Leaving my beloved Mexico and returning to Canada

Templo of Saint Philip Neri San Miquel de Allende

Sparky and I returned to Canada last night amid fears, rumours, and worries about the coronavirus pandemic, leaving behind my beloved Mexico. 

It wasn't an easy decision, but for me it was necessary. Just a few days ago I realized that the world opinion was rapidly changing from one of optimism and economic growth to fear of the what the future would bring.

For the first time in twelve years I began to feel uneasy, being on my own in a country where my language skills were limited, and in a new city where I had barely begun to build a support network of new friends.

San Miguel de Allende

Then last week the Canadian government sent out several emails advising citizens, living or vacationing abroad, to return home as commercial airline flights were diminishing and any government rescue flights would be very limited. That tipped the scales for me, and I searched for flights out of Leon to any large airline hub. Eventually I found a flight from Leon to Cancun, and then to Vancouver BC on Friday.

On Wednesday, Sparky and I traveled to Leon via shuttle service and stayed in centro. It was interesting to see another large city in Mexico but Leon is not nearly as beautiful as San Miguel de Allende, even-though it is about as old. I wandered the historic area people-watching. Listening to snippets of conversation I could hear an overtone of uncertainty and worry. Then, I heard a lovely voice singing accompanied by beautiful guitar music and I stopped to listen.

Leon Mexico

He was an elderly gentleman, possibly in his mid-80's, perched on a stool near a restaurant. As I put the money in his cup, I noticed that he didn't acknowledge my presence, so I looked more closely at him. He was blind, and when I spoke to him he didn't respond, so I touched his hand with the money. He thanked me, but I realized when another person did the same thing he was not only blind, but deaf. 

The reality of his situation brought a flood of tears to my eyes. There is no financial safety net for people in Mexico, or in many other countries. If you don't have money; you don't eat. What was going to happen to this man and others like him as the tourism industry grinds to a halt?  Restaurants, bars, and shops - closed. Flights, cruises, tours - canceled. Many Mexicans depend on tourism to feed and house their families.

Sparky in the elevator at our hotel - discovers another dog

On Thursday night Sparky and I over-nighted at a hotel in Cancun, staying away from our Isla friends - just in case I had come in contact with the coronavirus. 

The hotel staff was kind, and helpful, and also very worried. Everyone expressed their concerns about their jobs and the ability to care for their families.

Once on board the WestJet flight to Vancouver, I felt a sense of relief. I was going back to an uncertain situation, but at least I would be in a country where I would be closer to family, speak the language, know how to get medical assistance, and I still had a large group friends.

Fabulous crew of flight #2057 WestJet

The WestJet staff did their best to lighten the mood on the plane, chatting and joking with the returning Canadians while struggling to hold back their tears. For that particular crew flight 2057 on Friday March 20th was their last flight until ... well, no one knows when. 

Sparky was a huge hit. He was cuddled and hugged by passengers, the flight attendants, and the pilots. The final announcement when we landed was a tear-filled thank-you from the crew, which had many passengers reaching for tissues.

As to my future, it is still uncertain. I will sort something out in the next week or two, but in the meantime Sparky and I are self-isolating at the home of dear friends in the Vancouver area.  

I will sorely miss the kindness of the people and the beauty of Mexico. I wish you well. Hopefully we will meet again.

Sincerely
Lynda

Over 50? Take the risk, learn something new, go on an adventure ... you're not dead yet!

Lawrie launching his restored Chris Craft - me in the water!

Why women over 50 should start something big and new! 

That's the title of an interesting motivational article written by Julia Hook, and shared on Facebook by a much younger friend Kari Skaggs. I read it and I started thinking about my wacky life.

When I was 50, I had recently switched careers for the tenth or twelfth time and I was now managing a hotel in Canada. I decided I wanted to learn two new things that year. The first was to learn to Rollerblade (in line-skating), and the second was to prepare my income tax returns. Lawrie and I had over the years a succession of small businesses and had always relied on an accountant to do the tedious tax returns. Okay, I can do this.

Nana and Evan rowing on Okanagan Lake

Goal number one: I purchased a set of Rollerblades, helmet, and hand protectors and proceeded to figure out a five-mile-long route in our neighbourhood of Trout Creek BC. 

It was great exercise, and I alternated with taking my rowboat out on Okanagan Lake for an hour every morning to strengthen my back muscles. I skated and rowed all year around for the six years that we lived in Summerland, except of course when the road was covered in snow or the my boat was frozen to the dock.

Goal number two: I did my own income tax return. Easy. I was an employee and only had one official form to submit. Then when an auditor from Revenue Canada called me at the hotel, asking a bunch of odd questions and I started to laugh.

"Laughing is not the normal response that I get when I call people to tell them we are auditing their files." He said.

I replied, "I turned 50 this year, and wanted to learn two new things." I said, and told him what they were.

He laughed, and asked, "So, how's the Rollerblading working out?"

"Apparently much better than me doing my tax return."

Dinner on our beach on Isla Mujeres

When I was fifty-seven and Lawrie was sixty-six, we moved to Isla Mujeres Mexico to live on a tropical island in the Caribbean Sea. The incredulous comments from friends and family were quite interesting, mainly to do with Mexico being dangerous, and us losing our free Canadian medical once we were out of the country for more than six months.

For us it was a fun, learning experience however, retirement on a small island can be boring after awhile. When I was sixty-three I decided I wanted to write a book. I self-published The Adventures of Thomas the Cat, then when I turned sixty-five I started writing my Isla Mujeres Mystery series. 

Oh, and I started Rollerblading again at age sixty-four, much to the amusement of the people who watched me skate in the little park just south of our house on Isla. I skated like a hockey player, with my broom out in front of me to sweep away the small rocks that the little kids liked to toss onto the concrete pad. 

Yeah, this is me. I am a little taller now.

Now, I am almost sixty-nine and on my own. I have recently moved to another city in Mexico where I didn't know anyone. It is a struggle at times, to make myself get out and meet people but I am slowly working my way into the social fabric of the city. Everyday I find new places to explore, new streets to walk, and new experiences to savour in San Miguel de Allende. 

The people are very friendly and I have been invited to join several groups, but as one of my good friends on Isla used to say, "You and I are reluctant extroverts." 

I admit it. I am a reluctant extrovert but it doesn't stop me from trying new things, or starting a new adventure.

To you 50-year-old-youngins, you ain't dead yet, just because you've ticked over another decade. Enjoy the adventure!

Cheers 
Lynda 

~

Murder and Mayhem. Revenge and romance.

Isla Mujeres Mystery series

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