Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Morning Thoughts

Today is Market day but instead of taking Chico for a walk so he can sniff all his friends, I have to go to Chapala to the mortuary. I will be glad when this day is over. Why am I going to the mortuary? I recently learned some very unpleasant things about dying in Mexico. I don't know about the rest of Mexico but if you die in this area they will not cremate you unless before you died you had a form signed by you and notarized and kept at the mortuary saying that you want to be cremated. It costs 500 pesos to have it notarized. And I am also going to have a notarized copy of a health directive so my best friend here will be able to pull the plug if I am kept alive by machines in a hospital. Otherwise, they won't let me go. Just keep me alive with their machines.

I am going to have lunch at the American Legion first. I wonder what their special is today. A thought to keep my mind distracted from the unpleasant afternoon. My appointment is at two this afternoon with the woman who owns the mortuary. I don't have to pay for the cremation in advance. I don't want to do that, just in case I decide to move away and don't die here. The money isn't refundable. Well, I think fifty percent is refundable if you die somewhere else. Anyway, it isn't a kind of day I am looking forward to but one that has to be done. Especially since I almost died a few months ago. It isn't fair to leave things up in the air for my family in the United States. I don't mind having them pay for the expenses, that isn't much. Especially considering how expensive it is to be cremated in the United States. And they will inherit my money, more than enough to pay these expenses. But just having to think about dying and then actually taking steps to make sure things easier for my family, isn't my idea of a fun afternoon. 

So here is a happy photo to make me smile.
 
My mother holding me when I was a baby.  Me, fat and bald and still fat and bald. 

10 comments:

  1. Good for you for doing that, plus you know the kind of reverse logic 'If I take an umbrella it won't rain', could work in this situation too.

    Jane

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    1. Hi Jane, thanks for writing. Good for a chuckle. You are, hopefully, right. P

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  2. Very good information. Although not fun it is great you are able to do this now. I guess cremation is not that common in Mexico

    Cathy

    P.S. I always read but lately I can't seem to comment as I can't always do that click thing of matching the photos.

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    1. Hi Cathy, thanks for writing. Sorry about the comment problem. I don't know how to fix it. My son set this up for me and he is busy in Portland now. I am thinking maybe the Catholic Church has something to do with cremations not being common? P

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  3. Saludos Patricia,
    How perfectly sane is your approach to life's realities. And no wonder, after all your years in Mexico where death is celebrated, embraced, even laughed at! I applaud you and am mentally mailing you a sweet sugar skull and a wide Catrina smile. When did the angel arrive in your garden? When next I am Lakeside I must surely look you up, for I enjoy the raw honesty of your blog and envy your pretty little garden. It's good to make sensible arrangements for yourself, but once done get back to the joys of living. There is always joy to be discovered, even if one must dig a bit deeper for it these days. !Andele!
    Que le vaya bien,
    Fay

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    1. thank you so much for your kind e mail. Actually that angel is in the garden at the American Legion in Chapala. P

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  4. Patricia,
    !Que milagro! I've wanted to respond for ages but thought an email address was required. So touched was I by your "mortuary blog" I was mysteriously moved to give REPLY a try. It works, and there you were: "en vivo".
    I am marooned in N CA, the coastal redwoods, away from Mexico far longer than I am happy to be. Trying to get my little country casita and acreage ready to sell or rent by this time next year. So I can return to Mexico. My heart's home. It's slow going. I've little money and a frightful list of expensive home repairs.
    Lakeside has changed a lot. Do you find it bearable? I first knew the area in the 1970's...I've lived in Patzcuaro, Oaxaca, Quitzeo (a small colonial village outside of Morelia), San Miguel de Allende, and other places too. Have you plans for some beach time this winter? The ocean is always so healing for me.
    Hasta,
    Fay

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    1. I lived in McKinleyville for about ten years. Is that near you? Thank you for writing. I am sitting here now trying to think of some other place to visit for a week or so.yes it has changed a lot since I moved here but I still like it here. I like the hot water pool. I have the animals so it is difficult now for me to travel. I used to go to San Blas but I don't like the heat or the jejenes anymore. P

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  5. Hola otra vez,
    McKinleyville is several hours north of here. I am several miles inland from Mendocino village. What a relief to me that you still enjoy living Lakeside. I've adored every place I've lived in Mexico, but now I am far more determined to be warm. The biggest drawback of Lakeside, for me, is the amount of english spoken. I more enjoy a town where I am daily challenged to speak more and better Spanish. Speaking a second language is a thrill for me. Once, I had a dream in Spanish, which is thought to mean one is fluent. I am far from fluent, but I do pretty well. The trouble can be that my accent is damn good, and belies the fact I do not budge far from present and past tense, with plenty of inside colloquial expressions. Mexicans are often fooled by my accent, which is problematic for me, tho often hilarious.
    As to beach towns, I concur about San Blas. Jejenes suck. Tho farther away, my two favorite spots are Melaque, tho best avoided Christmas thru New Years, and Lo de Marcos, a bit north of PV. Both are completely bug free, cheap and relaxing, with pleasantly cool nites. Even into April both spots are good weather wise, never too hot. Lo de Marcos is being developed a bit now. Used to be only one simple cafe in town and no rooms to rent, only beach camping for tents or small RVs. Melaque has thousands of pelicans which float just yards offshore of swimmers and are delightful to watch from the shade of the palapas along the beach. Every year it gets harder to find a good, cheap beach town. Best bet is avoid height of winter season, then negotiate the rate with skill. This I am good at. Are you? You must be, for you have such a cute little place in Ajijic! It is just the sort of place I like. No reason to rattle around in a big place with extra housework. But like you, I MUST have a little sunny patio.
    Are you still swimming often? One thing I loved about SMA was access to LA Gruta, an inexpensive hot springs cave and swimming pools with outdoor tables and food served. Entrance fee for all day only 50 pesos. La Gruta can be reached from either SMA or Dolores Hidalgo. I like Dolores, not YET discovered by expats, but difficult to find rentals long term.
    Take a few warm laps in the pool soon for me, will you? I could use some warming up. Wet. Chilly here.
    Can you not get away to travel at all because of dog and cat, or other reasons?
    Hasta pues,
    Fay

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    1. HI Fay, Thank you so much for all that information. I am just sitting here thinking about taking a little vacation and wondering where to go. It is difficult for me to get away because of my cat and dog but a friend is coming down to have his dental work done. So I can go for a week or so. I may not go as far as SMA. I have been to that beautiful pool outside of town. I just don't want a long bus ride. I am thinking of closer to home, maybe Aguascalientes. They have hot springs. Have you been there? Thanks for writing. I really appreciate it. P

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