A Comic Book It is What It is View of Baja

This is long and a sharing of some personal thoughts. There are no universal truths, no astounding insights, nor pretense that others agree, or need to understand, or need to agree, just a very long personal clarification of the latest chapter in our lives. So read at your own risk. OK, it is a cloudy lazy morning, and I feel like writing.

An apology is due for my fit of anger that left, as Grover well pointed out, an orphan thread, and I did not even take the time to give it an appropriate name. Not as an excuse, but as a reality, I had just received devastating about a very good friend, the type of illness news that produces flashes of anger before acceptance. I took my anger out on the first thing available, and struck out against an anonymous name on the board; a name behind which a person hides, a person I would not care to know.

Yes, I said I was leaving, but then at the end, I said I spoke too soon---even after some agreed that I should go. I have not yet joined Forum Anonymous. I will, however be far more selective as to which threads I read. So, instead, I found some things to think about in the criticisms; things that speak to our views about living in Baja, and about our perceptions of Mexican culture, as it exists in this part of Baja.

I say perceptions of Mexican culture, because IMHO, no one really ever FULLY understands a culture unless they were born and raised in the culture. One can become fluent in the language, marry, and live for many years in a foreign culture and still not fully understand all the nuances. When fluent in a language, one can accurately translate what is written, but miss what is behind the words; meaning that will be understood by members of the culture. While we may never fully understand, we enjoy the formal and informal study of other cultures. Even living in Calexico was a study of another culture, border culture, one that is neither American nor Mexican, but a unique combination. We also know that while we make friends, we will always be the outsiders; it is like that in small towns everywhere.

It Is What It Is, that statement that some said was irresponsible and perhaps left a perception of being a Pollyanna, is really a statement of survival and acceptance of things over which we have no control. Local occurrences and or cultural ways that we at times find difficult to accept, or at least accept with a smile,

Person is coming to the house at 2 p.m. and after we have sat around waiting for four hours, we are apt to be irritated and feel it is controlling our lives. No, if they are late, and we want to leave and do other things, we do so. If they need us, they will find either in town, or later and no one is upset. The different concept of time Is What It Is, and instead of controlling us, we have learned to live within its bounds.

Work on a project was to be completed in two weeks, and for so ever many reasons, it is not. It Is What It Is, and blowing a gasket is not going to change things. Not that we don’t push, now and again, but if there is no cement in town, there is no cement.

We have a lot of laundry to do and want to wash the truck---opps, the water is off again. It Is What It Is and may be off for many days, so things wait.

We check all of the stores in town and can only find jalapenos that are more wrinkled than my skin, bunches of celery that droop in the shape of a U, and lettuce that slips out of your hand, well, It is What It Is. When the produce truck arrives, like everyone else in town, we will keep checking as to when they have unloaded and processed the bounty and then gorge on rabbit food.

When we turn on the water heater, the lights dim, and our hot and cold water for our kitchen comes from our guesthouse. It Is What It Is, and we are not going to rewire or change the plumbing. Besides when the lights go up we know the water is hot, and when the city water goes out, out kitchen is using water from a different tinaco than is our bathroom and laundry room.

So, is , It Is What It Is, irresponsible? In our opinion, no, it is just our survival phrase: it can bring smiles at times we might waste on being angry.

So now, the Comic Book View. We do not like paying mordida, we know there is corruption, we know the drug cartels are destroying so much including many innocent lives, we don’t travel on Highway 2000 because we respect Ferna’s knowledge, we stop to help people on the dirt roads here, but as cautioned by our local villagers, we are far more careful as to when we stop on the paved road to Vizcaino, and on and on. I read the important “Bad News Threads”and try to ignore the “Let’s Seek Something Else Negative About Mexico Threads.

But, we prefer to focus on that Comic Book View---think I like that name. It brings back pleasant memories and a vision of color, fun, friends, and a good place to be. So we enjoy the skateboarding policeman, and the other police men and women whose pictures were added to that thread. We will die from the heat in Vizcaino so we can share the warmth, happiness, disappointment, and friendship from the local bike club.

We will smile when we are headed out with a lobster fisherman and the navy is going out to patrol---well, actually, they were going out fishing for dinner. We will take great pleasure in watching our furry pups enjoying their freedom on miles of deserted beaches, and in watching young children learning to surf in front of our house. While frustrating and exhausting, we will continue to enjoy a meal at a friend’s home as we struggle to communicate with their little bit of English, or little bit of Spanish, lots of hand language, at times drawings, and my translator. And all the other good things on the Good Things about Baja Thread.

The Comic Book View is not a negative thing nor a denial of reality, IMHO. It is looking for and enjoying the good, enjoying all the reasons we are here. So maybe we will adopt new names in honor of one of my old favorite comic books. John is blond with a red beard, so he can be Archie. Now, I never liked Betty because I was not blond. So Archie, in my story, finally left Betty and took up with Veronica, the brunette---well I used to be a brunette. (Hope I remember the names correctly, it has been so many years)

So to end this Comic Book View, here are a few pictures of last years fiesta as this years is coming soon and should even be better with the new stadium. I apologize as some have been posted before, and I know that pictures can become shopworn, but to me, these so represent the colorful Comic Book View, the spirit, life and much of what is right about at least this slice of Baja.

















And no, life in Bahia Asuncion is not just one big fiesta, it is a place of hard working people, happiness with celebrations, sorrow with too many premature deaths, economic struggles, family and political feuds, but Comic Books are not always happy in nature.

Diane

If you are anywhere near the area in the middle of August, I highly recommend the Fiesta at Bahia Asuncion

[Edited on 7-18-2008 by jdtrotter]

thanks you for sharing your thoughts with us Archie & Veronica...I tell ya...unless my niño was in that bike race in Vizcaino...aint no way in hates I'd suffer that heat to go just for the smiles...you are brave and dedicated souls and I salute you...I think Kevin kinda fits the Jughead character in your comic book...hey maybe we can do an Asuncion
comic strip...love the idea! Here is a photo I'd like to add just for comic relief...everyones favorite beach dog...ready for a fish taco at the Palapa restaurant which by the way has no menu!

Quote:

Originally posted by BMG

Now if I only looked like Veronica! Boy, her image has been updated .

Diane

Good read, good photos

It was needed. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your writings. Some day Mike and I hope to visit you and Shari in Asuncion, Maybe sometime in Oct. k

Quote:

Originally posted by Keri It was needed. Thanks for sharing. I always enjoy your writings. Some day Mike and I hope to visit you and Shari in Asuncion, Maybe sometime in Oct. k

Dianne,I so love the third photo of the proud Papa and I assume the Hija behind him!Beautiful and powerful.Thanks for your" It is What It Is."Keep writing, you have a wonderful talent!

[Edited on 7-18-2008 by Sallysouth]

Loved the post.

you struck several chords

with me. first, especially as you present it, i now hear "it is what it is" as an excellent translation of "ni modo," my favorite mantra, now that we've lived here in ensenada full-time over four years.

your examples of appointments repeatedly broken are familiar to us, and the only real mystery remaining for me is why the h311 i cannot seem to learn that It Is What It Is. ni modo. as we speak, we are finishing a major remodel and looking back, i am very glad we have survived as well as we did, given all the santo luneses and the repeated postponements of tasks or products promised...you know the whole story. you've been, no er, you ARE there. it is wonderful training in patience, for me. and maybe the greatest lesson for me to learn.

ni modo. it is what it is.

thank you for sharing. puts a smile on my face as i look forward to monday to find what the carpenter will say when i call him in the afternoon to ask why he did not come as promised, first thing in the morning on monday.

finally, all the lovely sights and experiences you point out resonate with what we continually experience.

seeing groups of kids hanging out together and playing, aged from 2-18. amazing. the older take care of the younger and they all have a great time.

hearing the claxons on water trucks and now easily differentiating them from those on the gas trucks.

smelling...tasting...feeling all the sensory delights that we never experienced when we lived en el otro lado.

moving to mexico has been the best, smartest, and healthiest thing we have ever done and we count our lucky stars on a regular basis for our wisdom (ok, ok, unbelievably good luck) in having grabbed the opportunity to live our retirement dream.

thanks again for your words and photos ...

Yeah !!
Diane and her pictures are back !!

Veronica

I've started coming to grips with every quote in price and time frame being appended with "mas o menos" and how it always ends up being "mas" and never "menos".

omigoodness Diane - I am away for a couple of weeks and when I return you've left.... and returned. Count me among those who are glad you 'n your photos are back.

Prayers for your friend and all those who love him.

Nena

Quote:

Originally posted by grover Quote: Originally posted by fishbuck I see you finally found the right avatar.

Really appreciate all the nice comments, and the great input---sharing other similar sayings, stories, etc. I enjoyed reading all of them and always enjoy the Spanish lessons.


Fishbuck, you are over the top, but at least we know who you are.

Thanks again
Diane