Sunday Evening

As the sunshine retreats from our little village, a subtle sequence of events unfolds. The Great Frigate birds who dominate the skyways from early morning are alone and scattered. Common vultures cease their circling and select palm trees to house their awkward hulks. Snowy Egrets, who devote their day to strutting on the beaches or wading in the river, amass to roost up river. For the ensuing hour, the playa will be populated by fishermen, their sons, and their son’s sons spinning and casting hand lines into the surf. It is the essence of tranquility.

The jungle abounds with vibrancy. It also is home to death and recycling. We humans likewise live vibrant lives and then we die. That’s a fact. Our village experienced two deaths this week, one man and one woman. Both were natives whose years had accumulated into the four score range. As is the local ritual, once the embalmed body is returned from Puerto Vallarta, family and friends execute a twenty-four hour vigil to afford protection from bad spirits to the departed. The following morning the coffin is carried from the home by four men up the hill to the town cemetery. The balance of the day is spent in celebration of the deceased’s life.

The whale collisions continue to render our taxi drivers just a tad anxious. Two more incidences occurred; one at night which resulted in the loss of a motor and people spending time in the water. No explanation has surfaced for this behavior. Instead, there appears to be a quiet acceptance that this dilemma simply presents itself to those who ply the sea. There definitely is a heightened incidence of individuals making the sign of the cross as well as wearing of life vests on all water taxis. I guess it doesn’t hurt to cover both religious and secular basis.

On the elementary school fund raiser front; a stove, refrigerator and three new mattresses were delivered. A bid was obtained for the electrical work and the dangling five pound coconuts were plucked from their precarious perches. A donation jar was placed at one of our local markets. Today is the last day for matching the $10,000 challenge pledge offered by an anonymous visitor. Thank You for what you brought to our community.           

Lastly, there was a full blown town clean-up launched today. In observation of which, I descended upon the Playita and scoured the entire beach from in front of my “office” to all the way past the Yacht Club.

Clouds rest upon the ridges which surround our village. The glow of newly kindled lamps stretches across the bay silhouetting visitors returning from their evening repast. Juanito-the son; Pedro-the father and Don Juan the grand-father approach their abode, clean their catch and deliver it up for cooking. This trio will retrace their steps in the morning to welcome the first rays of the sun and whatever catch the bay might surrender.  We are a pueblo at rest. Buenas noches!

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