MONSTER AND LOVER

Hola gringos, sorry if you were worried about me. I am a lot better. My mom and sister Linda came to visit bearing gifts from afar -- two wise women. OK, I'd been hoping for three wise men with beautiful eyes and a passive nature from the east of Mexico, say Veracruz. But these two women brought real love and presents. Mom bought me a suit, I now own three which I think will be OK if I get a job. Linda brought me a laptop and sweaters (it's quite cold here in the mornings), and a digital camera from my other sister Karen. I'm almost a real person again with possessions and everything. I promise that I will have pictures next week and an upbeat blog.

I know a lot of you wish I would just come home. I will if I don't get a job soon (I have an interview next week). But I hate being told no and I feel like Mexico City is trying to tell me "No, Gringo!". Then it turns around and does something wonderful. We had a Posada celebration at the Spanish Language School. Half of us stood outside portraying Joseph and Mary on their journey to Bethlehem and sang a song asking to be admitted into the inn. The other half stood inside and sang back responses and finally let us in. Inside was a great punch with fruit and sugar cane (fun to chew the sugar cane after you drink the punch). They had two huge pinatas for the kids. My profesora also pushed me out there to take a couple of good whacks at it. Then they served tostadas and chicken with mole. I don't think Joseph and Mary had it quite that nice -- a great tradition. Coming up on December 12th is the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe. I'll write more about that next week.

About the title for this week's blog -- it is a quote from the author Paco Ignacio Taibo II. He was originally from Spain but has lived in Mexico City for 40 years. He writes detective stories based in Mexico City. In an interview he described Mexico city as "a monster and a lover." I know exactly how he feels.

Affectionately yours, GAGGinMexico fmarlman@aol.com