22.9.09

Figuring out life

Not much is new in the city of the eternal rain...
Well, everything is still really green which is very rare for this time of year. It is a treat to look out the roof top "garden" and witness the sea of green traveling towards the cloud forest. Still no fog, though, we hope that it will come later on in the year when the temperature drops a little.
A few new people have e-mailed me about the possibility of moving to Xalapa. I try to respond to their doubts as thoroughly as I possibly can, but I also realize how little I have been able to travel in the city this past few months. I did not remember how involved it was to take care of a baby and, oh, is it coming back to me now! I don't complain, though, he is my Sun, my North and my South, somedays my whole reason to go on. The other boys have grown so much and become so independent that I rarely spend much time with them anymore... yeah, they grow fast!
Back to life in the midst of the rain... people have written before about their doubts on the humidity levels on their arthritis. Well, I can say there is no correct answer anymore, there is no way of knowing if winter will be dry anymore or as wet as it has been this month! Usually, winter is the dry season... but fall is not drying out yet! Now, it is looking as the umbrella will be a constant in our everyday bag from now on. I do have to add that I look forward to the fog if this rain heralds it for the colder months!

11.9.09

A quick one

It's been about three weeks of classes and it's been about three weeks of non stop rain! Don't get me wrong, rain is wonderful, it keep all nature green, lush... but this is not normal Xalapa rain. Thanks to global warming, there is no more chipi-chipi... it is now an unseasonal downpour that drenches everyone and disrupts the normal course of life.
In years past, here in Xalapa, people went on with life rain or not rain. Rain was a very thin, constant drizzle that lets people do about everything... just a little bit moister. The last few weeks have had rains that hinder even the normal task of walking anywhere, and Xalapa is a walking city!
The City government decided to finally pave the street where school sits (24 years after the neighbors asked them to). Of course, they had to wait until classes resumed to start the digging, leveling, etc. Well, the plan was not too bad since September is the end of the rainy season, WAS. So, no parking even close to the school, mud pits everywhere and torrential downpours right at drop off and pick up... it has been trying for most kids and parents! But then again, when you look at it from another perspective: after 24 years of waiting, a few months of more mud cannot be too bad!