing Rita in the wheelchair.   The wheelchair is old so is not easy to push so extra effort is required to keep it going.  We were quite a sight, all stretched out in a row.

The first thing we did upon arrival at the Mall was to visit the dentist.  All four of us booked appointments to have our teeth cleaned.  Ken and I have been having our teeth cleaned in Nuevo Vallarta for years.  Last year I was unable to have any work done but this year I am up to the task.  The dentist is excellent and much cheaper than in the US or Canada so all four of us will have our teeth cleaned.  Next we ate lunch, which was the purpose of our walk.  Lunch was delicious.  Normally, I do not like to walk after eating but we walk at a slow speed which does not interfere with digestion, so we headed home immediately.

I was delighted to find that we made it there and back with no trauma.  This was our first long walk of the season, with the halt and the lame on parade.  Today we never left the condo but rested our joints.

January 23, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Robbie.

Every morning I awake to the smell of cooking bacon.   Nothing smells better.  Then I get up and come into the kitchen to find a full pot of coffee.  A large bowl of cut up fresh fruit has been placed on the dining table and the table has been set.   The eggs are being scrambled and cooked and finally the toast will be made.  Once again, Robbie has cooked us all breakfast.

Robbie and Joyce have stayed with us for a week.  We knew we would enjoy their company but we did not expect him to prepare a full breakfast every day for us.   I told him that it was not necessary but he said that he always prepares a full breakfast at home for Joyce and he would do the same for us.  And he did.

Robbie wakes up earlier than we do.  By 6:30 he has started the breakfast preparations.  By 8:00 we amble into the kitchen and he cooks the eggs.  We eat a full breakfast on Sunday but I had forgotten about the pleasure of a proper old fashioned breakfast every day.  We loved every minute of our breakfasts prepared by Robbie.  But now Joyce and Robbie have gone home to Texas so we will revert to our old habit of cereal and fruit or toast and fruit.   But I will miss the smell of bacon cooking in the kitchen when I awake.

January 22, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Mega Store.

My grocery cart looked ridiculous.  Two different workers offered to get me another cart and keep my already full one for me until I was finished,  but I was stubborn and said I was fine and only wanted to deal with one grocery cart at a time.  I was doing a big shopping so wanted to buy provisions for the condo for the two months.  That was why I went by myself, so I could go up and down every isle and concentrate on the groceries and our needs.   My organization was good so I was able to pack a lot of objects in my cart.  My the time I was finished,  it was so heavy I could barely push it and it was mounded high with groceries.

The Mega Store is an excellent grocery store chain in Mexico.   We shop  at the one in Bucerias and it is huge.   The service is excellent as well as their products.  When I got out of the taxi, a man immediately came over with a grocery cart and welcomed me to The Mega.  When I left, a young man wheeled my two carts full of bagged groceries and signaled to a taxi.  The driver and the store worker loaded all the groceries in the trunk.  It was full.

I could have purchased lots more groceries but my cart was too full.  The bakery has wonderful desserts but I could not balance another item on my already full cart.  I really should have allowed someone else to come with me so they could have wheeled a second cart but I wanted to focus.  As it was, I forgot only one essential item, which was sugar.  We can do without sugar.  It has taken me all day to recover from pushing that heavy cart, but now our pantry, fridge and freezer are full.  It was worth looking ridiculous pushing that heavy cart around the store when I know I do not need to go back to the Mega any time soon!!

January 21, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Taxi Driver.

As I opened the door of the taxi, opera music was coming from the car.  My first thought was to wonder if the driver would turn down the music but he never did.  All the way to the Mega store in Bucerias I was serenaded with this good music.   Conversation was impossible.

My second thought was that this taxi driver must be the most unusual driver in Mexico.  Typically the  drivers are polite and engage you in conversation.  They also drive like mad men.  They all keep a cross and a rosary hanging from their rear view mirror, along with several other talisman and trinkets to keep them safe.  My driver had all the stuff hanging in the front but he drove carefully which surprised me too.

I was by myself and after we drove away, from Playa Royale,  I could not get the seat belt to click shut.  Without saying a word, the driver pulled over to the side of the road, get out from his seat to open the back seat and  clipped me into my seat belt.  He did not say a word.

I gave him an extra tip.  The journey to the Mega store to get groceries was the most pleasant  drive I have ever had in Mexico.

January 20, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Nip and Tuck.

They made it but it was nip and tuck for a while as to whether or not they could come.  But they are here.  Their path brought them from Ottawa to Toronto on Monday by car.  After a day of rest with Randy and Gaby,   they flew to Detroit,  then on to Puerto Vallarta direct.   They actually arrived early.  By 2:00 Rita and Ian walked into our condominium.   We were delighted to see them.

Rita is wearing a fancy air cast so she is able to bear weight but is not supposed to walk far.  In the airports, she used a wheel chair,  and discovered the joy of being wheeled to the front of the lines.  Ian thinks she might need  to keep that cast!!  I borrowed a wheelchair from the condo for Rita to use if we want to walk out to lunch or dinner, or to have Rita shop at  the Farmer's Market, which was a big hit last year.  The day of travel is difficult.  Fatigue is always with you until you get that first good night's sleep.   Both Rita and Ian look great but tomorrow they will both feel better.

The 6 of us watched the sun fall off the edge of the Pacific Ocean while sitting on the balcony.  And we discussed the temperatures in Ottawa, Toronto and Harper, Texas.    The warm air felt even better.

January 19, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Vallarta Yacht Club.

Joyce and Robbie have joined the Vallarta Yacht Club.   Today,  they took us there for lunch.  The Clubhouse is just at the gate of Paradise Village and adjacent to the dock where you get the water taxi to Puerto Vallarta, so it is convenient.  In addition, the shuttle dropped us right at their walkway.  The club seems to be busy.  Today was the day for games so the deck was full of people engaging in games of all sorts.   On other days they have discussion groups and lectures.  Many boats are docked at this marina and because of the weather, people dock there for long periods of time, thus the need for social events.

We discovered one thing.  Because we belong to The Jackson Yacht Club,  Ken and I receive all the benefits as if we belong to their club.  In other words, we can come for lunch or dinner and just pay as we go, thus giving another pleasant spot to eat lunch.  Dining there was pleasant.  We sat outside right by the railing of the deck so could watch the boats come and go and the pelicans beg for fish.  The most important part was the food which was excellent.  We will have lunch again at The Vallarta Yacht Club, all thanks to our membership in The Jackson Yacht Club.   Some days you just get lucky.

January 18, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Nothing Dramatic.

Today was a lovely day.  Nothing much happened but the whole day was pleasant.  All morning we all had our noses in our computers and on the Internet.   The weather was perfect sitting on the balcony.   One of our favorite restaurants was on the beach in front of our condo so we walked down to enjoy their good food and their shade while watching the sea.   This was the first of what will probably be many lunches at that restaurant.

After lunch we four sat by the pool and I got in the water and paddled around.  I liked it.  Last year I was unable to to get in the water so this year in our pool was special.  While sitting by the pool I met my Italian friend from Toronto, the one I helped with her swimming two years ago.  She was using a cane.  In June she fell and smashed her hip so after two plates and multiple pins, she is now walking with a cane.  Last winter she was not here at all so I was not forced to tell her anything about my health.  I thought it a good sign that she recognized me as the same person.  In other words, I looked fine.

A nap around four for 30 minutes followed by a glass of wine on the balcony finished up our day.  Today has been delightful, enjoying our friends and our condo.  The magnificent sunset is now calling me.   Today we did not really do much but we enjoyed every minute.

January 17, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Cousins.

Many years ago we had dinner with our friends Freddie and Phyllis.   Fred was excited.  That very day, he had discovered another cousin living in the US.   He knew his cousin who lived in Australia but he thought that most aunts, uncles and cousins had perished in the second world war, so have found another cousin seemed to be a miracle.  Up until that time, I had taken cousins for granted but no more.  I understood that cousins are special.

Last Thursday afternoon,  Richard and Cathy came to visit us at the Hard Rock Hotel.  We sat in the bar and talked.  Then we sat outside and talked.  Ken and I enjoyed every minute.  Richard is a first cousin of Ken.   Richard's mother was the youngest of the Dickie Family which is why Richard is so much younger than Ken.  After the dinner with Freddie and Phyllis, we have tried to keep in touch with our cousins on both sides, to mixed results.

After Ken searched out his cousins,  Richard has been good at keeping in touch and 12 years ago we had dinner on Father's Day in their home in Calgary.  And Eric and Simone in Kelowna we have seen when we stayed in the Valley.  I am not sure why but with cousins you have instant friendships.   You have not seen them for years and then we seem to be buddies.

My Mothers family had five siblings but I only had three cousins that I knew, only one, Diane we were close friends, who is now dead.   There  were four other cousins but they wanted no part of us.   Mary is the last cousin but only connects with us occasionally and does not seem interested in cousins.  On my Father's side I had two cousins, both deceased.  One cousin Ernest, discovered that cousins were important, but only a few years before he died.

Bur Richard and Cathy went out of their way to come to spend a few hours with us at the Hard Rock Hotel.  They had been staying south of the old town on Puerto Vallarta.  Ken and I are grateful for their efforts.  We both know that cousins are special.

January 16, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Moving On.

Wendy and Ken have just gone down for one last swim in the ocean and to sit on the beach.  I did remind them last evening that our Playa Royale right next door also has a beach and an ocean too but Wendy correctly said that this morning will be the last of their true vacation.  This afternoon and tomorrow morning they will help us unload our belongings from the locker, make a run to the grocery store and help with laundering all our clothes.   And as we know, Wendy is a wonderfully efficient worker.   They have enjoyed wrangling with the ocean.  Some days the waves were downright fierce but they loved it.

Ken and I are packed ready to make the big move.  After two weeks at an all inclusive place you are ready to move on.   The food and the service have been wonderful and we have enjoyed our stay here.  I am not sure what point in our life we became accustomed to being indulged, but we like it, for at least for a short time.  By the end of the first week we stopped over eating.  Now we will look after our own breakfast.

Except that Robbie and Joyce will be staying with us this coming week and Robbie always cooks breakfast.  They were not able to get their own place for a second week so I suggested they join us, so we will have a good time.  Robbie watches for whales so if the whales are out there, we will see them and their spouts.  On Wednesday, Rita and Ian are supposed to join us but Rita broke her foot.  For a while it appeared they might be forced to cancer their trip but the doctor has put her into an air cast.  On Monday, if the bone has not moved at all, they are prepared to come on down.  They know this is a wonderful place to recuperate.

The Hard Rock Hotel treated us well.  Now we are moving on.

January 15, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Pool Neighbors.

The kindnesses of strangers has always been gratifying to me...and surprising.  The first day Ken and I sat by the pool in our appointed spot with our names on the chairs, the folks sitting in the adjacent lounge chairs came over to say hello.   They are younger than us but still gray headed.   We met the four of them.   They have been friends for years although one couple lives in Minnesota and the other couple in northern Michigan.   We chatted.  From then on, they looked after us.  And they were our friends.

They moved the umbrellas to be sure we were in the shade.  They brought extra towels on two extra lounge chairs so we would be sure to have use of both the upright chair and a lounger.   They called us both by name every time, even though I never did catch their names.

The two couples are semi retired.  They vacation together for three weeks here at the Hard Rock Hotel.  Then the Michigan couple go to south of Cancun to Playa Del Carman to a Palace Resort for another 6 weeks.  The Minnesota couple go home for three weeks, then join their friends in Playa for the last three weeks.    They read by the pool all day in the shade.   I have noted the same books are being swapped around.  They are delightful people and they have looked after us both while we were sitting by the pool.  Some people are so nice.

January 14, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Pat and Tom.

Something good comes from everything.  Often time passes before the gold appears.  Last week, Ken and I spent a delightful day with Pat and Tom.  They came for lunch, we sat by the pool and chatted, then we ate dinner, all at our own Hard Resort Hotel.   They are interested in a lot of things and we enjoy their company.  They are friends of Gill and both still live in Toronto.  It is a miracle we are friends as we have never spent much time with them, having never lived in Toronto when they lived there.

Alan Wu died in 1981.   Mary M. and I flew up to help.  Gill and Alan's boys were young, and Alan's brothers were being difficult so Mary and I were needed.  Friends and neighbors helped as well, bringing food and stopping by each day.  Pat was one of those friends who was a down the street neighbor who stopped in several times each day, taking the boys for trips and keeping them busy.  She was a cheerful and helpful soul and we had a good time together during these difficult times.  I do not recall meeting Tom but I must have met him over the same time period.  The ladies bonded and we have felt like friends ever since.

Pat and Tom came to Nova Scotia one summer and we rekindled our friendship but when we four began spending time in Puerto Vallarta we were able to spend more time together.  We have lunch a couple of times each time we are both in PV.  And we enjoy those visits.  This all started when Mary and I flew to Toronto for a week to help Gill.   I found a friend in Pat.

January 13, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Spa..

When having the manicure and pedicure,  I was asked what else I was going to be doing to pamper myself, such as a massage or a facial.   Even though I love having a massage,  I thought it not wise to have the therapist pushing on my bones so I agreed to having a facial, which I had this morning.  During the facial, the therapist massaged my hands and arms.  They felt great.

The facial was fine.  The therapist had good hands and was kind and gentle.  Perfect for my age and condition.

After the procedure, I asked if she would massage my arms and legs but not my torso.  She agreed, so at 1:30, I reported to the Spa for my massage.  I don't know is the message does anything for the neuropathy in my legs and arms but it certainly felt good.   Nothing hurt.   I have no cancer in my long bones, which is what she was massaging.  Perhaps massaging the bones full of cancer would do no harm but I was taking no chances.  The message I had done today was perfect and I left walking on clouds.   Pampering is a good thing.

January 12, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Company.

We have quite a group of friends in Puerto Vallarta right now.   Tom and Pat from Toronto are here all of January.  They visited us for a day last week at The Hard Rock.   Wendy and Ken are with us now at The Hard Rock Hotel, and Ken's cousin Richard and wife Cathy from Calgary are in PV for a week.  On Saturday, Robbie and Joyce, our friends from the ranch,  arrived at their place at Playa Royale, the same one as our condo.  Today they came over to say hello and to come for lunch and dinner.  We had not seen them since October so it was nice to see them looking so well.

We did nothing dramatic today but it was enjoyable just being together.  We sat outside on our terrace this morning before having lunch down by the beach.  Then we got tired sitting by the pool talking,  so at 5, we retreated to our suite to enjoy the air conditioning.  An afternoon without going into the swimming pool made us hot.

Dinner in the Asian restaurant with the 6 of us was delightful.  Robbie and Ken B. had a spirited discussion of different brands of Gin.

Thursday we hope to see Richard and Cathy.  It is a sign of the times when friends from many different places visit us in Puerto Vallarta.   Nifty too.

January 11, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Lalo.

He looked to be 15 but is probably 25.  Immediately, when he was introduced to me he called me Grandma.  How did he know I was a grandmother?  I do not  even wear a wedding ring.  I went to the spa to have a manicure, pedicure and hair cut.  Lalo was to perform all three tasks.

Lalo is thin,  wears an ear ring and is good looking in a Mexican kind of way.  He did everything I needed him to do and he did it in the way I wanted him to do it.  I have not been using polish on my toe nails because I was getting white flecks in the nails, so for over a year I have been allowing my nails to breathe and heal.  I told Lalo my story.  When he was finished, he told me that my nails were healthy and that I should color them silver.  I agreed so now I have silver toe nails.  Lalo says my grandchildren will love it.

The last task was my to trim my hair.   He asked me if I was going to grow my hair long.  I just laughed and told him the tale of my hair.  He trimmed a half inch off my hair and gave me a pixie cut, at least that was what he called it.  And he said I was trendy with my hair.  I suspect it was a style 30 years ago but he is wanting to flatter me, all the while calling me Grandma.

Lalo speaks good English and he learned all his skills on the job.  He has never gone to school to learn how to cut hair or to do manicures and pedicures.  He comes from a state far north in Mexico that is very poor.  He moved to the tourist area in order to make a decent living.  He will do well with his life.  He is cheeky and enthusiastic.  When I left, he took my arm and accompanied me all the way down the stairs.   He wanted me to take the elevator but I refused so he made sure I was safe.  And he bade his new grandma a fond farewell.

January 10, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Birds.

The White Pelicans are out in force this month.  Every morning I see them skimming along the tip of the waves.  They are quite a sight.  Last week the Brown Pelicans put on a show for us  at lunch, diving for their own meal.  We have seen the Frigate Birds this week, but not many.  I spotted a Great Kiskadee last week sitting by the pool.

Yesterday we moved our room.  Wendy and Ken are with us so we are in a suite with a living and dining room along with two bedrooms.  And we have a large terrace.  This morning, while sitting drinking my second cup of coffee, a small bird came to visit.  For at least 15 minutes,  he sat on the corner of the railing preening his feathers.   Of course I sat still and watched.  Now I need to know the name of the bird.  It had a white breast and a dark head and back.  It was a bit bigger than my thumb.  Where was Pat C. when I needed  her?

A Social Flycatcher came to visit too, and a black and white bird I could not identify.  With so much activity on by balcony, I crumbled up a roll and left the crumbs on the concrete railings.  Sure enough, a house sparrow came to snack.  I suspect the folks who were staying in the suite last week were in the habit of eating on the terrace.  The birds came to pick up their crumbs.  Lucky me to get to see all these birds so close to me.

January 9, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Wonderful Wendy.

The journey was long but finally she made it here.  The itinerary should have gotten her to Puerto Vallarta at 2:30 but in Toronto the plane started to fall apart.   The repairs were made but when the plane was going out to take off, strange lights began going on in the cockpit so back they went to the terminal.  The plan was to be a direct flight on Air Canada from Toronto which sounded perfect.  Finally, they took off and arrived in Puerto Vallarta at 7:00.  She finally joined us at dinner in the Asian restaurant so all is well.

Friend Ken had an easier travel day on American Airlines.  His plan was to fly from Detroit to Chicago, then on to Puerto Vallarta.  He left and arrived on time.  The problem for him was the airport here.  It was a zoo.  Many large planes had arrived at the same time so immigration, customs and luggage were crowded.  And he found the Hard Rock Hotel transportation but somehow or other they could not find his name on the list.  Being resourceful, he took a cab.

Now we four are all in our places.  And we certainly have sun shining faces.  Ken and I are delighted to have our Wonderful Wendy and friend Ken spend a week with is at the Hard Rock Hotel.  And Wendy brought us butter tarts, which she made all by herself, carrying them in her carry on.   She knows we love them.  It is just another way we call her Wonderful Wendy.

January 8, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The Hot Tub.

When Ken and I sit by the pool in this resort, we sit twenty feet from the hot tub.  It turns out to be endlessly entertaining.    We never get into it.  Ken is not in love with public hot tubs especially ones that are busy and who have lots of kids getting in and out.  His opinion is that the hot tub is impossible to keep clean so we stay out.  Also it is not really hot.  People stay in for ages which means it is not very hot.

We sit  in this location by the pool because it it the quietest spot, and as far as possible from the source of the music.   At first, I did not like being so close to the hot tub but it has turned into a source of amusement.

This hot tub is busy.  At any time, 8 or 10 people from young to old will be taking the waters.  Yesterday, one young couple spent 30 minutes hugging and kissing on one side of the tub, while 8 other folks were on the opposite side talking and laughing and enjoying themselves and paying no attention to the young lovers.   Today an old Mexican couple spent a long time with the man sitting on the bench with his elderly wife  in front of him, his arms wrapped around her all the time.  It was a sweet scene.  At the same time was a couple around 45 chatting to each other and to their daughter, who switched from the swimming pool to the hot tub with regularity.   After twenty minutes of hot tubbing, the man started to get out, but he quickly stepped down into the water.  I had noticed immediately that he was not American because we was wearing a skin tight bathing suit.  I  also noticed a huge bulge at the front of his suit.  Eventually he got out.  No one noticed.

There is  constant action right before my eyes.  I hardly have time to read with all the goings on in the hot tub.   No one pays me any attention even though I really am a voyeur.  And at my age.

January 7, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Richard T.

Richard is our friend and he is dying.  I do not like it.  Richard and Marilyn are both doctors.  They know that dying is as much a part of living as being born.  I know that too,  but I still do not like the fact that Richard is dying of colon cancer.  He is 84 and has decided that he will receive no treatment.  His attitude is that he has done everything in his life that he had wanted to accomplish so he could die peacefully with this disease.

Richard is interesting and interested in lots of things.  And Richard likes us.  At this point of our life there are not so many people we know who we can talk to at length about many different topics and who also like us as people.   Richard and Ken talk the same language of medicine and their backgrounds are somewhat similar, so I would wish for our conversations to continue.  

But I am being selfish.  Richard has decided his path and is content with his decision.  Now I must begin to do anything I can do to be helpful, beginning now.  The only problem is that I am in Mexico and he is in Houston.  But I will send hugs via the airways so he will always know our arms are wide to engulf both him and Marilyn.   It might not help them but it will help me to send those hugs.

January 6, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Smart Phone Etiquette.

Ken and I were sitting adjacent to each other at a table in the charming Mexican restaurant.   When I looked at Ken, I could not avoid  noticing the couple at the table just the other side of our table at Ken's back.  I could see both the man and the woman at any time I spoke to Ken.  

The couple were about 45.  They came in and immediately looked at their smart phones.  This continued until the waiter came to take their drink order and to give them the menu.  The phones were left on the table.   Then the phones were turned on again and continued working until the food arrived.  The arrival of the drinks did not stop either of them from looking at their e mails.   When their food was in front of them and they were eating, the phones were turned off, but as soon as the food was finished, the phones came out.  Twice during the meal, the lady made a phone call from the table.  Conversation between the man and the woman did not exist.  It was an addiction.  They just could not leave their phones alone.

Today at noon while Ken was getting his meal from the buffet table, I sat at the table looking at the ocean.  The restaurant was not crowded.  All of a sudden, I heard what sounded to be a television station, except there is no TV set in the area.  After a few minutes, I began to be curious, so turned around to see the source of the noise.    It turned out that a man was listening to his voice mail messages, thus we were listening too.  When he saw me look for the source of the noise, he turned it off.  I think he was not aware that he had turned on his speaker. He was just wanting to listen to his messages, just as he would do at home.  

Etiquette for cell phone use is evolving.  Many restaurants prohibit the use of phones at tables.  At  some point, people will stop being tied to their phone.  But it has not happened yet.  I am waiting.

January 5, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Room Service.

Although the Hard Rock Hotel and Resort has 5 restaurants, Ken and I decided to order room service for  dinner.  I  think we were too lazy to change our clothes and walk to the restaurants.  There is really no excuse because the quality of the food is high.  The first  night we dined on Asian food, the second on Italian and last evening we sat beside the beach eating Mexican food.  But tonight we decided to eat in our room.  And we enjoyed ourselves.

Last year over Thanksgiving our whole family stayed in a Hard Rock Hotel south of Cancun so the system and quality was the same.  The girls quickly discovered that there is no charge for ordering room service so that is what they did.  Most mornings they ordered breakfast and many days they ordered appetizers in their rooms.  When traveling with their parents, ordering room service was off limits, as were the use of the mini bars.  But at the Hard Rock, the small fridge is stocked for your use as are all the liquors.  It is the ultimate indulgence.

Breakfasts  we always order room service because the only breakfasts are served buffet style, which are difficult for us.  Each night before retiring, I put the form on the door and every morning at 8:30 the food appears at the door.  It is like magic.  I surprise Ken.  At night he does not want to think about eating breakfast so I make the decisions on the order form.  So far, he has been happy.  This room service is a lovely  treat.

January 4, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. From The Balcony.

Watching from our 8th floor balcony is endlessly interesting.  A whole world revolves in front of my eyes.  I can see but I can not hear so I must imagine the conversations.  It is great sport.

As usual, this morning I observed the great walk past.  People walk the beach, up and down, endlessly.  They walk and they run.  They walk in groups and alone but mostly they are in couples.  You can tell the nationality by the bathing suits.  North American men wear suits down to their knees while the women were tiny bathing suits.  European men wear tight speedo type suits while the women wear one piece suits.  That is my guess anyway.  One young couple walking the beach were  long and lean.  And they were holding hands.  Right in front of my balcony they stopped walking, turned to each other and embraced.  They stayed hugging and kissing for at least 5 minutes.  Then they continued their walk.  What was said that began the hugging and kissing?  I will never know.

The grounds of the resort in the morning is teeming with working people, all in different uniforms, depending on their tasks.  There are workers cleaning the pools and cooks reporting to work.  Young women in white shorts and a white blouses sweep the decks and straighten the lounge chairs.  One young lady was working hard cleaning the deck with a brush.   She was energetic with her work and for 15 minutes she had completed three quarters of the one area.  Then a tall young man wearing dark pants and dark shirt came by to chat with her.  He works in the maintenance department.  They chatted and she worked.  Then they talked again...and again.  When he finally left her to complete her task, she had to work very fast, but I bet she enjoyed her ten minutes chat with the young man.  Scrubbing decks is boring.

From the 8th floor I hear no conversations, but I see a flurry of activities.  It is a bit like watching TV with no sound.  It is kind of fun trying to figure out what is happening, all from my 8th floor balcony.

January 3, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. Old. Old. Old.

Today at lunch, we have both been designated as old.   It is obvious to everyone that Ken and I are old.  We walked down to one of the restaurants next to the beach.  Ken used the walker to curve around the building on the ramp while I walked up the stairs to find a table.  As I was walking to a table I was doing my usual tactic which was to use the chair backs to wend my way across the room.  I little girl about 8 ran up to her mother just as I was walking past.  Fortunately I saw her and stopped because,  had she run into me, she could have knocked me down.  Her mother apologized to me as did the little girl.  They both have noticed the look on my face.   I was fine and told them both that all was well but when I went to the buffet area the girl and her older brother came over to help me carry my food back to my table.

The children and their parents  had decided that Ken and I were old so they waited for us so they could carry our food and beverages back to our table.   I tried to figure out why they thought we were so old?  It was me they noticed first.   It must have been my gait.  I kind of lurch along never walking in a straight line.  And my hair is bizarre.  It sticks up in all directions.   Other than that, I seemed to look normal.  Ken using the walker is a sure give away.  Also neither of us move quickly so when you look carefully, that family decided we were old and needed help.

Since I have gotten old, I have gotten much better at asking for help, which is another sign of old age.  In the restaurants I ask the waiters if I can hold their arm while walking across the room.  And if the stairs have no railing I always seek a helper.  Actually, I am happy to be old.  Neither my mother or father made it to our age.  But I would like to not advertise the fact that we are old.  But now we are officially old to all to see.  I must get used to it.

January 2, 2016. Nuevo Vallarta. A Travel Day.

Everything went well today.  The airplanes left on time.  Wheelchairs were ready to help us when we deplaned.  The attendants were pleasant, attentive and energetic, the planes arrived on time, and our two bags and one walker were waiting for us after we cleared customs.   For everything to work as it was intended was astonishing to us.   The food was even good flying from Dallas to Puerto Vallarta.   In addition, the lady was at the airport to oversee getting us to the resort.  We were on a roll.  It may never happen again, but we appreciate the efficiency.

The staff at the Hard Rock Hotel and Resort is as good as any staff in the world.   I recall from years past how they operate at such a high level, but I am surprised and delighted that the standards have not slipped.   After dinner tonight, the waiter walked me all the way to the elevator while another waiter accompanied Ken to be sure he would get back safely.  We have two butlers, here to attend to our every needs.  Our room is on the top floor where we can watch the sun set from our balcony.  We are both going to enjoy being indulged.  At the moment, we are grateful to be here but we are weary from our early start and our travels.   Even travel days where everything works properly is tiring.  I wonder why?

January 1, 2016. Madison, Ms. The New Year.

There is something special about seeing a whole new year in front of you.   The artist probably feels the same when looking at an empty canvas, where mostly you feel exhilarated but part of you is anxious.  But for me, I feel no anxiety about the coming year.   What comes our way will be fine.   Our 2015 was excellent although not easy.  Now we feel that we are in better condition than a year ago, so we are ready to rip into 2016.

Our year started out well today with an early dinner at a restaurant with Christina and the girls.   They came for a visit prior to dinner at 4:00.  And after dinner they took the extra food home from our fridge.  They even took our trash.  This afternoon I organized the freezer and the fridges, did last minute laundry and ran the dishwasher.  My only task now is to unload the dishwasher, before I watch yet another football game.

Both Ken and I are ready for some warmth.  We used to be hardy but not any more.  We are wimps.  Tomorrow we fly to Puerto Vallarta and return March 26.  Ken has enjoyed and benefitted by working around the house this fall, but in Mexico he has no work so we will see how he makes out.  This year I can swim but Ken is not a swimmer and he does not really like to walk.  We are taking a walker for him, checking it on the plane along with our bags.  Tomorrow will be a long day, but here we go.