…as the sun sinks slowly in the west…

 

…we had a fun party here last night on the deck of Casa Engelbrecht, overlooking the city. Wonderful children’s writer Esme Raji Codell (who read our blog and wrote me because she was on her way to SMA) came over with her lovely family, husband Jim and son Russell. So Esme and I had to travel to San Miguel to meet, years after I read Educating Esme, then Sahara Special and its sequel. And that’s because of the SCBWI List Serve. [That’s: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators J] So thanks for writing, Esme, just great to meet you. I’m sure we’ll remain friends.

 

And Suzanne, our new friend from San Francisco, who we met at the Doc Severinsen gig, came, but left the kids at home, and Robert remained at another party to get wasted on homemade tequila. I saw them both this morning at the pool. Robert was suffering suitably for his inattendance at our party. He came by to say goodbye to Morgan and Jim, just a little late for the party. Robert and Suzanne are keepers, for sure.

 

I made of vat of spaghetti, Jim (Lewis) grilled chorizo which Morgan and I bought downtown, and we had a big fresh salad, all veggies having been thoroughly washed with argentum and cloro drops–a must if you want to avoid turista which was once called Montezuma’s Revenge in the era when my aunt, Tante, traveled to Mexico—in the 60’s, I think.

 

For the most part we’ve eaten at home as we have Jim’s and our combined kitchens…and, we’re frequently disappointed in the restaurant food. Though, we’ve had a couple good meals out.

 

After a little brunch at the Biblioteca, where Morgan donated his CDs and I, my book Blossom Tales, Morgan, Jim, and I went down the mercado, where  Morgan and I did the rest of our gift buying. We ran into Natalia, who gave me the gardenias the first week we were here. It’s the third time we’ve run into her and she showed Morgan and Jim her lovely casita behind the market, while I finished choosing silver from Tasco for my sister and niece.

 

We’ve had a great time, Morgan and I, together. And we’ve had a wonderful time with Jim. And our new friends. Tonight, we’ll eat leftovers, then I’ll meet Suzanne down at Mama Mia’s for a final goodbye. And look at the Parrochia all lit up and looking like Disneyland. Robert is already on his way home to San Fran to work, but Suzanne’ll stay the month with her kids. She asked me to stay on, but I’m ready to go home. We miss our friends and we miss Jazzabelle. Bad. Morgan and I have never both been gone for a month. Will Jazz remember us? Will our friends?