Recap: Good Morning, From Here, December 21 – 27
Monday
Happy Winter, everybody! And while winter is not celebrated as ‘happily’ for the most part up north where they actually have to live in it, winter in Vallarta is a sheer, unadulterated joy because it means money pouring into the city with jam-packed planes dumping thousands of people (and their money) into Vallarta so they can stay warm for a week or two. Our lifeblood, our tourists, some of whom will be so enamored of what they find here, will move to Vallarta and become your neighbor and quite likely your friend for the rest of your lives.
Each one of us was a tourist once. We were all shocked by the blast of hot, humid air as we walked out of the artificially chilled airport to await a ride to a hotel, Airbnb, resort, condo, or villa, our somewhere to sleep.
And so, the ones that settle here permanently bring a few tangible things; most of us pragmatically decide on the amount of stuff by the parameters of a suitcase or two.
Memories and traditions, however, have no boundaries; they simply have to be molded slightly to fit the new surroundings. A gigantic crackling bonfire, for example, needs to be downsized to fit safely on a condo terrace, but the flames do their work just as well.
A case in point – greeting the Winter Solstice with Chiara Montante, who has led friends and family in the ancient rituals for nearly four decades. It was my second time in this warrior/goddess’s home, specifically for the solstice.
The ritual: First, write down what you want to change about yourself and your surroundings in the upcoming year and keep them personal. ‘World Peace’ is a nice sentiment, but, you get the idea, right? There was quiet for the first time that evening as we wrote, revised, wrote more, and then capped the pen and carefully folded our paper in half lest the wishes and dreams were to fly off and escape.
Second, take the paper and feed the flames of the fire, releasing the negative energies holding you back.
Third, get another drink and some food and prepare for the best part of the night.
Chiara lit her votive candle and shared with us, sitting in a lazy, free-form circle spilling from her living room onto the terrace, her hopes, dreams, and changes for the near future, like a verbal New Year’s Resolution list. Chiara then opened the floor for the rest of us to speak. Sandra Bradley was second, Chiara lighting her candle with a taper from her flame. And so it progressed around the room in no order and without pressure to say anything. What happened was magical – one person’s spoken thought triggered another’s memory. Slowly but surely, shyness and inhibitions fell away when we understood we were safe with friends who heard our words and held them sacred, giving them space enough to be honored and respected and like the flames, now flickering at the end of the evening to ashes, our words flew into the hearts of those present and into the universe where they will manifest somehow, someday From Here.
Tuesday, Christmas Eve
So, one more week remains in this entire year. They do go by fast, don’t they? And, the older we get, the faster time flies because we are rapidly running out of it. That’s a reminder to do everything mindfully in case it’s the last time I get to put rum in Santa’s egg nog!
I dropped in at the end of Jim and Sean’s Christmas party. They live just up the street from me. It was weird. I walked in, and five minutes later, half the crowd stood up and said their goodbyes. It’s all in the timing, right? I had a wonderful time chatting with our mutual friend Colleen, who is staying with Sean and Jim; she showed me photos of her daughter, whom I adored when she was eleven-ish. That child is now 42. Did I mention something about time flying? Yipes! Seeing Jim, Sean, Colleen, Bara, Cindy and Bert, Freda, Polly and Herschel, and more was lovely. Merry Christmas to y’all.
I wandered through quiet Sunday night streets to Coco Cabaret to finally see the Boys on Fire production of Superheroes. I was a good 25 minutes early, and all the front-row seats were full! The house was uber busy for a reason – the show is terrific! Word had clearly gotten out that lap dances were in the offing, so why choose a back row?
Superheroes is devoted to strength, muscularity, movement, dance, and wonderfully sculpted bodies. And great costumes, fast-paced choreography, soundtrack, and the best emcee in all of Vallarta, Argentinian Nacho Granados, who kept us laughing and up to the minute on which superhero was coming out to dazzle us next.
I loved the format of the show – quick vignettes on how some of these regular guys became superheroes with superbly done comic book videos, then a live, breathtaking display of agility and grace on the pole, thick (really thick) rope, aerial silks (Oh, Angel…) and other apparatus(es?) to show how powerful these beautiful bodies are. Their control is astonishing.
They made it all look easy by using every centimeter of the six-meter-high stage, climbing and climbing with one toe hold after another. Extraordinary. And all of them looked like they were having the easiest and best time of their lives onstage, making impossibly complicated moves. Extra bravos to Alex, Woody, Moises, and Angel.
Superheroes is new, exciting, innovative, exhilarating, and fun and, as I told Sebastian Coronel after the show, it’s the best production he has created to date.
All of Mexico celebrates Christmas tonight, whereas the rest of North America waits until morning. I will do both because I can. I am looking forward to seeing what Santa leaves me under the tree.
Okay, wait. I don’t have a tree. Full report in the morning; I will devise something From Here.
Christmas Day
I can hear wrapping paper being torn apart from here! Not really, but Merry Christmas everyone! My neighborhood is blessedly quiet this morning after a monumental posada last night that went into the wee hours of the morning. I think that’s why Mexicans celebrate on the 24th so that they can sleep all of the 25th.
Even though I don’t have a tree, Santa delivered two remarkable gifts yesterday, both involving my big kitty Bogie. A hummingbird got trapped inside my house yesterday, much to Bogie’s delight and consternation. For three hours, the hummy smashed against the clear vinyl roof panels in my studio and bathroom, struggling to get out. I have a small, bright red fake poinsettia that usually lures the terrified birds to safety when I put it in an open window. Not yesterday. The thrumming of wings going a million miles an hour hitting my roof constantly, that after the first hour, I gave up and went back to my computer thinking that at any minute Bogie would emerge with the tiny bird firmly in his jaws to show me his Christmas dinner. Ugh. At the end of the third hour, a breath of wind passed my left ear. I looked up and saw the hummy, two feet in front of me, perched on top of the lattice window barricade. He turned his head to me in quiet acknowledgment, then launched mightily into the sky and the rest of his life.
Bogie was exhausted after hours of jumping up and down, following the trajectory of the trapped hummingbird from room to room. I went to bed early with my book – he jumped up next to me and insisted I not read just yet. Then, for the first time in our six months together, he curled up in my arms, cuddled as close as possible, fell asleep, and stayed with me until morning; I can’t tell you how delighted I am with such a breakthrough.
Thank you, Santa and the Bird and Cat Spirit Guides, who prevailed yesterday, making everything right in my world.
Keep the peace and goodwill flowing – the mere intent will change the energy; a hummingbird flew away freely, and the hunter in my cat took a break for a day From Here.
Thursday, Boxing Day
Day Three of Solitude and work, and except for the water delivery guy, I have not been face to face with another human since Monday. I have gotten so much done. Lots of editing and scheduling articles for Vallarta Mirror. Lots of food. I am overflowing with abundance and gratitude for all of it. I sorely needed the time, and the universe conspired to let me have it, so thanks go out for that.
We are in that weird annual space between Christmas and New Year’s with everybody stutterstepping from flying around to, well, nothing for a couple of days, then New Year’s – WOOHOO. Then nothing again. Even the airlines take a break for a few days, then we are off and running until Easter Sunday. Everybody and no exceptions. All of us working like pinche burros for 12 or 15 weeks and then it’s summer. Done. The reality of living in a resort town. Not a complaint, it’s just how we live.
I went to see Pearl at the Palm for a second time. This is a gorgeous show starring Gina Ramirez, who sings Sade with Alison Lo on perfect harmonies with a bit of help from guitarist Gilberto Luna. The musicians are some of the best in the city, and the playlist rolls out hit after hit. If this show should pop up on VallartaCalendar during the season, do go, relax, and watch dozens of hours of rehearsal unfold into perfection. In the meantime, see Gina with Ale Matus in the ABBA Tribute at the Palm on December 28, and Daniel Celis and Monaco band in the Fleetwood Mac/Eagles tribute at Coco Cabaret on December 30. Both shows start at 5 pm.
Two weeks from tomorrow is Gloria Fiona’s Tribute to Adele at Teatro Vallarta. This concert will be the culmination of nearly two years of work. In that time, we have seen mini-concerts and teasers. We have seen the entire stage of the Palm shoulder to shoulder with musicians as Gloria tested the waters for the ultimate show coming on January 10th. That show was a triumph. It was held over five times, with the cabaret 100% sold out for each show.
And, Gloria has reached out to Adele with an invitation to come to the performance; to date, Adele has not said no. It is not impossible. Rather, let me rephrase, It IS a possibility, and, knowing how Gloria manifests things, let me just say, if ANYBODY could make that happen, it would be Gloria! Make sure you have a ticket; see you there From Here.
It’s just Friday
Ten days ago or so, I had the real privilege of auditing an improv class at the Arte Vallarta Theater. The class was led by two very funny Canadians, Karen Parker and Diana Frances, fresh off their sold-out run – Leave it to Cleavage – at the same theater.
Eleven students took part in the three-hour course. I gotta tell you – it’s a long time to spend laughing!
The biggest drawback to being funny is fear. And, if you think of it, fear is behind every human ‘failing,’ not just comedy. The beginnings of the class were simple, with exercises like passing each other and saying hello. Most of the class were strangers to one another. Then, they pretended to love one another and said hello quite differently. And so it went on, hating each other and winning the lottery together. It was interesting to feel the energy in the room change, just with the tone of their voices. And, even though they were pretending to be angry, the energy changed as if it were real.
The group was broken down into twos, threes, fours, then the whole group in a big circle, and each person had to trust, be present completely or lose the entire conversation thread, and they learned how to support one another regardless of what was said. (THAT’S when things get funny!) It was harder for some than others, but they all came away enriched with what they learned. I asked one woman how she felt about the class. This is what she said.
“Imagine a dozen strangers, an age spread of over 40 years, put in a room together, some with lots of acting experience and some like me – no training at all. I wasn’t even sure I had a sense of humor. I was afraid that I’d be embarrassed, or singled out as the worst of the group or ignored because I was too old, etc. Nothing could have been further from the truth. Starting out slowly, the class was inclusive; there were no ‘fails.’ At times, we laughed so hysterically that we could not stop!
My hope is that every time Karen Parker and Diana Frances are down in Vallarta, we can sign up for another class and another one after that.
At first, everything and everybody was awkward, but after we allowed ourselves to be caught up in the ‘moments,’ I became the fabulous, spontaneous person I was meant to be!”
The Paseo del Arte is in the Zona Romantica tonight, so have a stroll and some wine. I will be at Coco Cabaret first, listening to some 70s Electric Light Orchestra, but I will see you on the streets later and in the galleries from Here.
