Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Sitting Here in Limbo

The view from this other world away is - breathtaking. The Pacific ocean spans out across the bedroom windows and there are no neighbor's houses blocking the view. I feel so privileged to be here. Anywhere else I would have to be very rich to have this view in this beautiful home that we are living in for a week. I think, maybe some day we will stay here in Mexico- my honey and I, and possibly our families, as exiles. That is, if we are lucky enough to weather the storm of the Bush dynasty on our home back in the US. The weather here is a bit brutal, but it is livable most of the year. I am trying not to look at my 401K, which has been ravaged by the banking industry and Wall street and Bush's war. He thinks the 'conomy is just fine. I keep hearing on the financial news - don't worry - everything will be alright and whatever you do, don't take your money out of the bank. Hmm where have I heard that before? I really don't want to be involved in this whole debacle, I'd just like to stay here in this world of no yesterday and no tomorrow. There is one major drawback, (as if there can be in Limbo). My girlfriend, who lived here for many years, who told me to come visit her here, was fairly recently robbed viciously beaten and left for dead in her little casita, where she lived alone. I did not know this until we were all booked for this trip. She finally answered my emails and told me this. I drive by her house daily on my way to town and each time I feel a chill and I get depressed thinking of her suffering. It makes me sad and fearful and I wish she could be here. (She has since moved back to California). I am searching my soul right now as to how I can still live here. But God, it is beautiful!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What sad, terrible news. Of course, my first thought is that the people who savagely beat your friend regarded her as a privileged American who had taken advantage of their country's exclusive beautiful spaces, living in a gated community which they are barred from. Perhaps it is 'payback' for the ill treatment of undocumented Mexicans crossing the boarder.

In the fall of 1964, if you remember, our family traveled by caravan (3 cars) to Mexico. Along the way, we were warned of the 'banditos." told not to travel after dark. The driver of each vehicle kept a loaded shotgun under the front seat for protection. As we stopped for food, gas and lodging along the way - the town's poor would gather around begging for food and money.

We traveled to Matzalan, one of coastal beach towns (near Alcapulco).
Despite the beauty of the area, I couldn't get over the staggering poverty in areas just outside of these wealthy, tourist resorts. I felt great anguish and emotional pain observing the very young and old women running up to our car, peering in and begging.

While staying in a beach motel in Matzalan, I befriended a local boy who invited me to stroll along the beach. Naive and trusting, I walked along the beach after night fall and soon had the local authorities searching the beach with flashlights and frantically calling out into the darkness to find us. Young girls were never allowed to be out at night without a chaperone. It was a culture we didn't fully understand or connect with. I think I literally kissed the ground when we returned home to North Carolina.

Since then, I've had a real aversion to living the 'good life' in a poor country- with the disenfranchised, poverty stricken, locals on the outside looking in.

My son Cary just returned from a year abroad in China. He spent his Junior year in Beijing and also traveled throughout the country. The cities are new, modern and economically improving. A middle class is slowly emerging..
Still, the life for most Chinese citizens outside these mega cities is primitive and the poverty is prevalent. My husband, who traveled last year to Beijing was enthralled: "Hey, let's take our meager Social Security and go live in China where we could live like kings!"

My thought: We might be able to live very inexpensively, with the possibility of spacious living quarters, cheap food, clothing and local 'help' to assist with our mundane chores (servants). But when I really contemplate the reality of making such a move, taking economic advantage of the current situation - I cringe.
I envision living the good life while millions around me are struggling for basic necessities. It would be hard for me to justify - presents a moral and ethical dilemma.

The 'good life' at what price? I feel we all need to band together and figure out ways to make the world a better place for all of us. How to accomplish? Wish I knew. Al Gore has some great ideas to start with.

Anonymous said...

opps,
I'm still learning how to post. The last post was not edited or signed off correctly.
It was submitted by PWH.NY