Archive for the 'Hola Amigos!' Category
01-31-2008
Hola Amigos!
Yep, it happened, I am writing your from the wisdom (or lack thereof), of a 40 year old! I begged for a motorcycle, but Brett knowing I would just take off and leave him with 4 kids opted for a different surprise and took me to paradise, also known as Nuevo Vallarta , Mexico . I know many of you reading this frequent trips to inner cities, Honduras and mission trips to the likes thereof, yeah- this was nothing like that and yes you have permission to hate me for a minute! Okay, minute is up, you have to love me again!
Brett, and our travel agent, Julie, made all the arrangements so I had no idea what I was stepping into. It truly was beyond my wildest dreams and all that I could mutter was this is “CRAZY AMAZING INSANE!” Brett surmised that I liked it. What I have always loved most especially about Mexico, I mean in addition to, the sand, beach, sun, mountains, fantastic weather, being on vacation… is the PEOPLE! The nicest in the world.
As I curled up on my lounge chair the first day, feet nestled in the sand, I read and re-read Shane Claiborne’s awesome book, Irresistible Revolution. I know I have mentioned it before, but it bears mentioning again, and if you still haven’t read it – I highly recommend a beach somewhere, no just kidding, just order it already! As I am thumbing through the pages of Shane prolifically talking about the American slavery to Mammon, I was being spoon fed diet coke and lime by Benjamin, who I nicknamed Benji. Benji would come and check on me and we would visit. We talked about family, life, fun and work. After I soared the Pacific Ocean going 70 MPH on a jet ski he came to see how it went. I read on where Shane talked about living with the sisters of Charity (and Mother Teresa), in Calcutta , and his work with the homeless while Benji asked me if I wanted a fresh towel (I know ridiculous)! Juanita came by trying to sell me a huge blanket. I couldn’t have fit it in the suitcase, but it sure was pretty. She would visit periodically and I asked how it was going. During the end of the day she came by to tell me that she had not sold even one blanket. My heart hurt for her. She had been working so hard. I saw the despair in her eyes. I found some money and took it to her. I told her it was for good luck. She returned 20 minutes later and told me that she had sold two blankets. She kissed me on my cheek and held my hair in her hand and said, “Gracias mi Amiga, Gracias!” I was again overwhelmed with the beautiful nature and spirit of the Mexican people. Deep down I longed that I might have some Mexican genealogy in me, but my Irish skin now the color of a Sundia (watermelon in espanol) told otherwise! I continued reading Shane’s book inspiring me to want to give away everything I had and move to Mexico and live a simpler life. Brooke could braid hair on the beach, Joshua, Jac and Luke could make seashell necklaces. I could hang out with Juanita and Benji~ Life would be great! I would live with Reckless Abandon, and adopt a lifestyle such as the salt of the earth, the holiest people I had ever met. Now, how could I convince Brett?
The following day Brett surprised me with a motorcycle trip into Puerto Vallarta . Remember my dream of owning my own… We easily rented the bikes and were on our way on the busy cobblestone streets. Not, part of my fantasy, was the challenge of cab-coasters almost hitting us at every corner, or a bus, or a group of people who don’t know I am not yet a skilled motorist. We headed for a less trafficy area and ended up lost on a mountain top of houses, with the narrowest of streets I have ever seen. We made a wrong turn (not just one, but this was bad), and had to find a way to turn around. I was in a tight spot and the slickness of the cobblestone and the too sharp of a rev of the gas sent me sprawling onto the cobblestone. My pride was devastated, my body was a little better off, there was some blood and scraps and I re-broke the same finger I have been trying to heal for a year. If when you see me next it appears I am making an obscene jester, please forgive me, I can’t bend that finger! So, with my thrill of a motorcycle ride, or ever having one, now scrapped (Dwain, I still want to ride on yours!), we headed back to tell the rental man, Mario- that I had scratched his motorcycle. I knew we would have to pay, but was not sure how much. Mario pitched a fit (motorcycle people are passionate, I get that), but then he said it would be more money than we had in life-savings. He didn’t have a credit card machine, we offered him all the cash we had, he threatened to call the policia and in the end he had Brett take him to Wal-mart and buy him a NEW expensive sound system. I’m not sure how that will help his paint job, but he seemed to think it would. He totally had Brett, hook line and sinker. I was so upset. “He is TOTALLY playing you I said! We don’t have that kind of money! Let him call the policia!” Brett, unraveled by my tantrum, did what Mario asked and bought him what he requested. I totally thought we lost, and there is a competitive streak in me that was not happy. So now with my hurt my pride from the bike accident, the hurt my finger and the defeat from Mario I was glum. I sulked in the car, as Shane’s voice came into my mind, thoughts from the book Irresistible Revolution came to life. Give it away, all of it! Wasn’t I just moments before ready to give everything away and live a simpler life? Wasn’t I the bible toting, theology studying chic who wanted to be like that Jesus guy that was homeless! Grrrrr. I missed it and Brett totally got it. He did the right thing, and I read about doing the right thing. I love how God has such a great sense of humor with me. I want to live a holy life, and I am vicariously living one through the person I married! Brett hadn’t even read the Irresistible Revolution and yet he just gave w/out reason, without sense – the way Jesus does things! Although, my dream of moving to Mexico in the land of the perfect place was a bit shattered, I was reminded that we will always have Benji’s, Juanita’s and Mario’s in our lives. It was easy for me to love Benji and Juanita; the tougher ones to love are the Mario’s. Brett loved Mario-unconditionally. The way God does, and calls us to, not when it’s easy to love, but when it’s hard! I have a lot to learn! Hopefully more wisdom will come with age. I may be off to a slow start, but if I should have to suffer through such lessons in the likes of Mexico , well so be it!
I really did take this picture; this was the view from our room! I know CRAZY AMAZING INSANE!
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