February 6, 2008
Home again, and more snows and cold temperatures established winter’s fierce continuation at Sanctuary. Only the sun is speaking of Spring’s nearing, because the warmth emanating from there has great authority and promise.
The dash to Mexico was a wonderful experience from start to finish. As we got into the taxi to return to the airport, the driver opened the trunk of the car and took out an old broomstick cut to size which he placed under the door to hold it open while he loaded our bags. “Mexican technology” he said with a smile, and we smiled, too. We were at the back side of the condo and we came to the cobblestone street through a tiled garden with a fountain in the middle. Bouganvelia hung from the balconies, and I felt as though we were in a Travel and Leisure magazine advertisement as we passed by. In the days before, we’d had our breakfast coffee on the balcony overlooking the bay, eaten splendid meals, walked on the packed sands right next to the ocean for our morning strolls, and gone on an adventure day trip so Linda could snorkel and both of us could whale watch and see dolphins and sea birds.
Our day trip started early Wednesday when we took a taxi down the hill to the Marina where two huge cruise ships were tethered; the smaller vessels came and went between them. The tour boat was a catamaran holding about 60 people, and after uploading all of us, we commenced on our journey. The destination was a small grouping of islands that was a protected bird sanctuary, and it would take almost two hours to get there. The unfortunate aspect of the trip was a preconceived notion of “fun” which the leader of the tour translated by playing endless music very loudly over speakers. He would stride to the front, grasping a hand mike, give a sweeping signal to another of the crew to shut off the music, and then he would commence. He started with “Good Morning!” (not unlike some preachers after the prelude and before the worship is to begin.) As usual, the first response was too feeble to placate, and on this morning and on this boat, he kept at it until people were screaming and whistling. Linda and I ended up hanging over the front of the boat, where the slap of the waves and the ocean spray protected us a bit from the on board activities. We saw at least a dozen hump-backed whales, both nearby and off to the sides. The most memorable sight was a row of dolphins leaping and diving through the ship’s wake. . . they were lined up side by side, and truly looked like a fantastic chorus line. So the day went – a mixed package of wonders to behold and a manic push for “FUN!” The beautiful sight of sea and creatures I will always remember, and the other I will forget soon and in the future, seek to avoid at all costs.
When I made the decision to make this trip, I understood the possibilities for illness while in Mexico, or from flying on the airplanes. Happily, I remained healthy throughout my stay in P.V., but upon returning to Nebraska, I began a nasty intestinal illness. The white blood count has dropped again, so it may take a bit of time for the body to gather its forces once more. The very early beginning to Lent this year (today is Ash Wednesday) will be the setting for stillness and introspection and hopeful healing. Here at Sanctuary, it will be a season that starts in true winter and concludes with the greening of the willows and grasses in the onset of lovely spring.