i can see clearer now the hurricane is gone

Yesterday Jamie and I sat down and made a list of all the stuff we need to do around here. We’ve been living with a “we’ll make this Home when we get back” ever since we purchased the palapa and now that we’re only leaving for a short time and have specific dates in mind (when we’re traveling we never know when we’ll be where) we have to shift and re-prioritize and start making this home. We’d also considered putting off any pricey items until after The Season but since we’re living here it might be nice to have back doors, kitchen cabinets and a backyard that isn’t a dumping ground. I’m going to put my abanil talents to work and we’re hope to hire some carpinteros from hard-hit Limones and start making this home. We bought some paint (to finish painting the bodega) and 14 cubic meters of calica and grava.

The two truck loads arrived today; you can’t order less than 7 meters at a time, so we took the minimum quantity; 7 cubic meters of each. Jamie and I, helped primarily by the boys and “helped” by the girls, moved some 4 cubic meters of calica from the front to the back and the jardin looks amazing. We planted some plants and we’ll see what they grow into. We were pretty roached after working all day in and out of the hot sun and when the boys suggested a pool dip or snorkel, they didn’t have to twist our arms. Jamie, Pike and I swam almost to the dropoff and the sea is finally starting to clear out from Dean. The amount of debris is simply amazing and I still can’t figure the gigantic pieces of lumber, way way out by the reef. The first day we tried to snorkel it was so murky that we couldn’t see anything; not even the person next to you. We have been trying and today has been the clearest (but still not the clear we’re used to) since Dean. It was a lovely snorkel but I got pretty nervous the closer we got to the dropoff. We were pretty far from shore and if Pike had had any trouble I wasn’t sure I could drag him in. The waves were ENORMOUS way out there and they were pretty fun to surf back in. The sea, she is a powerful mother though, and I have a LOT of respect for her.

Jamie is playing taxi driver tomorrow afternoon for someone who brought his medicine down for him and tonight and early tomorrow will be the only time available to shop for donations for Majahual. I figured I’d get 20 of each item tonight and try for another 20 tomorrow before Jamie needs the car. Off I headed to Soriana, filled 2 carts with beans, rice, oil, Maseca, canned peas, canned jalapenos, pure de tomate, milk and tiny bolsitas of candy. Doesn’t sound like much, but both carts were full to bursting. I put all the groceries in the car and headed back to the store for water. Done water shopping and back at the car, I realized I was missing the keys. I must have left them inside when I stored the groceries! Argh! I tried security and while they promised to send Miguel over, no-one showed. I noticed two cops and asked them if they could get the door open; I figured the driver’s door that the theives had jimmied would be easy to open, but no go. Finally, I loaded the 34 5-litro bottles of water into a taxi, came back to get Jamie’s keys, and Knight on a White Horse that he is, he is headed back to Soriana with his keys to get the van. After that, I hope to call this a day. Tomorrow more shopping, pizza and brownie making (for the volunteers in Majahual) and bagging and maybe, just maybe some movement of grava to the back yard. But I have a feeling that our shoulders and arms may not be up to the task of grava just tomorrow.

Again, thanks to everyone allowing us to donate to the Costa Maya community, it is such a pleasure and privilege and honor that you have given us.