Back to Blogging

I have missed blogging and sharing my life. Putting words on paper is so wonderful and therapeutic. Somehow it makes my life seem more solid and meaningful. I'm inspired by my friend, Nancy, who writes a wonderful blog in Mazatlan. She is really enjoying her life with her husband, Paul, and their dogs. We worked together and were friends in our former lives in and around Seattle. Boy have our lives changed! Now we're both in paradise and I'm finally going to see her in March when I drive down to check on our house in Sayulita. The wonderful Sayulita house has been on the market for two years in a dead economy, but that's another story entirely. Feel free to buy it!

A lot of friends and family worry about us. They hear all of the bad things that are going on at the border and in Arizona. Most of us in this area of the Pacific or Sea of Cortez coast of Mexico cross the border in Nogales. There's a lot of drug activity there I guess, but we've never been affected by it. In fact, we cross the border in the downtown area and drive right through the center of town. Sometimes we stop for gas there or get lunch at Burger King. It never occurred to us to be afraid and no one has ever threatened us in any way. I hope people realize that a lot of the drug crimes involving foreigners are simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time and yes, it has been exaggerated by the press.

As for my town, San Carlos, it is a very special place. It's about five hours by car from Tucson. It's cool in the winter and hot in the summer. Spring and fall are nearly perfect. We have a large expat population here and with that, come pros and cons. We are able to get many more products from the U.S. and we enjoy Sonoran beef and the fantastic cuisine of northern Mexico. We have Sam's Club and Walmart in Guaymas which is just a few miles away. For clothes and shoe lovers, shopping is good here and since we have a kind of winter you can buy beautiful leather boots for about $200 pesos. I am currently working on my collection. Right now I'm wearing some black suede boots that were on sale for $150 pesos. I love them way more than I love my Nordstrom boots from Italy. I'd like to get some tan ones next. We have Dollar stores here with tons of odd and fun things. It used to be hard to get canned green beans in Mexico (thought we have fresh) and I found them at the dollar store. However, they were expired and canned in China so I put them back. I have to be honest, old canned goods from China do scare me. On the up side we can get the greatest Christmas lights here (from China) and they are very cheap.

We have many activities in San Carlos and most people are involved in one or two good causes. One of my friends, Kristin, has started a dog shelter and it's pretty amazing. It's not large but at this point, most homeless dogs in our town are being taken care of. Kristin is the kind of person who can't help herself. She is all heart. She gets some donations now, but for the last few years she and her husband, took care of a lot of dogs in our town using their own money. This is just one example of how things are here. San Carlos is a place where you can do whatever you want and be whomever you want to be. I have a lot of fantastic friends here and they are a big part of my happiness.

For the last couple of years, I have strengthened my spirituality and studied Reiki. I have learned to love myself more and I've learned not to judge other people. We all have our own lives and our own agendas and hopefully we can all live together in harmony. Life is not always easy and nothing is perfect. My husband of 25 years has suffered from ataxia for the past three years and he fights a battle every single day. We have limitations, but still, we are happy and we have a lot of friends here who help us in every way. Thankfully, Bruce is a happy and optimistic person and he does very well. I feel in my heart that everything is going to be ok. Still, it's not easy. We're building a house that Bruce designed and he oversees everything to do with the construction. It's really tiring for him at times because of the disease. Thankfully it's almost done. I do a lot of research on ataxia to see if anything is new and the one thing I have learned is that it's easier to live in a warm climate when you have an illness. Your immune system doesn't have to fight so hard here so it can spend more time healing your body. At least that's what I believe. Ataxia is one of those diseases that is not researched a lot. I think knowing what I do about this disease has helped me grow as a person too. Judgements about other people go right out the window. When you meet a difficult and unhappy person, there's usually a reason and it's not a bad idea to show some compassion because there's probably something difficult going on in their life. Life is not easy these days. Many, many people are battling some kind misfortune.

A friend of mine recently said she believes that we are all here to help each other and I think that's true. There is nothing better than helping someone unconditionally. In San Carlos, you can work on your spirituality, be an artist, meditate on the beach or go bowling, fishing, four wheeling or have a beer and watch the sunset (or the people). I don't want it to sound like we're all saints here, but it does come close to paradise, at least for us. We have the Sea of Cortez, the mountains and hills, the desert and all the wonderful things that go with that. We also have the benefit of the Mexican culture to help us enjoy life and live in the moment. We have wonderful food, music and festivals; too many to count. Though the cost of living in San Carlos is not as low as some places in Mexico, it's still a lot more affordable than the US. We even have good hospitals and medical care. Did I mention cable T.V? A high school friend of mine from California just wrote to me about coming down for a dental vacation. We're working on that. I have a fantastic dentist and the cost is about 1/8 of what it is in the U.S. Oh - and bring your dog. Teddy, our border collie just had his teeth cleaned for $600 pesos (about $52 USD)which includes anesthesia and recovery time. Of course, you have to do your homework, but all in all I think I'll be staying here for the rest of my life. Please come and visit in April when the house is ready....more to come. Peace and love, Jan

Goodbye Rudy - Rest In Peace My Friend

For My Friend Kristin and her Best Friend Rudy -

HEAVEN'S DOGGY-DOOR
My best friend closed his eyes today, as his head was in my hand.
The Doctors said he was in pain, and it was hard for him to stand.
The thoughts that scurried through my head, as I cradled him in my arms were of his younger, puppy years,And OH...his many charms.
Today, there was no gentle nudge with an intense "I love you gaze",
Only a heart thats filled with tears, remembering our joy filled days.
But an Angel just appeared to me, and he said, "You should cry no more,GOD also loves our canine friends,HE's installed a 'doggy-door"!

--- Jan Cooper --- 1995

Lunch and Shopping In Paradise

Today is an exceptionally good day. I had lunch at a new restaurant out in the north beach area. I was with two good friends, LeeAnn and Janey and time with them is always fun and positive. They are both involved in making San Carlos a better place. We sat in what felt like an open Moroccan style area with couches and low tables - kind of a private room. The owners have designed several unique areas within the restaurant. They have incredible taste and the food is fantastic.
Although business is slow in San Carlos, a lot of people are taking the time to look into the future and make the town prettier and more cohesive as a community. We already have the surrounding beauty - the mountains and the Sea of Cortez, but there's no town square and we could use a good facelift in town. San Carlos needs to take more care of their buildings and regulate the signage. We want to keep our town feeling like Mexico too and that's not easy. A lot of people come from the north and don't like to use pesos or even attempt to speak Spanish. They want it to be just like Arizona or Texas. I strongly disagree. I enjoy interacting with the Mexican people and their families. I have learned so much in the past seven years because of my time in Mexico.
As usual I've gotten off of the subject, which was about an exceptionally good day. Lunch was great and we couldn't stop talking about our ideas and things that we would like to see happen in town to make it more charming. After lunch I drove back into town and bought two pairs of sandals that I have been admiring on LeeAnn for the past three weeks....so you see it wasn't an impulse buy. Well maybe the second pair was. A store that I almost never go into has turned out to have fabulous and affordable shoes and clothing! I need some sturdy but great looking sandals for my trip to Hong Kong next week. Now I think I'm ready....almost.

I Can't Believe It

I can't believe that I haven't blogged since November. A lot has happened and nothing has happened. Thanksgiving was fabulous with Petey and Maureen and the kids in St Louis and then Debbie and the kids in Columbia. Tommy was off in India for work and we were sad to miss him. Christmas was quiet, but nice. We had a wonderful celebration for El Cobijo and the men enjoyed themselves immensely. We shared our own Christmas with good friends, Bliss, Kris and Al. I found a recipe for "perfect" prime rib and it was fabulous. Did I mention that Sonora has some of the best beef in the world?
Bruce is still very busy with his work in Hong Kong. We're going over in a few weeks and I'm excited. I also have the added bonus of seeing Scarlett who will be turnig one. She is so adorable and quite a piece of work apparently. Her grandmothers have been busy adorning her with quite the wardrobe!
I have continued my work with El Cobijo though since they have moved back to their old building they don't need as much assistance. Luz, the head nurse has wanted to start a bazaar on Thursday mornings and hopefully make some money for incidentals.
Our house is coming along beautifully and we are hoping to be there by Christmas. My pizza oven is still happening. In fact we drove up to Tucson and picked up some fire brick last week.
Today is a truly historical day. I believe that the health care bill is going to pass. In spite of all of the controversy and so much bitterness I believe that everyone deserves health care. I don't think anyone opposing this bill has had a family member who has been ill and without good health care. Where is the spirit of humanity in all of the anti-health care advocates. I hesitate to bring it up because it is such a touchy subject, but it can't be ignored. I have not heard this much pontification by congress in a long time!
I plan to continue my blog on a frequent basis because I love to write and I love to share my life in Mexico with my readers so we will talk soon.

Thanks for El Cobijo

Dear Friends and Family:

First of all, thank you all for your generosity and caring. We received so many donations and a lot of folks here in San Carlos, and as far away as Alamos (in southern Sonora), brought clothing and food to us. I even have a good friend in Colorado who offered to drive down with a van load of things with no hesitation whatsoever. Thanks Laura. Unfortunately, The Mexican Customs officers wouldn't let in any more used clothing but the gesture was momumental.

I just want to let you know what we have been able to do with the money we received from you. We have bought groceries for the men every week and a lot of Mexican business in Guaymas (the nearest large town) gave us big discounts. We were able to get the freshest fruits and vegetables. It's been wonderful.

The seasons change here in Sonora so it gets cool in the fall and winter. To most people it's winter now; high 70's in the day and 40's and 50's at night. It feels really cold. We were able to buy winter clothes for everyone at Woolworth's in Guaymas (yes, Woolworths is alive and well in Mexico). We also bought sweaters, scarves, gloves and jackets. We've had donations of blankets and sheets, personal items and books. With some of the money we were able to help the head nurse fix her car. It was swept away during the hurricane and floods and it's almost fixed now. The ladies who care for the men make $100 pesos per day (about $12 USD) and put their own needs on the back burner to help the men.

My group consists of me, Kristine Ladau and Bliss Cochrane; good friends of mine here in San Carlos who didn't hesitate to jump in and help. We do this all together and meet all the time to brainstorm. In two weeks the men are moving to a new building that needs a lot of work and we have a lot of donations waiting for that time; bags and boxes full of things for their new home. Currently, they are living in a ladie's retirement home run by nuns and though they are well cared for by their regular staff from Old El Cobijo, they have been asked to move elsewhere.

Probably the best gift of all is that we visit with the men and they are so interesting and wonderful. Some are in pretty good shape, some are blind and deaf. One of our favorites is Demitrius. He has lost part of both legs due to diabetes and complications but he is a character and always smiling. He loves to read. My friend, Nancy Harless (an author) sent me books in Spanish to give to him and he was thrilled. It proves that it's the little things in life that really matter, like your generosity. If I go on much longer I probably will cry. It is amazing and has opened my eyes to a lot of things in life that I didn't see clearly before. You won't see me discounting how good life is any time soon.

Anyway, this is just Chapter One. When they move it will be a new chapter and lots to do. Kristine, Bliss and I are committed to making it all work. El Cobijo also has other donors from time to time. Just last week I received four bags of clothes and a really nice electric heater from someone who had just built a new house - plus some cash. One night a man called me and asked me to meet him down at the Fruteria (the grocery store) and he handed me a wad of cash and said "I'm anonymous" and drove off. It was $3,000 pesos. Amazing. My firend in Phoenix, Chrissy, has a prayer wall that she just built and she prays for the men all the time. I think it helps.

Thank you so much for all you have done. I just wanted you to know what your money and good thoughts have done for El Cobijo. Kristine, Bliss and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Without your help this would not have been possible.

Peace and love,
Jan, Kris and Bliss

Day of the Dead and Halloween

Since I've been in Mexico, I've come to appreciate Day of the Dead traditions. It's truly a celebration of life and a time set aside to spend time with loved ones that are gone. I've participated several times. This year I probably won't go to the local cemetary because I don't know anyone there but I'm thinking of setting up a small altar in our courtyard for some people that I miss and think of often. I miss my mother a lot. She would, ofcourse, be horrified if she were alive and I told her what I was going to do. She was a strict Episcopalian and I'm pretty sure she would have thought this practice to be sacrilegious which is defined as:
"when the sacrilegious offence is verbal, it is called blasphemy. "Sacrilege" originates from the Latin sacer, sacred, and legere, to steal, as in Roman times it referred to the plundering of temples and graves. By the time of Cicero, sacrilege had adopted a more expansive meaning, including verbal offences against religion and undignified treatment of sacred objects".
I think this definition is a little harsh and conservative because the practice of celebrating and remembering important people in your life appeals to me in a huge way and it's a positive and happy event. When you go to the cemetary (Pantheon) on Day of the Dead, it is filled with people talking and laughing with their dead friends and relatives. You hear music and people stop by to visit. There are photographs, candy, sometimes beer and tequila,lights and beautiful altars. It's colorful and lots of fun which is as it should be. Many times there are vendors at the entrance to the Pantheon selling candles and religious items as well as food and drink. I went a few years ago with my friend, Elvira, to visit her father and we spent three hours there laughing, crying and talking. I think it helps us deal with the pain especially when it involves a young person or an unnatural death. It's part of the culture here just as it's in the culture to place a cross or monument on a road to mark the place of a traffic fatality.

Since we live in a predominantly American/Canadian town it is really tied in with Halloween. We've heard that we'll have trick or treaters and we have candy for them. It's going to be a big night because there are also two costume parties to go to. My understanding is that Halloween is the day to remember the children and the next day is to honor adults. For me, my little altar will be a stage for reflection and a time for me to spend some time thinking and talking to my mother and some other important people that are gone. I hope to make it a personal tradition from now on. I am looking forward to it. I'm thinking my mother will forgive me for any blasphemy committed.