The Last Sunday of our 2009 Season

We have been busily emptying the dresser drawers and clothes closets, getting rid of the many articles of clothing that have “shrunk” over the past several years and have been taking up space in storage. It’s a thankless task and an unkind reminder of our “growth” as the years rush past. I’m not talking about storage growth (wish we had some); but the snugness of shirts, blouses, and other apparel. At least the maid has many relatives who will now sport some new finery.

A couple of friends who just returned from California called and asked if I could come over and integrate their new I-POD into the existing Hi-Fi system. Dolores was happy to get me out of the way. We had a great visit, were successful in getting the hook up completed and working, and enjoyed some good stories and cold wine. Upon my return home I spent a few moments with the car vacuuming it clean of the debris left from our trip to the Water Park with the 7 niño’s. While there Dolores and I spent some time daring each other to ride a slide or chute. Don’t know which one of use won – I think I flinched at the thought one less time than her… Today we’ll have the niño’s in for their last swim until our return in November.

We drove out to Nuevo Vallarta today to El Tigre for brunch with a couple friends who live in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, a small village some 25+ miles north of Puerto Vallarta, and El Tigre is a good half-way point. On the way we noticed a mobile radar unit displaying your automobile speed just as you came around the curve, with an officer waving cars over. We had seen this when we took the Niño’s to the Water Park but saw locals drive right on by ignoring the officer, and we had followed suit. However, this time there weren’t as many cars and we didn’t attempt it and pulled over. The officer said we were traveling 75 kpm, in a 40 kpm zone. When I told him that the posted sign said 70 kpm he declared that in the curve it was 40 kpm… He wanted my drivers license and when he saw the hole punched in it and asked why Dolores assured him I often used it with my key chain…hmmm…almost worked until he saw it was expired and requested a current one. After much searching through my wallet, Eureka, I produced it! Dolores asked if we could pay on the spot, thereby saving everyone much wear and tear and offered him $200 pesos. He drew back in horror and said the fine was $1,000 pesos. With us recoiling in shock and putting on theatrics as skillful as his, he then offered to reduce the fine to $500 pesos. I conducted another search through the wallet and was able to barely locate an additional $200 pesos… keeping the rest out of sight. With a total of $400 pesos ($30 USD) safely in his hand (his buddy was occupied) he gave us a verbal warning not to speed again and we were off to lunch. Was this a bad thing – well a stateside version would have cost $150 + and our insurance company would have gleefully marked us as a risk and bumped the insurance $300 a year for the next three years?

We proudly continue to assist the local the economy in our retirement!