Dreaming of the Dead

Going to towns in  Mexico to see the  elaborate celebrations for "Day of the Dead" has always been on my list of things to do. During the past week we saw everything from the night bike ride, in costume, in Mexico City, to the extravagant graveyard decorations in the small town of Tzintzunzan near Patzcuaro, in Michoacan State.
 The profusion of marigolds, baby's breath  and cockscomb flowers endeared me to the culture which can decorate the graves of their loved ones so beautifully. The families often sit all night at the grave site, sleeping or sitting by a little campfire. It made me want to curl up next to them and think about the people I have lost in my life.

 It felt strange to be watching something which is held to be private in my own culture. Our friend we were staying with that night told us the locals expect guests to come, and do they ever get them. The highway was backed up for a mile, giant tour buses maneuvered through seas of cars, all this on small roads built in villages for an ox cart to pass. It is hard to describe.

Last night we were treated to a visit with our dentist, Antonio, and his wife, Gabi and her Mom to the grave of a dear school pal of Gabi's who died of cancer at 17. We drove across the busy traffic choked town, to a Panteon on the hillside. There was music, flowers, food vendors for blocks, and 2 giant trampolines especially set up for the children.
It was very sad to watch the greiving, but as we walked out of the Panteon, I was able to ask, in my funny Spanish, if Gabi dreams of Claudia when she is asleep. She said she often does, and agreed that dreaming is a comfort. She told me that her sisters and Claudia's sisters are now a very close knit group because of the death, and that is bueno, a good outcome from sadness.
We ate baked sweetened calabasa at the family table afterwards, and I showed photos of my own family. The women especially were very interested. I think women are the visual ones in the world. They did not ask me what anyone did for a living, or where they lived, but they loved seeing the faces. My most recent family picture of Arlyn, Amery and Kirsten has the Huskies, Tahoe and Meeka front and center. They loved the 'perecitos' and when I said the word "Huskie", one sister, Laura, nodded her head and replied in a very well enunciated tone -"Alaska".

Today I had my teeth cleaned and 2 small fillings done. Antonio is so gentle, quick, and easy going. He does hilarious impressions of an American accent as he pronounces certain words. Even his facial expressions when he does it entertain me as many comedians fail to do. It is good to have a funny dentist, and he can sing "Flor de Canella" in Perepecha and Spanish both.


Not the least of what Antonio has done for us is to let us stay at his home. All the hotels were full because of the holiday, and we needed to remain in town to get our dental work, so here I am, writing from the little row house home that the family stays at when they are not with the extended family in town... which they are tonight.
I joked to them (at the risk of offending certain sacred concepts) that we are like the couple at Christmas when there was no room at the Inn.They made a place for us, shared their table and made us feel at home. They have the beautiful hearts Christ would like to see in the world.