BajaNomad

Staying Focused on Mex 1

Osprey - 11-1-2007 at 12:24 PM

Staying Focused on Mex 1



As my wife and I got in the car, began the two hour, 70 mile drive to Cabo San Lucas I was not totally focused on road safety. I was thinking about my dogs. Specifically about the male, a Golden Lab mix named Tino; he developed a hot spot that wouldn’t heal and Lynda took him to the clinic in Los Barriles for some professional help. He needed a couple of stitches, they knocked him out for that and suggested they could clean his teeth while he was under. Lynda left with advice to give both dogs bones for healthier gums and teeth.

Our trip to San Lucas was to meet a cruiseship passenger penpal for the first time. When we made the appointment, 60 days ago, I took no notice that the ship’s day in port, October 31, was Halloween (here, The Day of The Dead). I was concerned about getting back to the house from Cabo before dark:

A. Not a real good idea to drive Mex. 1 after dark.
B. We didn’t want to leave the dogs locked up in the house all day, they were loose in the yard. The little Mexican Halloweeners might stick their little hands through the gate. Upside for the dogs would be cleaner teeth – The Day of Dead might take on a brand new meaning -- I didn’t want to dwell on that grisly scene because I had to keep focused on the driving.

Busy as I was with watching the speed limit, staying a safe distance from the big trucks careening into my lane, dodging herds of cows the color of dirt, gamboling gangs of spooky goats, I still had the presence of mind to enjoy a new crime novel audio book on my MP3 (played with a gadget through the car speakers) about murder in San Antonio, Texas.

At one point my heart was racing with the fastpaced drama of the book while I was forced to dodge, weave, speed and slow to the cones and flags of construction works along the corridor which had been laid out by a sadistic madman of a road engineer.

On balance I ate, drank nothing, left my cell phone in the glove box and my Blackberry was still on the kitchen table. I refused to allow myself to be otherwise distracted from safe driving by petty annoyances. I left the house with a cushion of time allowed for traffic foulups, roadwork and or accidents. As we passed Costco I turned off the book, even put on my seat belt.

We couldn’t/didn’t find my faceless penpal; just missed them somehow. Had a nice lunch at Zippers in San Jose and hit the road again for a safe trip home long before dark and the arrival of the little witches and warlocks. Lynda handed out candy until the huge bag was almost empty – the kids were great, the costumes ranged from movie set clever to paper bags with holes cut for the eyes.

The dogs stayed locked in the house until the last Munchkin was gone. I let them out and gave each one a bone.

dccf - 11-1-2007 at 07:41 PM

Great ending to a real iffy day. Glad it worked out for you.

docsmom - 11-1-2007 at 10:18 PM

Osprey,
Thanks for filling up my trick or treat bag! Good story. Glad the doggies got a bone! My halloweens in Baja have been in Cabo and Rosarito. Always great experiences. How many ghosts and goblins did you have at your house?

Bruce R Leech - 11-1-2007 at 11:06 PM

another good story, thanks

day of the dead is Nov 2nd and the 1st for children

Osprey - 11-2-2007 at 06:52 AM

This is a small village so I was surprised there were so many kids. I would guess about 60 or 80. Most climb out of cars or pickups (a good idea for supervision). Bruce, I'm no good with dates. Maybe that cruise ship comes in tomorrow. The next day?
One gringo neighbor left small bags of treats with a sign that said "take just one bag" so they wouldn't be bothered by the Holloweenies but learned the next day that some big kid (probably an adult), took all the loot, fled on foot. A good deed without the spirit usually ends like that.

David K - 11-2-2007 at 07:30 AM

Thanks Osprey...!:bounce:

vandenberg - 11-2-2007 at 08:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Osprey

One gringo neighbor left small bags of treats with a sign that said "take just one bag" so they wouldn't be bothered by the Holloweenies but learned the next day that some big kid (probably an adult), took all the loot, fled on foot.


Now you have me wondering were all those little bags of candy on the kitchen counter came from.:?::?::?: