Morning Thoughts---Happy Halloween

This morning the cohetes (fireworks) started going off at five in the morning. When they go off, my neighbor's big dog freaks out and throws herself against a set of heavy wooden doors. It sounds like someone is trying to break into my place. Then all the neighborhood dogs start barking. This same dog has puppies and they start crying early. They cry on and off all day. It seems like hours at a time. Probably only twenty minutes.  I have a hard time ignoring crying puppies so time stretches out. I don't know how the Mexicans can ignore their desperate cries. And I was worried about Chico barking up a storm and getting us kicked out. He rarely barks. He can't see the street so he just sits quietly on the bed, happy. Maybe all that barking tired him out. Too much responsibility, guarding such a huge two story home. Now he can just relax. 

Also, the neighbor starts her washing machine often at five a.m. or eleven at night. It sounds like it is in my yard. But I have friends living in mansions and they too have problems with noise. If I start getting irritated, I put in my ear plugs and say a prayer of thanks that everything else here is perfect for me and my rent is only a hundred and fifty dollars a month. That makes up for all the noise. 

I hope some children come by for trick or treating this evening. I am ready with some candy and my camera. I know there are lots of children living in this neighborhood.  There are more small houses here than where I used to live. It is much poorer. But people are always out on the street and they seem happy. Everyone always says hello. Even the tough looking young men who hang out at night on the street corner smoking pot. 

My friend Virginia is moving here today and she will pass out the candy while I take the pictures. The altars will be up on the first and second in Chapala. I will go on the second and on the third I take the bus to San Blas.  I hope it won't be as rainy over there. Virginia and her daughter Allie will be staying here while I am gone, and most likely it won't be over one week. The jejenes usually drive me back home in a week. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!