A day in the life of a Mexican

Just got back from shopping for red undies with three of my girl friends.  New Year’s Eve is a day away and we wanted to be prepared to receive 2006 in a "colorful" way!

It was fun, even though I don’t believe in the supersicious aspect of it.  I don’t believe that red underwear will bring me love, not that a yellow thong will shower me with money.  But I can hope…… can’t I? 

The only problem with hope is that some of us hope too much and do too little. 

Reminder for 2006: Hope AND do!

December hasn’t been chilly at all this year in Mexico.

Somehow the holidays don’t feel the same without the big sweaters, hot chocolate and foggy days. Maybe I should fly somewhere up north for New Year’s……. something to think about.

Let me explain how bad the situation is:

I got into my car this afternoon, wearing flip flops jeans and a short sleeved t-shirt.  Do the routine suff (turn on the AC, iPod, put the car in drive, remove the hand brake) and head out!  When I stop at the first light I look at the passengers seat and can’t believe what I’m seeing!!!!   

A candle I had left in the car melted! yes, the wax melted! We were in the 80`s F today, almost 30ªC!!!! Pretty hard to believe but true. 

I guess there’s no hope for flurries this winter!

It isn’t the things you do, dear
It’s the things you leave undone
That gives you a bit of a heartache
At setting of the sun
The tender work forgotten
The letter you did not write
The flowers you did not send, dear
Are your haunting ghosts at night

The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother’s way
The bit of heart some counsel
You were hurried too much to say
The loving touch of hand, dear
The gentle, winning tone
Which you had not time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own

Those little acts of kindness
So easily out of mind
Those chances to be angels
Which we poor mortals find
They come in night and silence
Each sad, reproachful wraith
When hope is faint and flagging
And a chill has fallen on faith

For life is all too short, dear
And sorrow is all too great
To suffer our slow compassion
That tarries until too late
And it isn’t the thing you do, dear
It’s the thing you leave undone
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun

- Margaret E. Sangster

The bright lights have flooded our lives once again. Christmas has come and gone.  I want to apologize to some of my friends and family this year, for not letting all of them know how special they are to me. Christmas time is a perfect excuse to be corny and it passed me by this year!!!!  I guess I’ll have to double the dose of corniness on Valentine’s Day to make up for it!   

I forgot to focus on the gifts this year, for the first time in my life I did not feel I had to do anything specific. I was my happy old self and that seemed to be more than enough for those around me.  It felt so liberating and wonderful!  I realized that Christmas means more than presents wrapped in glossy paper, or houses decorated with millions of tiny lights.  Christmas means much more than gathering around a dinner table for a festive meal, or donating spare change to the Salvation Army.  I’m certain that Christmas is more than parents pretending to be Santa, or carol singers making their voices heard. 

Christmas is the intangible, those things which are so hard to measure like love, blessings, and the spreading of joy.  I gave and received very few gifts this year, and yet had the best Christmas ever.  I finally got it.  I had the best Christmas because my family celebrated it together (even though some of us were miles apart from each other). It has been such a joyful time and I believe it is because I let Jesus into my heart and through him gave and received love.

May your hearts too be filled with love and joy!!!!

with love,

Maria Stella