Time to Remember

This week marks 14 years since Mom went home to be with the Lord. A couple of months from now will mark 29 years since Dad did the same. I have now survived Mom almost as long as she survived Dad. It doesn't seem nearly as long. Funny how the passage of time can seem so different.

We're studying about family and God in our Ladies class this week, how the Jews spent time talking with their children about God and their history as his chosen people. I'm glad that God was important to my parents and that they instilled in me a desire to know Him.

God remains the constant in my life. My parents weren't perfect in their knowledge of Him, but He knows me perfectly. And that is enough. Thank you for being the sustaining Presence in my life, Father God.

Re-Entry

My brother says there are trips and there are vacations. My sister-in-law calls return to the routine after being away "re-entry." Well, our jaunt to Puerto Vallarta was a VACATION and re-entry has been difficult for me.

I'm finally "in the groove" again, getting a lot done outside yesterday and making progress on inside tasks today. But, I'm very thankful for a time of relaxation so complete that it took a week to really get back to normalcy.

I hope you have had your share of "vacations."

What Happens in Puerto Vallarta

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but what happens in Puerto Vallarta can, for the most part, be shared. Don't ask us about our first full day. It will remain our private joke for life. We will tell you, though, that the zenith of our first shopping experience in Spanish was eating beanie weenies instead of chili dogs. Woohoo! It gave Karel and me much more empathy for the Friendspeak readers we have. Our shopping trip was not nearly as intense as the hour we spend with them as they struggle with English.

We're staying at Lois's timeshare, Vallarta Torres, very close to the marina, with units that overlook the bay. The sunsets have been spectacular. This really is a beautiful corner of God's world. The rain comes mostly at night, interrupting our sleep last night with several thunderbolts overhead. When it rains, it pours. This could be my idea of Camelot.

The first night, we helped release sea turtles into the surf. This resort has been raising them since 2002. However they measure the survival rate of baby turtles, they have increased the survival rate by ten fold through this program. But, when you start at 1/1000, it still seems insignificant. We have done this three times since we arrived and have one more chance to participate. The sea turtle has become the mascot/icon for our trip.

We are spending a lot of time in the pool. We have taken advantage of the water aerobics, not so happily the first day when it was postponed to high noon. We all turned a little red on the sunny side. Yesterday we had the session all to ourselves, and our instructor went easy on us. Our instructor is one muy bueno hombre, so he is very easy on the eyes. He watches to see when everyone starts lagging and does a Mexican trill to make everyone lighten up. He also makes us count with him in Spanish, which is good for us. One more chance to do this tomorrow. Exercise, hot tub, back in the pool to swim, and time on the lounge chairs in the sun. I think I've finally found my calling.

All of our friends will understand that the majority of our time was spent at our favorite past-time: marathon rounds of Maui, Naniamo Rummy, Phase 10, Skip-Bo, and more card games. We meet many people who recognize us as "those card players" and ask us if we're sisters. Well, yes, in the most important sense of the word.

The vendors are unrelenting with hawking their wares, "For you almost free today." We went downtown and found a drug store with bargain T-shirts, our souvenir of choice. Yesterday we hit the flea market down by the marina. No cruise ships were in port, so they were anxious to make a sale for the day. Karel looked the most approachable, and one guy even put a man's belt around her waist. Hard sell. The vendors stroll the beach outside the gates of the condo, too, giving mucho local flavor to the experience.

Yesterday afternoon Karel and I were walking the beach and saw a man carrying a fish. When he got closer, I asked him about it. He said he grabbed it out of the surf. It was a small dogfish shark. True or a good story for those gullible Americanos?






Now that we've gotten a handle on shopping, we are eating better! We are enjoying the fresh vegetables and fruit. Dinner is complemented with spectacular sunsets.



Tonight we have a fiesta to celebrate the liberation of Mexico. One more day in paradise!