Saturday, March 18, 2017

Morning Thoughts

It is another beautiful sunny morning. When I woke up at seven this morning I heard a band playing down the street. I don't know if they were playing for someone's birthday or for the holiday that is on Monday or just for fun. But it was nice to hear music in the morning. Benito Juarez Day is Monday. I am going out to get a newspaper to see if there will be a parade. I remember last year that there was a parade and I wrote about it. I always enjoy going to the parades. 

I have been thinking of why I got so upset at the man who kicked Chico out of the room with the books for sale at the Lake Chapala Society. (Where I have taken him for nearly ten years with no problems.) I think if the man had been nicer about it, I wouldn't have minded so much but he wasn't. He was very overbearing. I felt like he was expressing the quality that I dislike most about many American men, the businessman's personality. Perfect example is Trump.   Maybe a man has to be like that to be a good businessman. But I came here to get away from that attitude. His disrespectful way of talking to me was enough to turn me away from the entire Lake Chapala Society.

One of the qualities I like most about the Mexicans I have met here is their live and let live attitude. They are not into controlling other people. That is one reason I believe noise doesn't bother them. They have learned to accept it. They accept whatever comes their way.

Maybe someone went into the office at the Lake Chapala Society and complained about dogs in the books for sale room because he or she was allergic to dogs. But dogs are everywhere here in Mexico. They are part of this life. I can just see someone, maybe a recent arrival, wanting to have things their own way. Wanting to change things to suit themselves. And maybe that is why the United States is so rich and powerful and Mexico is behind the times. Control. Controlling the environment, changing it to fit into what they want, not this laid back attitude and acceptance I see in the Mexicans.

I don't know much. All I know is how I feel about the places I go everyday and I no longer feel comfortable going to the Lake Chapala Society. I don't feel welcome. It feels like a place north of the border, not Mexico.  I have no plans to drop by there again or to renew my membership. 

I need to apologize to anyone I have offended with my negative feelings here.  I rarely will write negative things because they always come back to me tenfold. Negativity breeds negativity. And I don't want that. Just as that man being so negative and bossy towards me has upset me for several days now.  I am hurt at being so disrespectfully treated. It is the way people say things that is far more important than what they say.   It would have been just as easy for him to be nice as it was for him to be so negative towards me. 

I must remember that in the future when I relate to strangers. I could easily be the one to upset a stranger and then that stranger could carry that negativity for days and it becomes like the domino effect.   I need to let go of these bad feelings. Maybe writing about them will help me to let them go.  Maybe a parade will be just the answer. Or breakfast out. Or a trip to San Blas and the healing beaches there. Or maybe I have just lived here too long and seen too many changes.  Too many new rules......  

15 comments:

  1. Hi Patricia, there are cantankerous kranky bossy people everywhere. Don't let them ruin you day. Have fun at the parade and enjoy the sunshine.

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  2. Would be so nice if everyone could practce and live their lives with "CIVILITY & RESPECT"

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  3. You don't have to apologize and don't! That library hombre probably voted for Trumper. I think you're real close about locals however dogs can be a huge quality of life issue.

    I came to the area in Oct and did not stay near as long as intended. Part of the reason you just wrote about. The locals were great but gringos less impressive to me for sure.

    Now I'm hanging where I've lived before south of Vallarta.

    You did a good job explaining this.

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    1. Thank you One Fly for your support. That is very important to me. I think I need this vacation to get a different perspective on things. P

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  4. Hi Pat,
    Just read this post and the previous one today. Bummer about making Chico leave, but I agree with Peter's comment above! I noticed you said your throat still hurts...maybe it's time to go to the doctor? Just a friendly, concerned question. Hope you have fun on your trip! Hugs from Virginia, where there was snow and ice Tuesday, and no need for a coat today...
    Karen in VA

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    1. Hi Karen, thanks for the support. And yes I probably should have gone to the doctor. I am slowly getting better. I hope it gets warmer there soon. P

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  5. I would go to the LCS office and make a complaint. Let the board know what happened.

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    1. Thank you Shirley for that suggestion but the problem as I see it IS people complaining about things and wanting to control things. I just don't belong there anymore. P

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  6. Hello. I just recently found your blog and plan to keep reading. I have been visiting Lakeside for 6 years and am planning on moving there in the next couple of months - as soon as high season and Easter are over so I can more easily find a place to live that I will enjoy. But about your comments about LCS. Six years ago I found LCS an excellent resource with kind and helpful staff/volunteers (for the most part). This last visit it was the complete opposite. Rude arrogant people prevailed. I did speak to one kind and friendly person at the information desk one day but he said too that he was very limited in his involvement because he just did not like the direction LCS was moving in. So you are not alone. My experience there in the last few months did not encourage me either to renew my membership. I have in the past kept my membership mostly for the library, but now I read on a Nook. I do still love books however but hope to find some more book exchanges now that Cafe MaGaNa has closed. Best wishes - you are not alone! Deborah

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    1. Thank you Deborah for your comment, especially your insight about LCS. I am glad you were able to see the change there. That helps me to not take what happened to me so personally. It is very helpful for my state of mind and helps me to detach better. Let me know when you settle in here and maybe we can meet. P

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  7. I'm so sorry that you had such a nasty experience at the LCS. I've always felt that unless you were actually buying a ticket for one of their trips, most of the volunteers didn't want to give you the time of day. I never felt a welcoming presence there.
    I hope that you decide to stay in Ajijic. Even though we only run into each other occasionally, I'll miss being able to chat, and also reading about your experiences here in town.
    Whatever you decide to do, I wish you the best of luck, and good health. Thank you, Patricia!

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  8. Hi, I agree that LCS is not as welcoming as it used to be. Don't know what has caused the change. I rarely go there anymore. I hope you will enjoy your trip to San Blas and see many people you know and relax. If I had lived here as long as you have, I would be getting "itchy feet." Maybe a place less of interest to so many gringoes would be fun for a while.

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    1. Hi Pat, thanks for your feedback. Let's get together when I return, p

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