“As my life changes, it gives me new things to write about.” Jason Isbell, songwriter

Silly me … with the excitement of last week’s Cuban Ballet I totally forgot writing about a very important milestone – our first year anniversary of living ​La vida en México.​ The year flew by as one continuous life adventure of experiences, adjustments and wonderments or in today’s parlance, one big OMG! One thing that remains perfectly clear and confirms our decision … the following two paragraphs are excerpts from my first week’s write up in Mexico:

October 1st. Mexico! Finalmente. Arrived and found us filled with a weird mix of excitement, trepidation, downright to a Friday the 13th scariness to a single OMG of what are we doing.

​All of the stressful, emotional triple loop roller coaster ride of the last two months, filled with moments of trepidation and doubts, came down to a single thought and emotion as we finally walked into our new home …​ ​IT FEELS RIGHT!​

My answer a year later………ABSOLUTAMENTE FUE LA CORRECTA DECISIÓN and we have not looked back.

Rarely do we experience a food letdown, but unfortunately this week a very disappointed lunch was had at the top rated Casa Fuerte in Tlaquepaque. This was where we chose to bring my Padrino and aunt for a traditional, upscale Mexican meal. We’ve always enjoyed the atmosphere, food and service. Sadly, today it was another story with lackluster and inattentive service; food arrived cold … both David’s and my uncle’s plates were colder than my grilled watermelon salad. Replacement dishes were offered, along with free dessert, but we’d had enough and quickly departed.

My aunt enjoyed browsing through the eclectic shops along the main street in Tlaquepaque. She managed to find a few little treasures for her granddaughters and friends back home. As did we, too … adding some more fun holiday decorations to our growing collection.

Remember that shampoo commercial … “If you tell two friends, then they’ll tell two friends, and so on and so on and so on.” Seems it’s the same reaction the famous ​Nenas​ cookies from Pastelerías Marisa, has created in Los Angeles. I took a box of these gems for my aunt as a hostess gift on our last visit NOB. She shared them with neighbors and my cousins and now she went home with 6 boxes to hand out.

A few diehards from James’ Sit ‘n Fit class have been getting together for an hour’s brisk walk along the Ajijic malecón. This is due to his temporary absence and until returning, we’re trying to keep active; avoiding physical punishment later on when classes resume. It’s quite lovely to walk along the waterfront with its ever changing picturesque landscape. Here we can chat and (gasp!) gossip a little bit without disturbing a class in session.

After a frustrating year of a continuous parade of repairmen looking at our dysfunctional backyard jacuzzi, they shaking their heads in total puzzlement and the origin of its leak never discovered. The conclusion? Rip it out and totally rebuild it. The thought of anymore future problems distresses me. So I suggested to our landlord that a fountain will be more attractive and much cheaper to maintain. Certainly the hummingbirds and neighborhood birds will be delighted to no end ~ party time!

​Gracias a dios​, the landlord bit. A new fountain was delivered in parts this week like a giant jigsaw puzzle; once assembled it will measure 2 meters wide by 2 meters tall. Not holding my breath as to any projected finish date … after all, living here a year now, we’ve learned the one major mantra recited by all when confronted with a dilemma, “ … it’s Mexico!”

Flamenco comes to Lakeside ~ four fabulous females, paired and/or solo in a fiery, high energy performance by local and invited dancers and musicians. Just imagine changing the venue from an austere auditorium to a small, intimate taverna in Sevilla, Spain and they were that good. We are privileged to having such top quality and inexpensive entertainment in town (250 pesos admission = $12.50).

​On the Menu​ … Take leftover Shrimp, add fresh spinach & rigatoni and combine in a rich, homemade tomato sauce with luscious, melted queso ​Oaxacaño​ for a very satisfying meal at home. A perfectly grilled Grouper fish and sautéed shrimp; Chicken Fajitas – from a new gem of a find at Elena’s Restaurante, serving delicious Mexican food in Ajijic (not as easy as you’d expect.) Nothing like the sound of a sizzling dish arriving table side to stir up the senses. If only they’d a liquor license to serve up a margarita with that!