CONNECTIONS

Conexiones. A circle of friends. A group of persons who are connected. Before. During. After. The Move. It all started over two years ago when we looked into going to Portugal. Nope. Too expensive. Ben knew Danny Cameron from Chapel Hill had moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. Connection #1. We visited “SMA” in January 2017. We were smitten. Mexico. Dust on my heart. Go figure.

Back home a switch flipped. Time to retire. Time to move. Mexico. Climate. Lower cost of living. Culturally rich. The people. Time to look at textiles of Mexico. Find a tour guide. There it was. Oaxaca Cultural Navigator – oaxacaculture.com – Norma Schafer. With a home in Durham as well as Oaxaca. Connection #2. Norma invites us to dine with friends who spend several weeks in Ajijic each year. Debbie & Steve. Connection #3. It goes on and on. That’s life, right?

Two weeks ago Norma came to visit us in Ajijic for a few days. It was fun showing her our town & the textile venues there. Nothing as rich in design & craftmanship as she is used to but it provides, in my mind, a connection between us. We wandered the village, went to the thermal springs, shopped the markets, cooked, ate, laughed, met up with old and new friends…Debbie & Steve. Mariann. Lovely. So lovely to have this woman I greatly admire & respect in my home, my village. Thank you, Norma. See you in November.

After Norma left there was an annual Chili Cook Off in Tobolandia (no idea), the local water park. I’d heard there’d be craftspeople from Oaxaca there so I decided to go meet them. Norma would probably know them. Found them in a back corner. Two lovely young women – Sara & Nadi – selling handwoven bedspreads and tablecloths as well as hand/machine made aprons. (OaxacaBedspreads.com) I showed them Norma’s picture after a brief introduction. They smiled. They recognized her. I bought an apron (mandil). It made my day. Connections.

Off to North Carolina. Time to meet our granddaughter Hazie in Charlotte. So excited even though our time will be limited due to the newness and stress of their situation, which became clear on our arrival. But first, let’s make connections. This time I’m talking flight connections – the meeting of planes or trains for the transfer of passengers. Atlanta. 2 hour layover. I look up and there is Helen, daughter of my good friend Shelton in Boone. I haven’t seen her in years! She’s connecting from LA where she works and lives with her boyfriend Joshua, a flight attendant for Delta. Love seeing this beautiful young woman I’ve known since birth. Still has that lovely smile and soothing voice. We take the same flight and end up in baggage claim at Charlotte-Douglas airport (aeropuerto) where her mom, my friend Shelton, is waiting. Hugs. Smiles. Connections to my past.

Five minutes after arriving at my son’s house he places little Hazie in my arms. I can’t describe how I felt. I’ve never felt it before. She has so many people who love her already. She is and will be surrounded with family and friends all her life, I’m sure. But to me she is the one and only. Blood of my blood. I hope that someday it will be OK that I live in Mexico. I’d love to help her learn Spanish. Tell her why Mexico is important to her Abuela. Only time will tell. Her parents are smart and strong and dedicated. And smitten. She will have a good life.

Norma has loaned us her condo in Durham. It is a beautiful place in the Warehouse District. Walking distance to town. We’ve spent a little time with our friends Onja and Bill who visited us in December. We’ve gone to a couple of restaurants – my favorite being the old, funky COSMIC CANTINA. Never knew about it when I lived here. Crazy. We’ve checked on Ben’s property & taken care of business. We’ve visited friends. We thought we’d have time to twiddle our thumbs. But we don’t. Next Friday will be here before we know it and we’ll be headed back to Mexico. It’ll be tough leaving Hazie & her parents behind. They aren’t happy that we’re so far away. How do you explain that you also have your own life to live after being tied to a career for over 30 years. The timing stinks. I love them anyway. I hope they’ll understand some day. We are, after all, connected.