Hell’s Half Acre

I think I’m just going to recount the whole sordid tale as I really don’t know where to start. Don’t worry; it all turns out good in the end. For those looking for the short story; they got here, we’re happy and busy and fine. But there are some in my family (who shall remain nameless) who need more than the bottom line. Me? I’m quite happy with the bottom line. But this bottom line discussion is getting to be longer than the sordid tale.
Hey, did I mention we went to the dentist yesterday? Had a lovely swim. Well, everyone but me. Ah, still interested in the sordid tale, eh? Ok…

So, a few days ago, on the day we expected them, Ellen and I had headed to the beach for the afternoon cooling off and the boys were slaving away over their Runescape accounts. Poor boys, they work so very hard… I didn’t expect Jamie et al that day (ah, it was Sunday) but wouldn’t have been surprised if he’d shown up. Ellen and I were wave jumping and it is so very devoid of human habitation here that anyone appearing on the beach is a spectacle so when I saw a very tall someone on the beach I knew immediately it was Michael. Back at the trailer, apparently Sissy had simply walked in the door to the complete amazement of her brothers who had no idea she was there. All headed down to the beach, followed by Jamie who was parking. He’d sent Sissy and Michael ahead of him when he stopped to unlock the gate. Easy to walk in, more involved to drive in.

Ellen at first was shy with Jamie and Sissy looks like she’s grown a foot. The boys were so excited to see Jamie and then Michael, and by now, Ellen has fallen hard for Michael. Sissy has a very good bond with him and ocassionally calls him “Mikey” which is like a different name; he’s 59 and very Nordic and tall and definitely does NOT look like a “Mikey”. But she gets away with it.

So it was terribly lovely and sweet to have everyone back together again, but man, that trailer is CROWDED now. I think we might make a “two adults in the trailer at one time” rule. Sissy and Ellen have been playing horse games from dawn to dusk and Michale regales the kids with descriptions of different Simpson episodes. They are enraptured! Everyone got all the treats and presents and thank you very much Aunty Chris for every little thing. I’ve got some velvet Elvis painting comissioned for you.

Yesterday Sissy and Michael were so excited to go to the dentist; I think we’ve become somewhat blase about the whole thing, I mean, OF COURSE the dentist will have a swimming pool in the back. Don’t they all? It might be a real culture shock returning to the US… So we sardined Michael between the boys (I think we’re going to have to get rid of the Britax SE’s and replace them with smaller booster seats when we return to the US so Michael can actually fit back there) and took off. Jamie is very slowly adjusting to the heat and humidity; the humidity really gets to him and he is miserable. I had my root canal finished and while you can get just about any drug you want down here, I have come to the conclusion that while antibiotics are popped like candy, pain pills are discouraged. The dentist told me that I didn’t need anything other than ibuprofen but last night I needed that and a large dose of tequilla.

After the dentist we headed to the mercado and introduced Micheal to a typical municipal market. We had paletas (and I found that while the kids and I LOVE paletas, Michael and Jamie are simply “eh” about them). No Zapote, no Guanabana, no Mango con chile, no Jamica, these guys simply don’t appreciate a good paleta. Well, their loss. Truthfully, the mango con chile really did nothing for me and I actually threw that one away. But guanabana? That is amazing stuff. I might have to find the fruit it is made from and smuggle some away. A true mouth sensation.

Then to get water and a trip to Gigante for the cake. We had decided to celebrate Pikey’s birthday and Michael’s together, as yesterday was Michael’s (and Jamie had been away for Pikey’s). We had salsa chicken (in the crockpot, chicken, fresh salsa (tomates, chile, cilantro, onion, ajo), beans (I used peruvian), corn, juice of a limon or two and cook the carp out of it) and cake for dinner. It is so wonderful to have a crockpot to do the hot cooking. Today we have the piñata and back to the dentist (the poor family who must cool off in the water; this time I get to go swimming) for sealants for the boys and flouride for Ellen. Sissy was determined to have no cavities and the teeth crowding her upper gum will arrange themselves accordingly as her mouth grows (so sayeth the dentist).

So we are happy and crowded and disfunctional and delusional and blissful and hot and comfortable and cranky and snoozing in the afternoon heat and perfect.