Arrived back home in Puerto Vallarta last week (Thursday)
after a brief, busy, and event filled visit to the PNW during
August-September-October.
The morning after arrival in Seattle/Lynnwood, WA I tentatively approached our Infiniti QX4 SUV, re-attached the battery leads, said a quick prayer and turned the key for the starter. Within seconds the engine was running smoothly. Drove it 10 miles on the freeway then took it in for its emission testing. Viola! It passed and I was free to motor on to renew my License tabs and be legal on the road once again. Not bad for a car that had been sitting quietly for approximately 10 months. The next couple of days were busy doing the normal startup; establishing a new telephone/broadband internet service, car insurance upgrade, Newspaper service, emailing friends our new tele.#, buying groceries, opening/refreshing the condo, and reconnecting with family. Normal? Yes; however, we’ve finally got it down pat -almost.
The morning after arrival in Seattle/Lynnwood, WA I tentatively approached our Infiniti QX4 SUV, re-attached the battery leads, said a quick prayer and turned the key for the starter. Within seconds the engine was running smoothly. Drove it 10 miles on the freeway then took it in for its emission testing. Viola! It passed and I was free to motor on to renew my License tabs and be legal on the road once again. Not bad for a car that had been sitting quietly for approximately 10 months. The next couple of days were busy doing the normal startup; establishing a new telephone/broadband internet service, car insurance upgrade, Newspaper service, emailing friends our new tele.#, buying groceries, opening/refreshing the condo, and reconnecting with family. Normal? Yes; however, we’ve finally got it down pat -almost.
The visit had many highlights plus one “biggie”, the first
marriage of one of my three grandsons to a beautiful lady. That took place towards the end of our visit
and they are now touring Ireland on their “honeymoon” trip.
We returned to Puerto Vallarta, MX just over a week ago to join
our friends, “Pabo” (Patti and Bob Parigini), in order to participate in the local celebration of Día de los Muertos
(Day of
the Dead) which is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout the country and acknowledged around the
world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and
friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and
help support their spiritual journey.
Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars
called ofrendas, honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the
departed, and visiting graves with these as gifts. Visitors also leave
possessions of the deceased at the graves.
This is held November 1 and 2, right after our Halloween celebration on
October 31st. In the past we
normally returned to Puerto Vallarta during the first week of November, missing
the celebration. Pabo had arranged a
visit to a private home, the cemetery, followed by lunch and networking with
our fellow participants. The day more than meet
all of our expectations!
The rest of the
time has been filled with getting the computers reset and fine-tuned, the condo
reopened, the utilities and other miscellaneous maintenance tasks completed, and
getting back in touch with our friends, acquaintances, and the local community.
It’s good to be home.
