Meet My Friends Part Two

Second in a series on mi amigas in beautiful Kino Bay.

Joan

Joan and Maurice (Canadians) live next door to me winters in a motorhome with a big screened patio. No pets CURRENTLY. Daughter Andrea (Canada) with son-in-law Willie and granddaughter Victoria just visited last month. Joan runs the Western Horizons RV Resort. (Eddie thinks HE does, but anyone will tell you otherwise.) It's an unpaid, thankless task, but she has help: Pat, Suzanne, and Jill in the office and Maggy in the kitchen. And Joan's beloved spouse Maurice (pronounced Morris because he thinks Maurice sounds like a hairdresser) is the neighborhood computer and satellite Go-To man. He also plays Santa Claus.

Joan is long-suffering (if you know Eddie and Maurice...), patient, diplomatic, VERY dry sense of humor, hard-working, energetic, and extremely giving of her time. She likes wine.

Joan

Jill

Jill and Kim are fulltime RVers, Texans,  that live in the WHR park winters in their fifth wheel. ("Volunteers", formerly called workampers) They have two GORGEOUS spoiled Shelties, Sugar and Shadow. Jill is my other Mom. (Jan and I are her twin daughters but Jan's older...). Jill is loving, generous, affectionate, giving, and VERY funny! Plays poker like a pro. Also likes wine. She's a breast cancer survivor: her bravery, strength and refusal to submit humble me. She carries dog biscuits in her pockets in case she encounters one. I made Jill a fairly tacky necklace that says "Life is good" and she wears it every day.

Jill

Sally

  

Sal and Al live one street below me in a trailer with a bright yellow bodega: stocked to the rafters, we call it The Store. Need a can of mushroom soup? Sal has it. These are the most Still-In-Love-After-Umpteen-Years-Of-Marriage people I've ever encountered. Sal is warm, vibrant, alive with curiosity and has a bizarre zest for adventure. And I've read this, but rarely see it: her eyes actually twinkle! Sal makes this drink called a Caesar: Vodka, Clamato, Hotness, etc. (Also called a Seizure...) They've been hit quite badly several times by the banditos that plague our neighborhood. Of all people! They probably would  have GIVEN the banditos anything if they'd just asked. Incredibly, they are Glass-Half-Full people and remain cheerful and optimistic. And they wear matching outfits. Really! Sal has more energy and youth than all the rest of us put together.

Sally

Here's a shot of all three of them, all in one place, drinking to my health at my birthday lunch at Jorge's.

 As an afterthought, I'm adding photos of their spouses, taken from the Men's Calendar...

Maurice (Santa)

Kim

Al

Might as well add the first four amigas' spouses' photos, huh?

Jose

Jan's John

Jim

Bette's John

Adding the first four amigas (Bette, Delfie, Jan, and Karen) to these three makes for a very full and fun life in my little neighborhood. And yes, our spouses' photos are definitely Photoshopped...

Two Steps Back

Lots has happened. My husband and I want to expand our little Mexican estate to include another casita atop the garage, buy the two lots in front of us so nobody can build a two-story there, and get a boat. Coincidentally, the dialysis clinic in Show Low made me an offer I can't refuse, so I'm un-retired. Again.

I'll be here 3 years, until I can get Social Security. And I'll be here alone in our fifth wheel, with occasional trips home to Kino where Ron will be working to perfect our little slice of paradise. Plus I get a month's vacation every year.

It was REALLY heart-wrenching saying goodbye to my friends. I did NOT want to do this anyway (the work is physically demanding on this abused old body), and there didn't seem to be any BUTS to append to the usual "I'll miss you so much but it's not for long" because it's for THREE FRICKING YEARS!

So the plan includes Ron driving us and the fifth wheel to Show Low, staying a few weeks until we aquire a second vehicle, then returning to Kino.

I spent a few weeks stocking the RV with what I thought I'd want or need. We left at 0630 Monday morning, and hit the Nogales border crossing at 1230. Short line, no issues with the inspection because I admitted right up front that I had a tad more liquor than allowed (so he let me keep it), and they DID ask for the cat's vaccination record, which I just barely remembered was overdue and took care of last Friday!

The cat yowled a bit on the bumpier or curvier parts of the road, but not as bad as before. Helps that our road is partly paved now. Changed our remaining pesos in Nogales (they gave us 12.6!) and proceeded to Tucson. I don't know why we were so exhausted, but we decided to stop there at the Desert Diamond Casino for the night. I didn't even go inside. Read my book and went to bed. At 2 AM, I woke up cold: the RV battery had drained and the electric-start furnace wouldn't start, nor would it start when Ron went out to start the truck. So we left for Show Low at 3 AM.

If you've never driven the road from Tucson that goes through Globe and the Salt River Canyon, towing a 34 foot fifth wheel with an under-maintained and under-powered elderly diesel pickup, you're in for a treat. Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. At one point, coming up a grade, we were down to about 15 mph. (The speedometer doesn't work sometimes...) My heart was in my throat, I had nausea and chest tightness, the cat was unhappy (lots of S-curves), plus it was dark. Stopped for breakfast in Globe, and debated having a garage look at the truck to make sure the transmission or rear end wasn't compromised, but Ron thought it was OK, so we continued. By then, it was light out, so I kept my sight trained out the side window and played brain games. And we made it. 8:30 AM.

I had pre-arranged an RV site at the Ponderosa RV Resort in Lakeside. Never saw it, just found one on the internet that had cable, wifi, and low annual rates. Really cute website. Turns out it's an older mobile home park mostly. Nobody in the office, so I called the owner Eva and was told "the handyman" would be there shortly to show us some sites. And here comes Dave, middle-aged, ponytail, few teeth, Border Patrol cap (no, he wasn't: "I'm a Minute Man, though. If they need me, I'll go in a minute! Hahaha!" )

Dave wasn't informed what spaces were reserved, just which ones were empty. We probably could have found those ourselves. We were supposed to pick a few we liked and call Eva back. We didn't like ANY of them: narrow, sloped, short, or right on the road. The first one I agreed to turned out to be available, after a lengthy phone call with Eva trying to navigate her files. We couldn't find the sewer under the snow, but were assured it was there somewhere. Dave left us then to back in there ourselves. But using every leveling block we possessed, we could NOT get it even close to level. So we pulled out and called Eva back. Now she's got me walking up and down the convoluted rows of mobile homes and decrepit trailers, looking for one that was less sloped, had all three hookups within reach of our rig, and had room to park the truck. Found one. The water was off, but Eva assured us Dave would turn it on for us. We backed it in, blocks under each wheel because the ground was soft and covered with loose gravel. The electric cord JUST reaches.

Now the slides won't move because the battery's dead. After an hour with the slide motor jumped to the truck battery, we got the slides out. And here comes Dave back to turn on our water, but there's a problem. He insists he cannot LEAVE it turned on unless we wrap our entire water hose with electric heat tape (20 feet, at least $100) The overnight temps here have been in the lower 20s, and currently the upper 20s. Daytime temps into the 50s. Ron and Dave had words, with Ron trying to convince Dave that we have some experience with cold weather RVing, and that he knows how to disconnect and drain at night blahblah. Dave wasn't having it, he was programmed with that one rule and couldn't adapt. Ron had to become quite stern and authoritative to get Dave to turn on the water, which seems to be what works with Dave. We then went to WalMart and Home Depot, and have insulated the water pipe.

The wifi is weak, may need an antenna. The "cable" is 7 grainy channels, and no Fox or CNN. There's a snowdrift outside my door. But there's a big apple tree out my back window! And lots of birds. And it's pretty quiet, only 11 winter people here as yet.

Ron's not happy, but he's not staying long. We'll be in a hotel suite in Tempe for training for a couple of weeks (this job now includes Acute Dialysis at the little hospital here). I may get the local cable company to give me real cable and internet. The truck needs to be looked at. We'll be going through propane like water. And I found out I'm JUST outside Domino's delivery radius: had to go pick up my pizza at the gas station up the road.

The movie theater is 3 blocks away, the Safeway and liquor store not much farther. It'll do for now. Ron will teach me how to change propane tanks, troubleshoot tank-dumping issues, and generally help me feel more confident at RVing alone, and I'll be too busy to be homesick, hopefully.

Here's some photos. Click on them to see the dreary details...

I'm crammed in between two older trailer/porch combos.

This is across from us. Hopefully, it's being dismantled and removed?

My own personal snow drift outside the door...

Dismal, huh? But there's big trees!

The apple tree behind the rig is a producer! They're all over the ground.

I'm an orphan!

My mother passed away Jan. 18, after 12 years with Alzheimer's disease. Hospice waited to start morphine until I got to see her, and she died the next morning.

I'm staying at my son Jon's house, and a more alive, vibrant household does not exist. I'm listening to them all downstairs watching football, kids playing. Laughter, shouting, cheering, jeering. My ex-husband lives here, too, and I know for a fact that watching sports with his son ranks #1 on his list of Best Moments, perhaps tied with having Nora and Dylan tucked into each armpit watching cartoons.

I'm wearing a macaroni necklace, courtesy of Nora.

Plus, today is Nora's 4th birthday, and we had a delightful day with Ron's daughter Julie, husband Leben, and my grandchildren Ruby and Eli here to help celebrate. Nora wanted a Princess theme, and she got it.

Tutu, wand, tiara, check! Ready for anything!

Delighted birthday girl, listening to us sing the Happy Birthday Song.

Blowing out her candles after shouting "I wish for a DINOSAUR!!!"

Ruby, Nora, Eli, and Dylan.

I finally just had my one and only grief/crying/pity-party-moment, and it's over. (And I was outside, smoking, and my tears froze on my cheeks!) I don't know why my mother couldn't love me, but I did love her.

Tomorrow is the viewing, Tuesday is the funeral. I've heard from friends and family far and wide, and am expecting some terrific reunions over the next few days.  It's colder than bejeesus here in Minnesota, and I'm missing my sunny warm household in Mexico, but am mighty content amid this family of mine. They love me, I adore them, and life is good!



Meet My Friends Part One

Sunshine and warmth.
Gorgeous desert and ocean views.
Eclectic, witty, talented, interesting women to share it all with.

These are the reasons I'm here in this little "drinking village with a fishing problem" on the Sea of Cortez. I want to tell you about these women, but there's so many it will have to be more than one post.

  Delfie  

Here's Delfie, short for Delfinia. Tiny, gentle, exquisite face, always beautifully groomed. She's been married to Jose 48 years, Coloradans, RVers, and it doesn't get more eclectic than these two. Delfie's Hispanic heritage is invaluable (she's our translator) and she could be a master chef. Her laugh is infectious, she's interested in everyone and everything, and she's the sister I never had. Delfie has the uncanny knack of peeling away the layers of bullshit to get to the truth. No pets, but they're pig caretakers for Eddie, the WHR park manager...

  Jan 

And then there's Jan, Wisconsinite, RVer, married to John (who cooks and bakes.) Eccentric, hilarious, not even a tiny bit shy or reserved, also gorgeous but quite tall. Talented craftsperson, artist, and creator. She made wolves out of those things that palm trees shed! Adorable tiny Shih-Tzu, Bandit. They do craft shows in the midwest summers. Jan's the only amiga that MIGHT be able to out-segunda me...

Here's a video I shot recently at our Secret Santa lunch at Pargo Rojo. Jan had TWO of those big Margaritas, and was modelling her new apron...

  Karen 

Karen is a Washington coast product, RVer, married to Jim (cook and fisherman). Karen's sense of humor mirrors mine the closest: black, dry, acerbic, cutting. MY kind of humor. Skilled artist, beader, weaver, and photographer. Maybe the most diversely talented of all of us. Makes those quirky beaded wine bottle dresses and hats. No pets, but they feed Blanco, the neighborhood foster dog. They have an RV lot in Washington state, where Karen does craft shows and Jim catches sturgeon and salmon summers.

  Bette  

Bette has aliases: BetteSandySue, Sandy, Bootleg Betty, and BSS. Like us, she and hubby John have a casita "On The Hill" (plus a huge chunk of surrounding property) and are also Coloradans. Eternally curious, fascinated by life and people, great cook, funny, never a dull moment in her company. Also able and willing to cut to the chase in our frank and frequent dissections of life. Fabulous hostess, generous and giving. Handsome golden retriever, Hank. They return to the Gunnison CO area summers, to grandbabies and where poor John is waiting to retire!

These are the four I spend most of my time with. Beachcombing, shelling, clamming, ATVing, cocktails, lunches, shopping, and of course, settling world affairs. They keep me sane, and mitigate greatly the loss of missing my family.

And there are more! To be continued!

Our ATV Ride

December 22nd, middle of winter, and Ron and I went exploring on the ATV. (Minnesota winters are rapidly dimming in my memories.)

Ron had seen earlier what looked to be a mine or cave high up on a rocky hill. We rode as far as the road goes, then started climbing.

The terrain was mobile granite-quartz rubble, interspersed with cholla cacti, thorny trees and bushes, and I am 100% inexperienced. Hard climb. Lots of rest stops. As we got closer, we could see the opening better.

Square, looked to be hand-hewn out of the rock, no sign of timber shoring, and absolutely no sign of a path, tailings, nothing. I had to quit about 2/3 of the way up. (I now know for a fact that only people who actually still have cartilage in their knees should attempt climbing.) I sat on a rock and examined rocks for an hour. Ron continued on and took the camera. I kept hearing "WOW!" OH WOW!"

Looking inside door of cave

View out from door of cave

View down from top.

Back wall and floor of cave

He said there were no artifacts, no sign of recent habitation, but maybe evidence of fires. His flashlight was weak, but he thought the cave went back 40 feet or so. Very cool, probably very old to have zero traces of any kind of path?

The return "slide" to where we parked the ATV was much faster. I'm still picking out thorns!

Then we drove over to a beach inlet, where we saw dozens of holes in the sand.

One hole had sand flying out of it, and I said "WOW! Maybe a turtle burying eggs?" Then a large brownish furry thing backed out of it, beaver-size, and went right back in. GOTTA go check that out! I left Ron up on the cliff, and made my gimpy way down. As I got closer I could see this:

Ron called down "What is it?' and I said "A squirrel?" As I got around behind him, I could see he was a tad larger than a squirrel:

He suddenly realized he wasn't alone, and backed out and started running. Scared me!

Turned out to be a BADGER! I had interrupted his meal, a 1/2 eaten crab.

I looked into all the other holes, and only one had any evidence of a find:

Ravaged turtle eggs!

He had struck the jackpot there, I can't believe he would dig all those holes at random, hoping for a cache. There must be a scent or sign?

Anyway, it was a grand day out. However, my knees are much worse the day after, and need babying. And a walking stick and meds and heat and ace wraps. Geez...

Birthday Report

I turned 59 yesterday, and no, I don't feel different. I've been trying to remember what my parents were like at 59, and it's so fuzzy. (We were living in Julian, CA.) Dad wasn't home much, travelling as the Kinney Shoes upper midwest window trimmer. I think my mom had retired. I know they were busy and involved with my brother's kids a lot. My general impression is I'm tired-er at 59 than they were at 69...

Yesterday was a hoot! It started with my husband having again screwed up getting me a birthday present, so I was granted carte blanche on EBay and ordered a new pair of Birkenstocks. Rather bling, don't you think? They'll be here by Christmas.

Then I got picked up by my neighbor Karen, along with Grace and Jan, and was driven to Jorge's restaurant. We were 13 total, we Ladies Who Lunch, and they bought me TWO grande margaritas, a half-order of steamed clams, and a bowl of tortilla soup, always great. PLUS presents! They were all told no gifts, but they could buy me a drink instead. In retrospect, 12 drinks might have been 10 too many...

I have a new Demdeco "Free Spirit" from Bette, a hand-crafted silver wire bird's-nest pendant from Karen, those Navajo earrings EXACTLY like the ones I was coveting a few days ago in Delfie's house, the gorgeous crystal beaded drop to hang in a window from Grace, that double-strand turquoise necklace from Joyce, and Jan made that rose brooch with clamshells!  Plus this gorgeous plate from my friend Zee, the only non-WHR/Dos Palmas friend.

Earlier, Sal gave me a potted rose plant, and Jill gave me a bottle of good gin. Jan's hubby John baked me a huge batch of Toll-House cookies. What great friends!

Here's a group shot of us.

From bottom left, Marion, Maggy, Bette, Joyce, Karen, me, Zee, Grace, Delfie, Sal, Joan, and Jill.

More shots: (no, nobody was drinking shots...)

Jorge and granddaughter Natalia serenading us!

Sal and Bette left us to chat up our neighbor Jerry...

No photo of Jan because she was behind the camera. Here's Jan.

Then they poured me into the truck and delivered me home, where my husband made me a gooey, chocolate birthday cake. You all know Boots, Jaq's dog. He helped.

It was a grand day out, with a  chocolate cake and Survivor and X-Factor finale. Laughter, song, presents, good food, great drinks. There isn't much more, is there? Well, family.
But these women ARE my family.

Happy Birthday Girl

BusyBusyBusy

The Kino social season is heating up. Had to start my Google Calendar, and darn if there isn't something entered almost every single day. Mighty few jammies days. The WHR park and our Dos Palmas neighborhood is filling up. Lots of catching up, potlucks, happy hours, clamming, poker games, Ladies-Who-Lunch, and Club Deportivo events. Our park is hosting the Sunday breakfast there, and I'm assigned to chop onions today. Of the whole list of menu chores, that's the only one I probably wouldn't f#%& up.

Went to Tucson last week for Ron's first primary care appointment at the VA. Took neighbor Jack with us so he could get a visa on the way home (Hadn't had one for a couple of years). Jack is Ron's drinking partner, and that's what they did. I drove. It's been chilly nights here in Kino, but it snowed on us in Sonoita and dropped to 16 degrees in St. David AZ while we were there. Still had my Minnesota windshield scraper in the truck, though! So glad to be back home.

I'd been feeding a homeless cat, who I noticed was nursing. Four kittens showed up last week, just a few hours before we left for Tucson, so I didn't have a chance to re-home them. SO tiny, but ravenous for food and had no trouble eating dry cat food. The other day three kittens showed up without Mama: I boxed them up and they now have a new home with Jack's friend in Kino Viejo. The fourth one is still at large, and I plan to get Mama neutered.

I had to redo my shell-and-bone wreath from last year because my hula hoop broke. Now it's smaller because it's on a bike tire rim, so it's just skulls and carcasses.

Mostly coyote skulls and pelican skulls, with Seri Indian rope.

Last year's wreath, on hula hoop.

There was a full moon tonight, and an hour later there was this:

So that's what's up.