”Happiness is a full tank of gas!” David Bershad

If you have been following international news you might be aware that the new president of Mexico, as part of his anti-fuel theft strategy (costing lost billions) has shut down all the country’s gasoline pipelines … shifting delivery to tanker trailers only. The problem is there are not enough trucks to supply the limitless needs. This has created a temporary gas shortage in several central states … with Jalisco being severely affected.

When we returned home from Oaxaca and as we drove home from the airport, I had a déjà vu moment, being back in the ‘70’s driving my ‘67 Gold GTO and waiting on long gas lines as we passed the few stations that were pumping with their kilometers long queues.

How can I recap Oaxaca…..you leave your heart in San Francisco … I left my soul in Oaxaca. It’s really earned its UNESCO and Pueblo Mágico designations. As we sat in the airport, having had to check in my bag at usury fees on Volaris…..I was not about to leave behind my 2 kilos of black and red moles (considered liquid – so no carry-on) and our conversation was, “when are we coming back?”

Back home to our routine and with just a less than a half tank of gas, our trips into town were planned with military precision.

Friday night we attended a yearly benefit for the local auditorium, “Lip-Sync 11.” Townsfolk invest their time and talent (loosely) to put on a show, similar to a Mickey Rooney ~ Judy Garland movie, “ Hey, kids, let’s put on a show….” dancing (ballet, tap, modern) and lip-syncing; there were a few exceptional acts:

The woman who lip-synced to Mama Cass’s “Wild Women” “… don’t get the blues” (1963) was a dead ringer – she had Mama Cass down to the most infinite detail including her “voluptuousness.”

The young group of ballet dancers from the Hernandez School in Guadalajara did a beautiful interpretation of the sugar plum fairies with a comedic touch added by taking selfies……very creative and on point. The rest of the acts ~ meh ~ and stealing a phrase from RuPaul’s Drag Race…….”Sashay away.”

David caught me looking at my watch repeatedly and after about 2 1/2 hours into the marathon we left….we didn’t want to be late for our dinner reservation. We found out the next day from friends that the show went on for another 30 minutes – edit, edit, EDIT!

On the way home the gas gods were finally shining on us after three days without luck finding an opened gas station that was (momentarily) pumping, so after a blessedly short 20-minute wait, the tank was happily full again ~ hallelujah, amen!