Un nuevo ciclo...

Wow, I had a great time in Texas, mil thanks to Angie who made my stay not only enjoyable but pretty amazing. Salsa dancing was fun, even though there was no one to dance with who actually knew how to dance. Thrifting and ice cream and tearing up the garden was all made even better by the sweet, warm Texan air. I found that with the sun and warmth, I didn't even consider needing a cup of coffee in the morning. Even though I missed my city bus that was to take me to my Greyhound bus, a friendly bus driver and Greyhound attendant later I made it to my bus just as the last boarding call was announced. I should be more careful, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a picture of a "washateria" a few blocks from Angie's house and that's exactly when the number 4 rolled on by. Ah, well, things work out.

The bus trips were long. 14 hours from Fort Worth to Monterrey, typical Greyhound nonsense, mainstream media in dirty, overcrowded stations, dehydration, no stop at immigration, comical border crossing, all that. Another 11 hours from Monterrey to Leon and then a short 50 minute ride to Guanajuato, where both Abraham and Jonathan were waiting. I tried defying the exhaustion and dehydration (me vale!) and went with Abraham to Bar Fly. But after 2 beers, I just couldn't anymore and we went back to a friend of Abraham's place to crash. Still, it was nice to be received with hugs and kisses from my very favorite bartenders in all of Mexico.

My tongue is still trying to wrap itself around Spanish words. It's a process, but it's going well. At least I'm confident that there's no going back into not understanding and speaking just requires practice.

Yesterday Abraham and I hitched to his house in Celaya. My, I love Mexican families, everyone joking with each other but in very loving ways, a complete sense of security and warmth, beautiful. Mom made us rice and picadillo and Dad was curious and asked me a lot of questions about the food in the United States. One sister kept talking about my eyes and the little brother showed me a new trick he learned with some magnets he bought at school. After a completely necessary nap, we went to Irapuato with a friend of Abraham to their african percussion ensemble's practice. I was practically muerta of exhaustion but the music was great. It let me meditate for a while, made me even more intrigued by rhythym, tones, the songs. I met a Saudi Arabian fella at Bar Fly last night who gave me a necklace with a little clay djembe on it. I told him it would be my inspiration to actually learn some drumming. So, today I called Abraham and told him if he would give me classes, I would take him to Morelia to visit some other drumming friends and it looks like we'll go tomorrow. Good, good. Todo va bien.