January 31, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Temperature.

Temperature is different to each person. The people native to this area think the temperature here is very cold. They wear long sleeves and fleece vests in order to stay warm. And they wear socks and sneakers. We on the other hand, wear sandals and t shirts and shorts. At 76 degrees, we are comfortable with a short sleeved shirt. The other morning, we were sitting on the balcony for breakfast. Wendy was wearing a jacket with a hoodie on her head. Already she had accommodated to the temperature of the locals. We checked our phone to see that the temperature was 68 degrees. She commented that at the cottage, the morning would have felt fine. But now that she has been at the beach in 80 degrees day after day, 68 seemed chilly. Every temperature is relative to what you have been used to. Years ago, my cousin Diane and her husband Stafford along with Dave and Irene were sitting with Ken and me on the deck at the lake house in Texas. It was May. We had lunch at Greune outside. Even though we were in the shade, the temperature was warm. All four were at the end of their week in Texas., After the sun went down, both Diane and Irene went inside to get a jacket as they were chilly. After they left, Ken got up to check the thermostat, which said 75. Now Diane and Stafford lived in Vancouver, where the temperature almost never gets over 75 but here they were, feeling chilly in Texas. We are all three about to get a rude awakening when we return to the north. But we know how to stay warm because we are Canadians. But we will recall fondly the 80 degrees of Mexico. And we hope to return next winter.

January 30, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Nicknames.

We had just gotten into the shuttle taking us back from our lunch at the golf club when a lady called out "Smokey". She had just stepped onto the van and had not seen her husband so she hollored for him. He responded from the front seat to tell her that he had gotten on the shuttle first. We all smiled. And I got nosy. I asked where the Smokey came from so the wife told me the story. When he was going into school one day, a teacher noted his brass belt buckle, which was a replica of Smokey The Bear. The teacher said to him "Now hurry along Smokey". His friends loved it and from that time until now, he has always been called Smokey. Even his Mother always called him Smokey. Smokey stuck. One of the bandsman in Vancouver was called Tor. Everyone called him Tor even though his name was Morris. Morris was on a hike with the Scouts. They had to get over a barbed wire fence. He was the last one over with the others waiting for him to clamber over. But he tore his pants. From that day on, he was called Tor. Morris was not to be heard. It makes no sense but the name stuck. He was Tor until he died. Tojo walked early as a child. He strutted around with his legs wide apart, trying to stay upright. His grandmother, watching him, commented that he was parading around looking just like Tojo, the emperor of Japan. Tojo stuck. At work he goes by Claussen but to all family and friends, he will always be Tojo. The nickname stuck. I could go on and on. Sometimes, nicknames stick. Interesting.

January 29, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Tortilla Soup.

Every restaurant in this part of Mexico has Tortilla Soup on the menu. And every tortilla soup is different and delicious. I am always temped to order tortilla soup in every restaurant. I always think the same about crab soup in Maryland. Every restaurant offers Maryland Crab soup and every place the soup is different and delicious. The same is true with Tortilla Soup in Mexico. Tonight we ate Tortilla Soup for supper while sitting on our own balcony. Wendy and Ken visited the market this morning and came home with a container of Tortilla Soup. The lady who made it gave Ken three containers: one large one with the soup, another with the cheese and the third with the pieces of tortillas. Ken heated the soup and then assembled the soup. We enjoyed it thoroughly although Wendy thought it was not as good as the soup she ate at the end of Paradise Village. But it tasted good to me. Most tortilla soups begin with a chicken and tomato base. To it is added chicken, vegetables, and tortilla strips. Also avocado. I have no idea what seasonings go into the soup but I know that the soup is delicious. And every soup is just a bit different. The only reason I do not order the soup in every restaurant is that the the soup is filling so eating the soup as an appetizer does not work. Tomorrow morning we are walking down the road for breakfast. I just might order tortilla soup. Why not?

January 28, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Whale Watching.

The excursion was a success. They saw lots of whales. Wonderful Wendy and Friend Ken took a whale watching trip with Vallarta Adventures. Their headquarters is just down the road so is easy. The boat was an inflatable with hard floor and benches. Two 200 outboards had the boat speeding along. As Wendy and Ken were first on the boat, they were able to sit on the only bench with a back which was a great blessing. The crew consisted of the driver, who kept in contact with the other boats to track the whales, a naturalist to give information in both English and Spanish and a photographer to take pictures of the whales. After picking up the 6 folks in Nuevo Vallarta, the boat went to the dock in Puerto Vallarta to pick up another dozen. Then they headed out to the whales. They covered a lot of the bay, rom one side to the other. They first spotted a group of male humpbacks who breached when they were close to the boat. Their huge tails came out of the water not 10 feet away. Wendy was so stunned to see the huge beasts that she forgot to pick up her camera. They spotted several other groups of whales. Then they sped to the far side where they saw many mothers and babies. It was exciting. They left the dock at 11:00 and returned at 3:45. With no bathroom facilities in the boat, it was time to get on land. For sure, I will recommend whale watching in Nuevo Vallarta. Wendy and Ken thought it was extraordinary. But I stayed home and cheered.

January 27, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Last Week.

This week we must do everything that we intended to do before but did not get around to doing in the past weeks. And we are using up our food. Tomorrow, Wendy and Ken will go whale watching. Our neighbor David has seen lots of spouted way out art sea so they should be able to spot them. I will stay home. Vallarta Adventures is taking them on the tour so I hope they will give a good tour. We hope they will be on a small boat. We will have lunch one day at Porto Bello, the excellent Italian restaurant on the other side of the canal. Wendy and Ken have not yet gone to the other side so we will go for lunch so they can walk around and see things. If we go for dinner everything would be dark. Also a favorite place for me is the small restaurant down the street right beside the road, so we will walk there for lunch one day. We almost walked down for breakfast today but my stomach was acting up so we stayed home and I ate toast with drank tea. We also have missed the Burrito place in the mall that Anne and Kenny discovered last year. We might save it for next year. If we run out of food we will eat out. No more trips to any market. By Friday, the locker must be full and the cases ready because we all leave on Saturday. We will be ready. But this week we will enjoy ourselves. So here we go with the last hurrah at Playa Royale.

January 26, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Evaluations.

Most people while sitting by the pool read a book. Years ago, everyone used a device but now most people are reading a book not an i pad or a kindle. But not me. I sit and watch the people. A constant parade of people walk by me and they say hello. I smile back to them but I really am evaluating their shape and size along with their bathing suit and cover up. Of course I never say anything out loud except to Rosa. Her observations are often quite different from mine which I find interesting. I am much more critical. Rosa has observed that when the ladies are young, they have a big belly because they are having a baby, but when the men get old they all have a big pot belly but they are not having a baby. She thinks it is funny that many of the men look like they are about to have a baby. And she laughs to me. One observation I have is that at the pool in a bathing suit, thin is better. And very few ladies really are thin enough to wear a bikini. From the back, the tiny bikini bottoms show way too much flabby bottoms. These ladies have never seen themselves from the back. If they did, they would wear a different bathing suit. A surprising number of older ladies are thin and look good in their one piece e bathing suits. They get a passing grade. At our pool, men are fatter than the women. I seldom see a man with a flat stomach. The men with big bellies fail my test. I have fun watching and evaluating all the people I see. So thin is better. And most folks would be better with 25 pounds less than they are. But surprisingly, some people are almost perfect. They get a 10. Makes my day.

January 25, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Invitations.

Yesterday while by the pool, two different friends gave us an invitation to join them that evening. Without even asking Wendy or Ken, I declined for the three of us. The first invitation was to join Margaret and David to have dinner at a restaurant in Bucerias. They had mentioned the place to us a few nights ago and I commented that we had not eaten there. So they asked us to join them. My reason for declining was they were dining early. The excuse was that Ken had already decided and prepared dinner for us. I said no. Barry and Mavis were attending a market in Marina Vallarta later that afternoon so they suggested we go with them to the market and then stay for dinner. They were leaving at 4. As Wendy and Ken had been to town earlier in the day, I thought they would prefer to stay at the beach . So I declined the invitation. My real reason was that markets are difficult for me. I bump into people and I have trouble seeing what is in the little shops. I stayed by the pool. During the evening, Wendy and I talked over my reasons for declining the invitations. I finally decided that I have been in the habit for a few years of saying no. Ken had difficulty at night. I had a bad immune system. We stayed home. I suspect that I automatically say no, then find an excuse for not attending. In my new role as a widow, I probably should accept every invitation. That could be my New Years resolution. Seems reasonable. Time will tell.

January 24, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Puerto Vallarta.

Once upon a time many years ago, Puerto Vallarta was a sleepy little fishing village on the shore of Bandares Bay. Then a movie was made in the town. The place has never been the same. The movie was The Night of the Iguana, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Marlon Brando. The location became famous. The movie was a hit and the town began growing. Now there are more than 300,000 people living in the town. At the time of the movie there were 5,000. The place is crowded but still charming. Wonderful Wendy and Ken visited it for the first time today. Their intention was to take a water taxi but the driver will only make the trip with 4 paying customers. They took a taxi which is not nearly as much fun. First they walked the Malecon/boardwalk and enjoyed all the bronze statutes. They have been donated by famous sculptors so they are fun and whimsical. Next they wandered around town, finally checking out the old church before finding a lovely little restaurant. They reported that the food was excellent...znd it was also inexpensive. Puerto Vallarta today was hot and crowded so after lunch they headed back home where the pool and beach were calling them. Playa Royale is not crowded and is not hot which made it the perfect place to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. Ken and Wendy were pleased to see the old town but they will not return any time soon. Once is enough.

January 23, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Margaret and David.

Margaret and David put us to shame. They take many trips and excursions while they are here in Mexico. Two days ago they took a hike to the top of a mountain. The hike was run by Vallarta Adventures. The description did not match the hike which turned out to be arduous and long. The view from the top was spectacular. Then they had to come back down. They were the only two hikers in the trip which was fortunate because they could go at their pace. They are brave to even try. Today they took a bus to a tiny village up the coast. Years ago they got to know the yoga teacher and she invited them to see her town. Today she went with them to show them around. The place was charming. They walked around the town then had lunch on the little beach. And they got home just in time to have a shower and come to have a drink with us which is how we got to hear of their excursions. They leave for home on Saturday. During their three weeks here they have been busy. For three days they visit a town up the coast and stay in a small place on the top of a hill. They like the town and they like the people but I never understand why they do not go up to the little town either before or after their weeks at Playa. But they like to do it that way. Wendy and Ken had not spent anytime with Margaret and David until tonight so they told Wendy and Ken all the other outings they have taken in the past. And a brochure was left. Now we three must visit Paradise Village and book an excursion for Ken and Wendy. Having busy neighbors is helpful. In addition, we enjoyed our little cocktail hour together with our neighbors Margaret and David.

January 22, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Dentist.

On the elevator this morning a lady commented to us that we were probably all going to the beach for the day. But I contradicted her by saying that I was actually going to the dentist. "Oh no", she said. "I hate going to the dentist", She wished me well as we all got off the elevator. Up until that time, I had not thought anything about the dentist. I had made an appointment last week to have my teeth cleaned and today was the day. I had no apprehension of the appointment. Wendy and Ken walked with me to the mall. They always come with me if I am leaving the compound of Playa Royale. While I was at the dentist they were puttering around the shops. And we were meeting for lunch at the Mexican restaurant on the second floor. Many people have dental work in Mexico. The dentists are high tech and well trained. They can do everything and all for over half the price of an American dentist. They can make crowns and implants and everything known to man. Just close to us we have two dentists who are busy all the time. One is in the hospital building across the street and one is in the mall. People tell me I should use the two in Bucerias because they are cheaper. But I stick with the dentist in the mall who we have used for years. Their prices have gone up. Ten years ago I paid 500 pesos to have my teeth cleaned. Today I paid 700. Last year I could not have my teeth cleaned because I was taking chemo. But this year I got my teeth cleaned. I feel triumphant. The moment I opened my mouth in the chair I remembered that I also do not enjoy going to the dentist. I repeat to my self "This too shall pass". And it does. Now all is well with me teeth for another year. Whew.

January 21, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Two for One.

The restaurant on the beach at our resort has a Happy Hour. For an hour, you get two drinks for the price of one. I knew the little bar at the hotel/timeshsre has a happy hour but I did not know about our own place, until today. I had chatted with Mavis and Barry in the hot tub and the pool. I have called them Mr. and Mrs. Kelowna because they live there. And of course I could not remember their names, even though I had chatted with them several times. Wendy and I were sitting by the pool late in the afternoon. I waved as they walked toward us and they sat down to chat. After a few minutes they invited us to go to the beach restaurant to have a two for one drink. They had just been told about the routine so they wanted to check it out. So we three joined them. Much to our surprise, the place was popping and almost full. They close at 6:00 so we had only five minutes to order our drink, which we did. Both Wendy and Ken along with Mavis and Barry ordered just one drink, which was smart. As I was by myself and ordered a beer I was given two bottles of Pacifico. I barely can drink one bottle of beer, let alone two, but Ken and Wendy helped me out. And I finally know the names of Mr. and Mrs. Kenowna. They are interesting, nice people and we enjoyed our time with them. Barry rents a unit from an owner who only comes in the summer for 6 months. Barry rents the other months and has done so for many years. Pretty good situation as he has a long term contract. One of the pleasant aspects of life at Playa is the interesting people we meet. We have added Barry and Mavis to that list.

January 20, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Lonesome.

In the middle of nowhere, I lost my cool. Brains move at the speed of light. Before I could think, I was remembering all the things I have lost when Ken passed away. Ken always said I was the most beautiful woman in the world. He knew it was not so as I have never been beautiful but for Ken, I was. Now no one thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world. Ken had a wonderful and quirky sense of humor which I miss. Ken read widely and always brought to our table ideas I had not heard. For 63 years, Ken has been looking out for me. All this and more came in the midst of the Elvis tribute. The singer sang "Are you Lonesome Tonight?" All at once, I realized that I was lonesome for Ken, and the tears ran down my cheeks. All the reasons why I was missing Ken flowed through my brain in lightning speed. And I wept. The room was dark so no one could see me but I did lose my cool. I have wept many times since Ken died but always by myself our in bed. Up until now, in public, I have been thankful for my blessings and have been using it as a mantra. Ken spent not a day in a nursing home or a hospice. Ken was enjoying his life until two days before he died. We were both grateful for our last year together and spoke about 2018 as a difficult but wonderful year. All this is true. I am grateful. But during that song, I realized that I was lonesome for Ken. And I probably always will.

January 19, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Jungle Tour.

We three took a Canal Tour or Jungle Tour or Canopy Tour. The name changes but the tour stays the same. First Wendy booked us on the 11:00 tour, doing it be phone at 10:00. We walked to the public dock which was just the other side of the plaza. The little lady come to meet us as we were walking down to the boat, calling Wendy by name. After paying our 500 pesos each for the tour we boarded the nicely outfitted boat, which was clean, comfortable and easy to get on. George was our driver and guide. The lady who took our money told us we would enjoy our trip with George because he has knowledge and English, which turned out to be true. The weather was perfect for our trip. The breeze kept us cool and the cover over the top of the boat kept us in the shade. We were comfortable as were the two other folks on the trip. Our guide drove slowly along the edge of the canals so we were able to see crocodiles up close, many iguanas both male and female, yellow crowned night herons, pelicans and other herons. For the first time ever we saw black iguanas, who bask in the sun on the rocks and eat crab. Who knew? After our 90 minute tour we walked to the end of the hotel for one of my favorite spots for lunch, sitting outside in the shade looking out to sea. Our lunch was leisurely and excellent. Then we walked home. Wendy and Ken immediately went to the pool while I put my legs up for an hour. Our day was delightful. I have been on the same tour twice before. Today did not disappoint. The boat was better and the wildlife just as interesting. Hurrah for Wendy for setting it up. I really enjoyed our day.

January 18, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Tribute Artist.

We three went out to dinner and to hear a tribute artist, the one who used to be called an Elvis Impersonator. Rob Knight does not impersonate Elvis. He pays tribute to Elvis with his singing and his dress. But we call him an Elvis Impersonator. We enjoyed our dinner and we enjoyed the show. The restaurant was just along the shore but too far to walk at night. We took a cab. Our reservation was for 7:00. The restaurant cooked Memphis barbecue which turned out just like Texas barbecue and was delicious. The show started just after we finished dinner. At the front of the little restaurant was flashing lights and I thought the singer would come onto the restaurant through all the lights but not so. The singer, Rob, came in through the side door complete with the white Las Vegas costume looking like Elvis. Except Rob is short. He started singing immediately. The room was dark and the costume was white so we could see the singer...but not clearly. At first I thought a spotlight would be turned onto the singer but I was wrong. He stayed in the dark all night. I figured out that the darkness was part of the show. Rob is not young, perhaps 55. And he does not look like Elvis. But he sings like Elvis and he certainly knows all the songs. He sang with no break for 90 minutes. And he sang well. He sang his heart out. We all enjoyed the show. It was great sport singing along with all the songs. Now if he could just stay in tune I would have been happier. But thanks to Wendy and Ken who found the tribute artist and who made the reservation and paid for dinner. Hats off to them. I really enjoyed dinner and the show.

January 17, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. The Chief.

Wendy has been promoted. Once upon a time, she was Wonderful Wendy. This morning, she became The Chief. Actually she became The Chief of Breakfasts but I call her Chief for short...but only in the morning. In the afternoon and evening she reverts to Wonderful Wendy. Our mornings in the condo are quiet. Wendy always gets up first and makes coffee. The others wander out to the balcony with a cup of coffee where we talk and count the boats and try to see the island. One by one we each get to the kitchen to prepare our breakfasts. And we drink more coffee as we eat outside. The system works well. But today Wendy changed our plans. While we were sitting drinking our coffee this morning, Wendy brought out a big plate of fruit. Soon in front of us appeared a breakfast plate. Eggs and toast for Ken and toast with peanut butter and banana on my plate. Eggs and toast for her. Pretty nifty. So we promoted her to be The Chief of Breakfasts. We all wonder when she will resign. We will find out tomorrow.

January 16, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Pat and Tom.

Our date was at the Mexican restaurant on the second floor of the Mall. Pat and Tom took the bus from Puerto Vallarta where they live for two months while I came on the shuttle from Playa. They beat me. They were sitting waiting for me when I arrived. We met at 12:30 and we left at 3:45. And we talked the whole time. Of course, the food was good too but the most important part of lunch Wass seeing them. We usually see each other every year when we are both in PV. Last year we missed because Ken was sick and I was taking chemo. Today we got caught up. They had a splendid year in 2018. In January their whole family came to PV.. The year before we four explored option on bring family together. Ken and I suggested an all inclusive resort would work the best and that was what they did. Everyone had a fine time. Next Pat and Tom went to China on a guided tour. The company they booked with went bankrupt one month before the trip. Fortunately they got their money back from their credit card company. Fortunately they were able to book with another company. And they had a good time. Next time, Tom thinks they could manage on their own in China. They report that the development and growth was astonishing. Cities we do not know have 15 million people. They were amazed and impressed. Pat is a birder. They both went to Panama for a birding trip. They stayed in a remote resort. First a boat trip for 2 hours followed by a three hour hike through the jungle. The guides were cutting back the vines ahead of their walk. They lived in tents with a wooden platform. They were looked after well. And they were able to see the huge harp Eagle native to Panama. Ken and I had seen one in a huge aviary but they saw one in the wild, which is pretty special. I enjoyed myself with Pat and Tom today at lunch. For the record, Pat enjoyed her fish tacos and Tom and I the enchiladas. Flan for dessert. We three had a splendid time at the Mexican restaurant in the Mall. I await their plans for 2019.

January 15, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Green Sausage.

Why would one ever want green sausages? Ken and Wendy wondered when they looked at the array of sausages at the Mega Grocery store. Half of the display was green sausage. So they bought a package just to see how they tasted. Ken suspected that they were hot. They definitely were green. Tonight for dinner we ate one green sausage and one regular Mexican sausage along with a cucumber salad. The regular sausage was as expected it to be but the green sausage was unusual. It was not hot but in the middle was a very green circle of something. The taste and texture was unusual but not necessarily distasteful. The green sausage came across as bland. Wendy spoke for all of us when she said that once she tasted one green sausage she did not wish to eat another one. After dinner Ken looked up green sausages. It turns out that one of the states in Mexico specializes in green sausages. They are made with ground spinach. The center green stuff is the ground spinach. But we all asked the same question, which is why would one want a green sausage? We will doubtless never know.

January 14, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Again, The Mega Store.

Wonderful Wendy and friend Ken took a taxi this morning to the Mega Store. Our fridge, freezer and pantry are not stocked for the next three weeks. For dinner tonight at home we ate veal and rice and beans. Everything was delicious. And ice cream for dessert. Ken has taken over the cooking but we intend to eat out as well to giver the poor fellow a break. He is the main cook at home too so he needs a break. They discovered several facts: Every soup contained MSG so inedible to Ken. Prices at the Mega is one third less than at our little market in the Plaza at Paradise Village, the market I do not like. And lastly, they figured out at least some of the prepared food and actually purchased things. The last time I was at the Mega store, Sara Lou and I looked at the vast number of items offered for sale that are prepared and ready to serve. People dish out what they want into a container then give it to the clerk who weighs it and puts on a price. Looks easy. My problem was that I could not tell what was being sold. Obviously I was in the minority because most people were taking lots. Wendy and Ken figured out some of the big bins. They brought home several containers of things they figured out. But several were not obvious so left the food at the store. They both liked the Mega. And I love having food in the fridge and the pantry. They even brought home arrowroots or something similar for me. Hats off to them and the Mega.

January 13, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Snap, Crackle. Pop.

All was calm in our happy little home. The time was almost 10:00 and as Wendy and Ken boarded their plane at 6:00, they were weary and almost ready to go to bed. I was reading e mails and munching crackers prior to taking my Letrozole. All of a sudden, fireworks exploded in the dining room. Sparks flew from an overhead light. Popping sounds came from the light fixture. The smell of burning rubber permeated the room. Wendy came to see what was happening, followed quickly by Ken. I immediately got up to turn off the light. The snap, crackle and pop stopped. I called the front desk who sent maintenance. The repairman came in a few minutes. We wanted to be sure there was nothing else burning. He capped off the wires so all was safe. We urged him not to fix it tonight. We wanted to go to bed. Ken stayed until the workman had left. Wendy had already retired. This morning, the maintenance man returned and fixed the light fixture. Another man painted the ceiling. Now you could not even see that we had fireworks in our dining room. But for a few minutes, life was exciting. I am not in love with fireworks in the dining room. But all is well now.

January 12, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Wonderful Wendy.

So far, Wonderful Wendy has purged the refrigerator of all the food that had gone bad. The sour milk is gone as is the sliced meat that looked green. And one loaf of bread was moldy. So Wendy is keeping us healthy. Not too long ago Wendy ate a piece of chicken from her own refrigerator...and she got food poisoning. So she is sensitive and I appreciated that. I had not looked into the fridge since I arrived. Today Wendy and Ken have to eat humble pie. They got clever and they lost. They flew on a direct flight from Hamilton to PV, only the second time the flight was held. On Swoopo, you pay for each bag so they decided to take only one bag so all their clothes would be in one bag. But they discovered to their dismay that the bag was too heavy so they were forced to pay the overage, which was more than the extra bag. Oops. They arrived at 11:00 and they were at Playa Royale before noon. Immigration and Customs were empty. The taxi was waiting when they walked out the terminal. It pays to take an early flight and arrive before noon. After changing into cooler clothes, we ate lunch at the beach restaurant, which is a lovely spot upon arrival. The rest of the afternoon they sat on the beach and got tumbled in the surf. I sat demurely by the pool. I am delighted to have them here. This is the first trip since retirement for them so we will all three enjoy their visit. They just returned from an evening walk in the cool evening air. They will be with me the whole time. So here we go.

January 11, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. More About Rosa.

Every time I visit Rosa sitting by the pool under her Palapa I find more interesting information. For instance, her house. She asked me if I lived in a one story house and I said yes. So I asked her the same question. She told me that when the children were at home they lived in a large four story home. "My husband was a builder. He built whatever we needed", said Rosa. Each of the five children had their own bedroom and bath. Whenever she needed more space, her husband just built another room. She said it was big and it was beautiful. But there were lots of stairs. But when the children were all gone, Rosa wanted a home on one level so Nico built her the next home, the one she lives in all by herself. She lives on 2 acres. Her yard is loaded with flowers. For 8 months of the year she works in her garden. No weeds in my garden she says. Her home has 6500 square feet on the main level, with the same on the lower level which is all fully furnished. She wanted enough space so the grandchildren could come and play and stay if they wished. And she cleans her own home. "Cleaning ladies do not get the job done, so I do it myself," said Rosa. She is an amazing lady. I suggested to her that she write down the story of her life, going all the way back k to her great grandparents. She just laughed but she did tell me that she has three books already completed containing photographs and explanations of her father, her mother and her grandfather. Every picture tells the name and date and relationship. She is also writing on the back of every object she owns in her home who will inherit that object. Her five children do not know she is doing it. But it is all written in her will, which she had written last year. She is 76 and healthy but she wants to be ready. She wants no friction with her five children. When we are alone, she talks to me about herself but when others are there, she does not say a word about herself. She told me she does not want anyone to know anything about her. She whispered to me, "I have beautiful objects but I only tell you." I feel honored to be her friend. And I am enjoying getting to know her.

January 10, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Splendid Excursion.

Step One: At 11:30, SLC and I walked to the Mall and we walked around the whole inside. Sara Lou had never seen inside the place so she was duly impressed. And she bought herself a nifty t shirt. Step two: We waited five minutes sitting on the bench waiting for the trolley watching the buses and vans come and go. We took the trolley one and a half trips. The day was beautiful and were were enjoying the out doors so we just stayed on the trolley until we came back to the other side of the canal for the second time. Step Three: The Porto Bella restaurant has a lovely. We sat beside the rail and from our chairs we could see pelicans roosting in the trees across the canal along with many iguanas. The food was delicious and we enjoyed a leisurely long lunch. Step Four: We walked from the restaurant along the canal. That side has now many more places to dine. And new condos. too. I had not been there last year but the place looks good. And it was nice to see all the boats. Step Five: When we were at the end of the marina and just about to turn left to take us to the road where we could wait for the trolly, I spotted a man on a boat and asked him if he ran a water taxi. And he said yes. For 25 pesos we could take a water taxi back to Paradise Village so we hopped on. When we were half way across I asked him how many pesos it would cost to take us sightseeing in the boat. He said a total of 200 which included the original 50. So he took us to see the sights. We saw a huge alligator sitting on a beach. And we saw hundreds of iguanas. One was bright orange and three feet long. And we saw many pelicans along with different types of birds. Herons, ducks, egrets and more. The trip was wonderful. Finally he told us he was going to run out of gas so he took us back to the dock at Paradise Village, Step Six: We walked home to Playa Royale, arriving at 6:15. For thirty minutes we put up our feet. Then we sat on the balcony and congratulated ourselves on such a splendid excursion. A day does not get much better than today.

January 9, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Lunch at the Golf Club.

Sara Lou and I are visiting all Ken and my favorite spots here at Paradise Village. I am trying to remember the fond memories and not dwell on the fact that we miss Ken's presence at our lunch. The setting was perfect sitting beside the railing overlooking the 18th hole. Many times Ken and I enjoyed having lunch sitting in the same spot. The weather was perfect today. And a Great Kiskadee even visited as we ate lunch. Our morning was lazy. Breakfast on the balcony lasted until 11:00. Then we took the 1:30 shuttle to the golf club. Fortunately we had no schedule because we got home at 4:00. Our lunch was delicious. In true Mexican style, the waiters do not rush you. It takes a bit to slow down to their speed. Once relaxed, we enjoyed the lack of rushing. I try to walk every day. My phone records my steps so if I have not walked enough before dinner, I walk on the balcony. For the past few years I have walked on the balcony. This year, if I am alone, I walk outside around the parking lot. If I am with a friends, I walk off our complex. Tonight I walked 6 laps on the balcony. Tomorrow we will try to take the trolley to have lunch on the other side of the canal, another favorite spot for lunch. Sara Lou and I had a pleasant day. Lunch at the golf club was delightful.

January 8, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Margaret and David.

Entertaining is a pleasure when a friend is visiting and she is a gracious southern lady. This evening my neighbors Margaret and David came for a drink with me and Sara Lou. I put out the olives and put the crackers on the serving tray. SLC cut the cheese and salami and arranged them tastefully on the tray. I put out the napkins. I served the beer to Margaret and David while Sara Lou fixed us a gin and tonic. The cocktail hour was splendid. All the hard work was done by my good friend and for that I am grateful. Margaret and David are good friends who live through the year in Kimberly, B.C. I do not know how we got to be good friends. They live here in Playa right next door to us. Other people live there while we are here but we never get to know them well, but we did get to know David and Margaret. Perhaps Ken and Margaret had a bond because they were both doctors. No matter, we like them a lot. They arrived on Saturday so tonight we had a drink together which we all enjoyed. Our cocktail hour stretched to 2. Their summer was free of accidents and they were both healthy. When they are here they use their bicycles and peddle all over. Most mornings they drive their bikes to Bucerias for breakfast. And they always go up and down the stairs rather than using the elevator. They are younger than us but not much but they certainly are fitter. Margaret rides a horse. David has instilled a train in their yard that runs on steam power. And he is installing a second one this year. Their home is on ten acres up the mountain from town, which is surrounded by mountains. Kimberly is a charming town. And they love Playa Royale. I am going out to dinner with them on Friday after Sara Lou leaves for home. I am delighted they are here and living next door.

January 7, 2019. Playa Roy7ale, Mexico. A Fine Day.

The highlight of the day was sitting at the end of Paradise Village looking out at the sea and eating our late leisurely lunch. The day was perfect. Sara Lou and I were sitting in the shade enjoying the warm air and the breezes. Ken and I often had lunch in this restaurant, infact it might have been our favorite. Happy memories flooded in. Sara Lou and I actually ate three courses. We sat and ate for a long time and enjoyed every bite and every minute. We had walked from Playa Royale to the Hotel because I was intent in finding out whether or not the Paradise Time Share organization had any program for buying back points. I am trying to decide how much I will use the time share. Our meeting went well and I was able to obtain answers. They have no program but the do have a system that I could pay for insurance which would rebate the annual maintenance fee. I must talk to David. We also walked back home. Tonight was the National Championship for football and I had a frustrating time finding the game on my TV. Finally at half time I found the game on the bedroom TV so we were able to watch Clemson stomp on Alabama. which was a big surprise. Our day was just fine. I was able to get answers, take a walk, eat delicious food plus watch a football game. Pretty nice for a widow.

January 6, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Being a Widow.

Until now, I have paid little attention to widows. Now I realize that I know only two extremes. On the one hand is the widow who never recovers after the death of their spouse. Queen Victoria comes into that category. I have seen present day examples who keep a shrine to the deceased husband in their home and continue to bemoan their lot. We all see them. On the other hand is the widow who gets on with their life ands although missing their husband, start a whole new life and become successful in their own right. My own Mother is the perfect example of this type. She had a full new and successful career after my Father died and she retired from being a Salvation Army Officer. When she died, she was in charge of the order department off a Canadian Publishing company and was successful in her own right. I suspect that most widows come in-between the extremes. One factor is the intangibles. One new bride commented to me that after her wedding, she felt more confident. I agreed with her. Being loved and loving another brings much confidence so perhaps there is a loss of confidence when one becomes a widow. I did observe in my mother an increase of anxiety after my father died. My mother was confident but I detected an increase in anxiety that I never saw before. My Mother was busy and active. She was good at her job and she was active with her social life and her family. But her anxiety increased. And it never left. Maybe I imagined it. We certainly did not talk about anxiety. But I wonder if being alone all the time brings added anxiety. I supposed I will find out.

January 5, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. A Simple Excursion.

I am easily entertained. Today Sara Lou and I took an ordinary excursion and turned it into a a major event. We had a lot of fun doing something that was ordinary. What we did was to go to the big grocery store. Sara Lou had read about the Mega grocery store and she wanted to see a big Mexican store so we did. First we took a taxi to the Mega store in Bucerias. Our grocery list was short because we did not really go to the store to buy groceries. We were there to inspect the place. But we did have a list. The first decision we had was to decide whether or not we would each push a cart. The decision was for me to push the cart and SLC would put stuff into the cart. Our goal was to go up and down every isle and we did. The grocery store is wonderful. The produce is fresh and plentiful. Every section is excellent but I like the bakery best of all. The store has many products to buy that are ready to eat. I never buy them because I do not know how to serve most of them. SL was impressed with the place. The most unusual thing today was that the store was not crowded at all. I expected it to be crowded with families. I don't know if Mexican families do not shop on Saturday afternoon but today the store was almost empty which was nice for us because we were just walking slowly up and down. When we had paid for our purchases we took a taxi home to Playa. With a quick trip upstairs with our groceries in a cart, our job was done. For dinner we ate our new food which was chicken, fresh bread and salad. We both congratulated ourselves for our enjoyable excursion which was simple but pleasant. It was our only excursion os the day. For sure, we are easily satisfied.

January 4, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sara Lou.

Yesterday was a long day for Sara Lou. She flew very early from BWI airport to Chicago where she had a three hour wait for her next flight to Puerto Vallarta. She arrived in time at 1:49 but immigration and customs were jammed with people. And when she tried to get a taxi she had to wait. Whew. Finally she got to Playa Royale at 4:00. So she was tired. We talked and we talked and wed talked. Finally we ate yogurt and nut bread before we both put up our feet. Sara Lou slept until 7:00 then she prepared the pasta Rosa had given me the day before. We ate the delicious dinner at 9:30. And we talked some more. The pasta was delicious even though we had no salad or bread. Sara Lou and I have been friends for ages. We have travelled together so I am delighted she has come to join me in Mexico. She is good company. On a low note, this afternoon Murmie phoned to tell SL that Marilyn Teilembaum had passed away which made Sara Lou sad. Marilyn was an old Snider Bros. agent and had worked closely with SL for years. Sara Lou feels badly not to be there to help with the family. But she is here with me in Mexico. This afternoon we sat by the pool. I swam while Sara Lou read. Riviera Grill for dinner. We are having a good time. I am pleased she is here.

January 3, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Sunsets.

Every sunset is different and every evening I am amazed. This evening I sat waiting for the sun to set but the sky was gray and black. All I could see was white, black and gray. The sun was nowhere in sight. To the right of where I sat on the balcony I could see white. I thought the sunset would be a bust so I came inside. Sara Lou was organizing her belongings. A few minutes later I looked out and the sky was ablaze with orange. On the right I could see aquamarine sky. And bright blue. The sun had set but the reflection on the clouds was dramatic and the sky was magnificent. Ten minutes later, the color was gone. A few nights ago when I was by myself I sat waiting for the sunset. Everything Wass black or white. No sun anywhere. Then a hole appeared through the black clouds and let through sunshine. The water directly in front of the sun turned blood red. It was amazing. The clouds were still dark black but the water on the horizon was bright red. I had to blink to make sure I was not making it up. The red water continued for a few minutes. Then everything was dark again. The sunset was not spectacular but it certainly was unusual. Rita took a picture of every sunset we saw from our balcony. Ian teased her about all the sunsets. But she was not deterred. She knew that every sunset was different and every sunset is beautiful. Each evening I am again amazed.

January 2, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Rosa and Nico.

The story can be repeated many times. Italian immigrants move to Canada to start a new life. They work hard and save their money and they get rich. Then they spend their winter months in Mexico. End of story. Except the story is complicated. Rosa's father and two older brothers moved to Toronto in 1953. The three saved their money and bought a house. In 1955 Rosa, who was 14, moved to Canada with her Mother and older sister. The girls went to school, speaking no English. They soon learned and thrived. Nico, Rosas husband was born in 1936 and had emigrated to Canada in 1955 too. He went to work in construction. Rosa and Nico married in 1960 and proceeded to have 5 children. Their pattern never changed. They lived a frugal life and saved their money. When they had enough money, they bought a piece of land, always on the outskirts o0f town and well beyond the major population. The first piece of land Nico bought was the first house he built on his own. They family lived in it from then on. The next land he bought he built two houses and sold them, always buying more land beyond the major population. His pattern never changed. Fortunately for them, the population moved north so they prospered. Now they are rich. Their five children have done well as does the 14 grandchildren., It is a wonderful immigrant story of hard work and thrift. But that is only part of the story. Today Rosa told me that 20 years ago Nico bought himself a house just down the street. Rosa said there was some lady problems so she insisted he move out. They are still married. They still eat dinner together every night, of course cooked by Rosa. They live in the same condo in our complex in separate bedrooms. When you see them together there are no signs of estrangement. Rosa told me that they attend functions together and never tell people they live in separate homes. "That is none of their business<" she said. I was amazed. I have known them for 15 years or more. And today I hear the rest of the story. People are fascinating.

January 1, 2019. Playa Royale, Mexico. Rosa.

Rosa has invited me to join her at her palapa and I am not even Italian. She phoned me after she received my card saying that Ken had passed away so she inviters me to join here so I would not sit by myself by the pool. She is a lovely lady. Last year she three times brought food she had cooked over to us just to be helpful. Rosa is as a little old Italian lady who cooks three meals a day for her husband and to everyone else who is visiting her. Her husband will not eat out and she likes to cook. Last year, several family members were at Playa to celebrate her husbands. birthday. They wanted to take them out to celebrate. He refused. "The food is better at home," he said. End of story. Rosa and I bonded many years ago. I was reading by the pool and she was practicing her swimming. Over the summer, Rosa took swimming lessons at the Y to impress her grandchildren. They teased her because she could not swim. They were coming and she was practicing. She was hopeless so I asked her if she wanted some help. I taught lots of swimming over the years. I tried and she tried but she never got any better. But she introduced me as her swimming teacher to her friends and family. Her grand children were impressed which was the only thing she wanted. I have never seen her in the water since even though I invite her in when I swim. She is terrified. She always sits at the same palapa. The developer of our complex was Italian and many of the early purchasers were from the Canadian Italian group. They had all emigrated to Canada at the same time. Many Italians owners sit with Rosa by the pool. The men play cards and shuffleboard and never sit with the ladies. I love the family story but will not discuss it tonight. It is an American dream except they are Canadians who live in Toronto. I am now an honorary member of Rosa's palapa. I feel honored.