I got this message today from dear friends who live near the tributaries of the Cape Fear River in North Carolina. The important note is that they are safe, and that they could employ Mexican immigrants (we don’t ask if they have papers) to help them dig out.
THANK YOU, to the Mexicans who travel here in search of jobs, we appreciate your work ethic and desire to pitch in, to send money home to your families, and we honor and respect you.
Here’s part of the message:
“Most folks who know us are aware that our 12 acre property was under water during Hurricane Fran 20 years ago, the day we were to move into our new home. There has been occasional minor flooding since then. Although we have carried flood insurance, we have never had to use it until now. This time was a little different with the creek behind our property overflowing upstream and coming across the front yard, in addition to the back 3 acres flooding over the lower banks. The house, which is slightly higher than the ground, quickly ended up as an island amidst rushing water on all sides. Two neighbors who came down to offer help were also stranded in the house with us when we finally called 911. The 4 of us and our 2 goats were evacuated via a Swift Water Rescue motor boat.
It must have been quite a sight! Unfortunately our youngest goat drowned earlier. That tragedy has been the worst part of all. The 12 chickens spent the night in our upstairs bathroom and the dog and 2 cats stayed together in the upstairs bonus room. The 2 horses were on high ground and entertained by all the excitement and extra loving. Our neighbor is the anchor for the nightly news so once again the farm was featured!
Fortunately water did not come directly into the house. Yesterday there was 2 ft. of standing water in the crawl space beneath the house, about 2 inches from the sub-flooring. After pumping 24 hrs. we still have about water so are unable to assess the full damage to the flooring. We do know that we lost ducts, installation, all of our HVAC units and a hot water heater. The yard and pastures were littered with debris. 2 freezers we used for animal feed storage floated away as well as the chicken coops and tack shed inventory. Minor water is in the vehicles.
God mysteriously touches us when we least expect it. We located 8 Hispanic migrant workers who were out of work due to the loss of the tobacco crop. Greeting us with grateful and smiling faces, they worked all day yesterday and today to rebuild fences and shelters for our animals.
It is a beautiful Fall day and hard to believe that so much has happened here.”
I’m so happy my friends are safe. That they have help. And, that I am here to vote against the wall.
From Oaxaca, Mexico: Feliz Fiestas y Navidad, Merry Holidays, Chag Sameach
Wishing you all the blessings of peace, contentment, safety and good health at this joyous time of year when we think of renewal, looking beyond the Winter Solstice as the earth turns, the days grow longer and all is well in the land.
Feliz Fiestas from Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca. Poinsettias. Mexico’s gift to the world.
We are dormant now. Slower. More thoughtful, perhaps. In ancient cultures our attention might turn to the spring planting. May our seeds of new life bring forth all the richness of life that we each deserve.
Christmas in Mexico Photo Gallery: Mexico Travel Photography
Barbara and David Garcia’s magnificent Christmas Tree, Chula Vista, California
For all my Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Muslim, Parsi, Buddhist, Bahai, agnostic, atheist friends around the world, and those whose religions I do not know, it is my fervent hope that 2017 becomes the year of reconciliation, cross-cultural acceptance and understanding. We have the opportunity to act locally to make change and bring us together.
Whew, I’m finally home in Oaxaca!
Honoring the altar/manger, Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca Christmas
After a long night of delayed flights due to weather in Tijuana, a bumpy ride, followed by a five-hour nap, and a late night of traditional Christmas Eve celebration with my beloved Chavez Santiago family in Teotitlan eating stuffed turkey laden with plenty of tryptophan, I am awake to a new day. Almost normal.
The last posada, Christmas Eve, Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca
I’m drinking a great cup of strong Oaxaca coffee. The sun is up and it’s going to be a glorious day.
Celebrating Mohammed’s birthday with Salim Wazir and family, Bhuj, Gujarat, India
This year, Christmas and Hanukkah converge once more. Feliz Navidad. Chag Sameach. Two weeks ago, in Bhuj, Gujarat, India, I celebrated Eid and Mohammed’s Birthday with Salim Wazir and his family. We sat on the floor around a feast covered tablecloth and ate together. My Muslim friends wore white, a symbol of purity.
Boundary line, border crossing, USA and Mexico. #No wall!
My son Jacob and I crossed over the bridge linking the USA to the Tijuana, Mexico, airport. I met a 16-year old returning to Oaxaca who hasn’t seen his mother and sisters in four years.
I said to him, I bet you have a story to tell.
Yes, he nodded.
I could only imagine.
May love and an open heart prevail as we move into 2017.
I saw a mix of people carrying USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua passports going home for Christmas to visit family. I am reminded how connection is so important in our lives. How the Berlin wall fell. That walls cannot break us.
Sparklers light the way for La Ultima Posada, the last posada, on Christmas Eve
In Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca, this morning I awakened to cojetes — firecrackers — and the sound of music. Christmas music. Tunes we are familiar with — Silent Night, White Christmas, Joy to the World and Feliz Navidad — sung in Spanish, blared out over a loud-speaker from somewhere in the village. Tunes whose origins are German, American, Latin, religious and secular, some composed by a Jewish immigrant Irving Berlin.
Bedecked for the holidays on the Zocalo, Oaxaca, Mexico
In the past thirteen years since I first started coming here regularly, it seems that USA popular culture has infiltrated our local villages more and more. Blinking holiday lights, reindeer on rooftops and x-Box games on big screen TVs are more prevalent than ever.
Oaxaca’s radish festival. Even Porfirio Diaz got kicked out.
Change happens. It is neither good or evil. It is to be discussed, explored, researched and understood. Whatever the next Man in D.C. tries to do, I defy him to build a wall that separates families. He is not my president.
Another babe in arms. Zocalo, Oaxaca, Mexico
This is what dads do in Mexico. They kiss and hold their babies. They don’t want to be separated.
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Posted in Cultural Commentary, Oaxaca Mexico art and culture, Photography, Teotitlan del Valle, Travel & Tourism
Tagged #nowall, #teotitlandelvalle, Christmas, immigration, Mexico, Oaxaca, politics, popular culture, posada, procession, Teotitlan del Valle, the wall