10 minute read
Lakeside Living
Carol D. Bradley
Email: cdbradleymex@gmail.com Phone: 33-2506-7525
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“ We have to live, no matter how many skies have fallen.“ D.H. Lawrence
The Lake Chapala Society hosts Open Circle every Sunday at 10AM, a popular community gathering in Ajijic, to enjoy a diverse range of presentations.
For more information and to make reservations, see their website: opencircleajijic.org.
In order to follow State of Jalisco safety precautions, the presentations will be on the south lawn, close to the gazebo, the entrance will be by the side door on Ramón Corona, chairs will be socially distanced. Gate opens
at 9:30.
During this period, we recommend bringing a hat and bottled water, and please remove containers upon departure. Attendance is limited to 80 persons, please make your reservation if you want to attend https://opencircleajijic.org/reservation_form.php
Use of masks and temperature checks on entry is mandatory.
Open Circle Talks
July 4, 2021
Presentation by Steve Nousen: Interpreting Benjamin Franklin for 21st Century Audiences
YouTube link: Coming Soon
Dr. Benjamin Franklin of Philadelphia will present his interpretation of the Declaration of Independence on the 245th anniversary of the creation of the United States of America as a free and independent nation. You will be transported back in place and time to Philadelphia on July 4, 1787. Dr. Franklin is currently at work in the State House, along with delegates from 12 of the 13 states, revising the Articles of Confederation. Although Dr. Franklin is prohibited from talking about the secret work of these delegates, he is at liberty to discuss how he and 55 other men came to declare independence from Great Britain 11 years earlier.
July 11, 2021
Presentation by Anthony Bogart: Yoga for Stress Relief
YouTube link: Coming Soon
Anthony will speak about applying the techniques of traditional spiritual discipline in a practical manner to deal with the negative effects of stress in the modern context. He will offer simple ideas you can start to use immediately.
Anthony Bogart began practicing Hatha Yoga in 1972 after fracturing a cervical vertebrae in a surfing accident. Yoga seemed to give some relief from pain, rebuild strength and surprisingly provided some peace of mind. He practiced for 17 years before teaching his first class. Within 3 years he had become a full-time professional teacher in 1991. During the next 30 years Anthony opened three yoga centers in Colorado and became a teacher trainer. He traveled to teach in seven countries including giving workshops coast to coast in the United States. He is the author of “Moving Toward Health and Freedom” a guide to the practice of Hatha Yoga. A new book, Shiva Dance will be complete this fall.
July 11, 2021
Presentation by Michael McLaughlin: Reefer Madness YouTube link: Coming Soon Cannabis legalization has exploded in the United States, Canada and around the world. More and more US states are legalizing medical and recreational use. Projected sales in the US are expected to hit 23 billion dollars by 2023. For Canada, a much smaller country, it is 8 billion this year alone and now reefer madness comes to Mexico. Soon Mexico will become the world’s largest free cannabis market by population. What does this mean for Mexico and the world industry? Michael will present a fastpaced overview of the plant, the US and Canadian industry and possible scenarios for legal marijuana in Mexico.
Michael has lived in Ajijic for 17 years with his artist wife.
Steve Nousen Anthony Bogart Michael McLaughlin
Lakeside Little Theatre: Ajijic Readers Theatre (ART) - Performance
LIGHT SENSITIVE, by Jim Geoghan, directed by Dave McIntosh.
Show Dates: July 16, 17, 18, 2021, 4:00 pm, Angel Terrace
Tickets 150 pesos, available online at www.lakesidelittletheatre.com, or at the Box Office one hour before the show.
A funny, bitter-sweet love story follows two lost souls who meet in Hell’s Kitchen. Tom is a blind, bitter former cabbie who meets Edna, a disabled woman who has isolated herself, and is hired to take care of Tom by Tom’s only friend, Lou.
Lakeside Little Theatre: Season 57 MainStage - Auditions
EDWARD ALBEE’S EVERYTHING IN THE GARDEN, from the play by Giles Cooper, directed by Peggy Lord Chilton
Auditions: Thursday & Friday, July 22 & 23, 2021, 10:00 am (Registration 9:30) at LLT
Show Dates: October 1 – 10, 2021
A Broadway success, this brilliant, biting play blends humor, irony and suspense in its scathing examinations of contemporary suburban mores.
The show needs a wide variety of actors. 2 men & 2 women, one with a good British accent 1 male or female who can play 15-16 years old 3 men & 3 women for small parts; little or no experience OK
Email Peggy at auditionsMS@lakesidelittletheatre.com for scripts and more information.
No photo available
REPURPOSING/RECYCLING WORKSHOPS WITH ANA LUISA
Every Wednesday starting in July, 11am – 1pm
Transform discarded items into useful, decorative pieces of handicraft. Have fun learning how to give new life to bottles, cans, boxes, frames, small furniture, etc.
Cost: 4 workshops for $900 pesos or 8 workshops for $1500; workshops you attend do not need be consecutive.
Materials and recyclable items provided; please bring any articles you would like to work on.
Contact: Ana Luisa, ajijic10chapala@yahoo.com.mx
3 AFTERNOONS WITH LOCAL ARTIST FAY FREED COLLAGE
Friday July 9 (New Moon Day) and Friday, July 16, 2-4pm
Discover and enjoy the wonderful medium of collage! Use colors, design, words, and images to express yourself. No experience needed.
Cost: 250 pesos (materials included)
DREAM-CATCHERS/EMPOWERMENT SHIELDS
Friday July 23 (Full Moon Day) 2-4pm
Join us for a special afternoon of weaving our dreams into a piece of hanging art. No experience needed.
Cost: 300 pesos (materials included)
Contact: Faye Freed, faysfreed@gmail.com
POETRY PERFORMANCE WITH SUSA SILVERMARIE
Saturday, July 10, 3-5:30pm
VISUAL ART JOURNALING CLASS WITH ELAINE FRENETT
July 23-August 27, Fridays 10am-12pm
This series of 6 classes will equip you with the skills for journaling using basic water coloring combined with flowing text. Some drawing and watercolor skills needed.
Cost: 1800 pesos for 6 sessions, materials kits for purchase
By Donna Mansfield
My husband died last January. He had MADSAM (Multifocal Acquired Demylinating Sensory and Motor Neuropathy) and had been in declining health for 12
years. With the onset of COVID restrictions, and his further deterioration to the point of being unable to walk even with his rollator, we had to create a cadre of helpers to allow him to live at home.
First, he was able to change his daily shower from evening to afternoon and Martin came every day except Sunday to assist him. He would also bring the heavy water bottles from the garage where they were delivered and bring the groceries from the car. We paid $2000p a month for this because he would also ride along to doctor and dentist appointments and help get him inside and back home.
Next, we had Cokie do his pedicures at home for $100p. The only thing he missed from this was his regular holiday designs painted on his big toes…such as the Mexican flag on one toe and the American flag on the other for Memorial Day.
Juana did his haircuts and beard trims on the patio and swept up the hair before leaving.
Our pharmacy delivered as did Pancho’s and Walmart and Costco when it came to groceries. We had food delivered from our favorite restaurants and his doctor made a house call to glue the cut on his face when he turned his scooter over. He was delighted that she used glue as it left no stitch marks on his face.
Because we live in Chapala where our street is paved and the curb cuts are normal, he could go to restaurants and coffee shops on his scooter and even had a favorite store near the plaza where he could sit outside on his scooter and they would wait on him there.
We live a block from a laboratory where he went for the regular INR blood tests that accompany the blood thinner Warfarin. Again, he would sit on the sidewalk and wave his prescription and the nurse would come and take his blood with children passing by on their way to school. This cost 100p.
He knew every dog in Chapala and their schedules. He would buy a side order of bacon for Steve who had a Mexican name but was known in the Gringo community as Steve. He came by at 9:30. Some bacon would also have to be saved for Barbara Jake the cat. She was originally named Jake until it was discovered she was a girl.
The three dogs who came to the Legion with their owner would start to salivate when Chuck entered the Legion gate on his scooter. They knew dog treats were in order.
My husband was also the duty officer one day a week at the Legion until the cold weather drove him out. He always said, living in Mexico gave him an extra ten good years because he didn’t have to cope with snow.
Having celebrated 48 years in Alcoholics Anonymous, he helped start two meetings at the Legion and a third was started by others so he was able to attend three meetings a week.
He started to fade six weeks before he died. He said he was tired of being a cripple. But he had very vivid memories of hiking to the top of all the mountains surrounding the lakes and he enjoyed reminiscing about those times with other hikers.
He was having trouble transferring from his scooter to the bed and I had to help him once. It took all my strength to do that. He noticed and said, “Is it time to put me in a home?” I told him I didn’t think we were there yet, he would lose more than he gained.
But the night he died, he said before bed, “I think I have only one more transfer in me”. He was right, he died at 2:00am that night.
But I look at all he gained from having assisted living at home: interacting with dogs, AA friends, storekeepers, waiters, a sense of self-sufficiency, being able to sharpen knives in the kitchen and turn on the dishwasher (I didn’t learn to do it until after he died), being a volunteer, and sitting in his scooter at the open gate to watch the parade of neighbors and delivery people pass by. Truly, Mexico and Chapala offer the opportunity to continue living until the end. And we probably spent no more than $200USD.
