A quiet morning at Ojo de Agua. Max and Misifu on my lap.
The vaqueros preparing to bring vacas from Onapa.

Ay caramba! I still feel like I am in another time zone; distinct in space and time. I sort of started unpacking and doing laundry, then I made believe that I can't finish doing laundry without fabric softener, and I can't go for supplies because who wants to be at Target on Black Friday? So domestic progress is in limbo. I did enjoy a visit from friends though. Anne, Jacob and Adam came for post Thanksgiving turkey sandwiches. We enjoyed a relaxing visit, and I got the chance to try describing our adventures in Tacupeto. Max and Anne played a game of Othello. William, Alex, Jacob and Adam immersed themselves in BIONICLE lore and then chocolate chip cake.

In Tacupeto I felt a long way away from modern living; it was liberating. We had an easy pace and made time for conversation and introspection. We got down to basics. As Geoff so observantly noted: "Tacupeto is about fire and food." Fire and food, nurturing, warmth and companionship. In Tacupeto, there are no souvenirs like Tshirts or postcards, but I hope I have brought home a greater appreciation for informal visits, long hikes to quiet places, watching ants, recalling times of joy, making use of ready resources...I look forward to times when friends drop by and we laugh together, share a meal, and enjoy uncalculated simplicity and genuine warmth. Well, maybe I already enjoy these pleasures, at home, and away, but I am even more grateful to recognize how much I love my life.


Fire and Food.

Vaca-ciones! Kia's vaca, rounded up from Onapa and staying at Ojo de Agua.

We are back from our southern vacation. We had a great time, and I will be writing all about our adventures soon. I am still recovering from our 16 hour drive home. I can't resist posting a few highlights...like riding everywhere in Gilberto's pick-up, and the day we went to Kia's ranch, Onapa. We were at Onapa to see my Dad, Gilbertito, Tavo and Benito ride out in search of the cows and their calves.


Vaqueros en Onapa. Left to right: Gilbertito, Ismael, Tavo, and Benito.

We enjoyed relaxing days and clear, starry nights by the cook fire.

Little road trips...since last weekend's road trip to Pasadena was such a success, we feel daring enough to make another, longer journey. We'll be heading for Mexico this week! This promises to be the sort of adventure worthy of National Geographic Explorers. 16 hours of driving will land us in a faraway land where the cows roam freely, the homes are adobe, and chickens sleep in trees. The Big Blue Whale has been tuned and scrubbed, and I am packing extra memory for the camera. What else? We should probably bring tunes, snacks, water...patience, a dictionary, jumper cables. Geoff and I are both Scout dropouts, but we did catch on to the "be prepared" motto.

We'll be out of touch and off the map for awhile. We will return with new tales to tell, photos to share, and ready for a restful month at home.

I will begin by saying: I will never be able to do justice to all the names, history, relations and chisme. The Tilili reunion is a large family gathering, that includes primos and tios, abuelos and hermanos, hijos and nietos, and the relations are extended and removed and twice removed. One thing that is distinct and endearing about Mexican family relations is the emphasis of proximity. We don't much go for "second cousin, once removed." First cousins are not merely cousins but "primos hermanos," which means cousin-brother; you then know that one of each of our parents are siblings.

Okay. Too much talk. Not enough story.

This year's gathering was much smaller than ones in the past. Especially missed were the most senior members of our clan, my abuelos. They are not as willing to make the 16 hour journey from their home in Sonora. It is a very long trip for them,and this year they stayed home. My grandparents had 8 children, including my Dad, Ismael. My Abuelo had many sisters and brothers, and primos hermanos and some of them and their children and grandchildren were also present. All of this started in Tacupeto, or Cuba, or Eden; depending on how far back you look.

The event was great. There were no disappointments or major mishaps. Just the usual slow, awkward start, and then the fade in to relaxed familiarity, the ease of inhaling platters of delicious food, the torturous bliss of adoring all the new babies. One look in to baby Gabriel Alejandro's eyes could make even a tired woman ovulate. His eyes are deeper black than any I have ever seen and still they shine light and laughter. I think it's his mommy's joy that his eyes are most often reflecting.




"Yo Quiero El Nopalito."

Here is a guest that is no relation at all, but I wish I could call him my own. He came with my Tia Elvira. Are you ready for your Eh-Spanish lesson? His name is Sniffy. Now let's enunciate together: Eh-Sneefy. This is the first dog that doesn't scare Max; they were the best of friends. Actually all the children wanted to be Sniffy's friend. That little dog was probably the most worn out body of the day.

My brother-in-law, Spencer, may have gotten a little worn out as well. He spent quite awhile helping Max learn to ride a bicycle. You have to assume a stooped, yet fast moving posture to steady a 5 year old on a two wheeler. Primo hermano James lent the bicycle, and the lesson went well. At least there were no serious spills. Max is probably ready for a bicycle of his own. That's a nice aspect of family gatherings; we can be together in the common interest of support, and love for each other and our children. We shared our stories and pictures, old tales and new ideas. We shared our cooking, and our lawn chairs, our bicycles and skateboards. We shared our time, and caring. Everyone is growing so fast, that without getting together and noting the changes it is too easy to lose sight of how far we have come. William and Gil, Jordan, Elias E. and Danny; its seems like they were the babies, and toddlers only a little time ago. We have come far, and in good company.