Lakeside Living

Carol D. Bradley

Email: cdbradleymex@gmail.com Phone: 33-2506-7525

“Artists don’t choose to be artists, writers or singers,” she said in 2010. “It’s just something you know you have to do.” -Nanci Griffith

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.

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.

September 5, 2021

Presentation by Suzanne Salimbene:

Keeping Dance Alive: During Covid and Into the Future

As everyone knows, the Pandemic has been a disaster for all members of the performing arts, but especially so to professional dancers. The dancers of Ballet de Jalisco have had a particularly difficult time. They have not performed since December, 2019. Assisted by several of the dancers, you will learn how they, like many ballet professionals worldwide, have kept their craft alive and how they are preparing for the future. The dancers will describe and demonstrate first working alone in their homes, then taking classes on zoom, finally back in the studio. Finally, there will be a glance of a very positive future growth for dance in Guadalajara with new opportunities for both dancers and audiences.

Suzanne Salimbene is one of the Ballets strong supporters here at Lakeside and will share with you the joy of ballet and how you can become involved and enjoy their performances.

September 12, 2021

Presentation by Janus Quartet:

Janus Quartet members are young Mexican musicians with a great musical career who have stood out for their great talent. They have performed in music festivals such as; Cadenza Festival by PALCCO, taking part in, “Cuerdas entre 4 & 8” where they joined the Cadenza quartet formed by Rebecca MacLeod (Canada) Amy Spurr (Canada) Carol Gimbel (United States) and Sebastian Ostertag (Canada) to interpret the String Octet of the composer Felix Mendelssohn and to the Orchestra Gala where they accompanied the vaunted flutist Susan Hoeppner (Canada). They also participated in Ajijic’s February Festival (Northern Lights) in 2017, where they took master classes with Jamie Parker of University of Toronto, along with Roman Borys, Analee Patipatanakoon and with the Viola teacher of the Royal Academy of Music London, Juan Miguel Hernandez and they worked under the direction of Mark Skazinetski teacher of the University of Toronto and the Youth Orchestra of Canada.

The Janus Quartet was invited by Sebastian Ostertag Director of the Orchestra North Summer Program in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada to participate as resident quartet and assistant teachers, giving concerts and classes to the festival students.

September 19, 2021

Presentation by Noris Binet:

From Where Are We Coming? To Where Are We Going?

Whether a tree, a lake, a mountain, or a human being one’s physical identity is the result of countless generations of evolution and DNA encoding. Every one of us carries an extraordinary legacy. When we become fully aware of the genetic pool of our ancestry we realize that we are part of an amazing colorful tapestry. Wherever we go we bring with us who we are.

The place where we arrive becomes transformed by what we bring with us and in turn we become transformed by the place and the culture that embraces us. It is possible to explore how this transformation takes place in us and also inquire what takes place in those who receive us. This amazing process helps us to realize the one-ness that we are.

A visual artist, poet, author, spiritual teacher and sociologist, Ms Binet lived in Ajijic from 1982-89. A native of the Dominican Republic, she studied with several indigenous communities, including the Huichols for whom Lake Chapala is sacred. She has worked over decades with diverse communities around the world to build bridges by reclaiming a sense of the sacred. Ms Noris has a BA in Sociology from the Univ. of Guadalajara and received an honorary PhD from the International Institute of Human Sciences in Canada. She returned to Ajijic three years ago.

September 26, 2021

Presentation by Olga Kaplounenko:

Popular Music of the 1960’s

In this presentation we will talk about popular music from the 60-s. This decade gave us wonderful singers and groups like the Beatles, Beach Boys, Carpenters, Cliff Richard, The Four Seasons, Connie Francis, Matt Monro and many, many more. We can even share together our favorite songs from back then by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Everly Brothers, The Shirelles, Toni Bennett, Doris Day etc.

Born and raised in Moscow, Russia. Olga graduated from one of the Moscow universities with the Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. While working in research, she got a degree in music and jazz vocals from the Moscow Jazz College. Later worked as a guest researcher in Denmark and Sweden, then moved to the Silicon Valley, California. While in the US, she sang solo and in different choirs. When her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, she decided to move to Lakeside, and became involved with Los Cantantes del Lago for three years. At the same time participated in the Little Theater productions Drowsy Chaperone and Tickle Your Fancy. She also likes dancing tap and Zumba classes and teaching. She speaks Russian, English and Spanish and understands Swedish and Ukranian. She plays piano and guitar, but singing is her passion.

Welcome Back! A concert to open the LLT Season! Mariana Vigueras Restelli!

Dates: Wed., Sept. 15, Thurs., Sept.

16, Fri., Sept. 17 and Sunday, Sept. 19

All Shows at 4pm. Tickets are 400 pesos. Reserved seats will go on sale online August 30th (www.lakesidelittletheatre. com). Box office will be open September 8, 9, 15 and 16 from 10am-noon.

Performance will be in the McIntosh Auditorium and will be capped at 75% of full house. Covid 19 protocols will be in effect, including mandatory masks. This event will be subject to any new restrictions imposed by the State of Jalisco.

Mariana Vigueras Restelli developed her vocal musical talent in different disciplines. She began her studies in classical singing, eventually venturing into other genres such as Jazz, Soul and Rock, among others. She has performed in concerts and festivals at all of the prominent venues in Guadalajara and is well known for her performances at various venues in Ajijic. Currently she supports new talent as a vocal coach.

LLT Mainstage Production

Everything in the Garden, adapted by Edward Albee, from the play by Giles Cooper

Directed by Peggy Lord Chilton

Show dates: October 1-10, 2021 – Curtain: Evenings 7:30pm; Matinees (Saturdays & Sundays) – 4:00 pm

A Broadway success, this brilliant, biting play blends humor, irony and suspense in its scathing examinations of contemporary suburban mores.

Janus Quartet Olga Kaplounenko

Front: Donna Burroughs, Maxanne Swanson, Sally Jo Bartlett, Branna Cisneros, Brian Mattes, Pamela Johnson Rear: Douglas Pinkerton, Peter Luciano, Lori Grant, Tom Nussbaum, Mark Donaldson

In George Oppenheimer’s words: “As always with Mr. Albee, there is a theme beneath the surface, in this case the corruption of money and the rottenness of this bigoted exurbia where conformity to its illiberal standards and its hypocritical show of respectability is all that counts.”

Tickets: 300 Pesos

Online: wwwlakesidelittletheatre.com

LLT Box Office: 10am to noon; Wednesday & Thursday only during the week prior to opening night. 1 hour before curtain for each show.

Diane Pearl Gallery, Arts & Activities Center

Now offering classes, workshops, and events!

For details and registration, please contact Diane Pearl dianepearlmexico@gmail.com, 376-7665683, www.dianepearl.com

Sta. Margarita 23, Riberas Del Pilar (The New Downtown), Mon-Sat 11-4

One block up from Pancho’s Market, Turn mountainside at ORMA’s Auto Parts, then first right.

GELLI PRINTING FOR BEGINNERS – THREE CLASS SERIES WITH BLANCA RUTH CASANOVA

September 8, 15 & 22, 11am – 1pm

Learn how to do monoprints on gelatin with acrylics; this fun technique creates surprising and beautiful results.

No experience necessary.

Cost for 3-class series: 600 pesos + Cost for materials: 1,300 pesos

Teacher: Blanca Ruth Casanova, Ph.D. Art Educator and Visual Artist

ALCOHOL INKS AND JEWELRY WORKSHOP WITH NANCY VAN REETH

Tuesday, Sept 14, 1pm – 3:30pm Discover the wonders of Alcohol Ink! These vivid- colored, non-toxic, acid free inks react to alcohol to create a collage of color. You will be creating serendipitous masterpieces as your earrings and pendants spring to life before your eyes! Class includes two pairs of earrings and one pendant. No experience necessary. Cost: 500 pesos Teacher: Nancy Van Reeth, Artist and Graphic Designer

MULTIMEDIA EXPLORATION OF PAINTING & COLLAGE Friday, September 17, 2pm-4pm

You will have the fun of learning a simple and fun painting technique (your choice of acrylic or watercolor paint). We will assemble papers, words, designs, images, colors to mix with pieces of our paintings to allow a new creation to emerge. No experience necessary. Cost for class: donation for instructor (suggested 200 pesos) + 150 peso materials cost. Instructor: Fay Freed, local artist currently working in a multi-media combination of painting, drawing and collage.

OCTOBER CLASSES & EVENTS

Upcoming Day of the Dead workshops, lectures and events running throughout October - please see our calendar for details www.dianepearl.com

The International Writer’s Group stems from the Ajijic Writer’s Group started by then El Ojo del Lago-Editor Alex Grattan, which suspended in-person bi-monthly meetings after the pandemic in favor of online meetings.

Those in the Ajijic area are now meeting again in person. Many of the earlier participants are no longer in Ajijic and hope to keep up the online meetings. Meetings consist of writers sharing their work and receiving feedback from other writers in a spirit of suggestion and co-operation rather than criticism. There is no particular style of writing or subject matter which is preferred over another.

The group is open to new writers even if they have never been in Ajijic. Writers have up to 12 minutes to read, with commentary afterward. It is not necessary to read in order to attend. For now, we are meeting on the 4th Friday of the month at 10 am, though that may shift as the group grows. For further info including a link to join, contact Juan Sacelli at salynx@yahoo.com

The BRAVO! Theatre is preparing for a new season after being closed for a year and a half! As its opening show, Vanessa McCaffrey, who played Lettice in Lettice & Loveage in the last season at BRAVO! is back in Mexico to bring Shirley Valentine to life! This show is a one-woman “tour de force”.

Shirley Valentine is the perfect character to help us shed our pandemic blues and celebrate our authentic lives. She is brave, bold and delightful! and she will touch your heart and your funny bone.

The show will run daily Wednesday Sept 8th to Sunday, September 12th, and again Wednesday Sept 15 to Sunday the 19th.

Matinees are Wed, Sat and Sun at 3:00PM.

Evening performances are Thurs and Fri at 7:00PM. Tickets are $350 MXN, available at “It’s Kinda Bazar...and Kinda Not”, and “Mia’s Boutique”, or at mymytickets@gmail.com.. All Covid procedures will be observed. Masks are mandatory. Attendance will be smaller than the government requires, and staff, cast and crew will be minimal. We hope to have you come celebrate life and the return of live theatre at BRAVO! Theatre.

In October, watch for performances of “After Play” by Brian Friel, directed by Bernadette Jones and starring Roseann and Tony Wilshere.

It’s the story of 2 characters from different Chekov plays who meet in a restaurant outside of their plays! The play will run Wednesday October 13 to Sunday 17th, and again Wednesday the 20th thru Sunday the 24th. Matinees at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, and evening performances at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. Tickets will again be available at Kinda Bazar, Mia’s, or at mymytickets@gmail.com.

We greatly look forward to seeing our theatre crowd once again !!

Los Cantantes del Lago - Lakeside’s fabulous community choir directed by Timothy G Ruff Welch - is auditioning for singers for the upcoming holiday season. Auditions will be held in October.

Please email loscantantesdellago@gmail.com for more information. Registration deadline for auditions is September 15th.

By Donna Mansfield

When my husband had his first stroke, after being diagnosed with MADSAM (Multi-focal Acquired Sensory and Motor Neuropathy) he went into a hospital rehabilita-

tion unit. Their job was to strengthen his body and resolve the minor facial ticks that resulted from the stroke.

At this time, he could still walk with the aid of a rollator (a walker with a seat attached) and he would go round and round the halls of the rehab unit delighted that his face was not paralyzed.

When I had entered the intensive care unit, having flown in from Mexico, that was his first question … “How’s my face?” I can’t blame him as he was a very handsome man and had jokingly talked about how tall handsome men were automatically assumed to be smarter, got the good jobs and the best girlfriends.

He also had great comic timing and had a gift for communication that allowed him to talk to anyone, anywhere. Sometimes that extended to scary situations. Once we were in an airport waiting for our plane when he struck up a conversation with an obviously psychotic man. It took me 15 minutes to drag him away from the man who was carrying on a conversation with about how certain cultures bury their dead. As he walked away, he kept marveling at how unique the man’s observations were.

He was in the rehab unit for a week. His nurse, on the day he was checking out, said, “Make him do whatever he can by himself, don’t do it for him, you will cripple him more”. And from that day forward until he died 10 years later, I held that line. But still I couldn’t avoid the burnout of caretaking.

Caretaking will ultimately bring you down to your level of incompetence. Stress, too much responsibility, the daily lurking of death nearby, watching as one or another muscle or skill set or mind disappears, all take a toll on your energy and on your confidence.

I was lucky in one way, the nurses had impressed him with his need to continue to try to solve his disability problems on his own. Always having been a catalog shopper, he scoured many catalogs looking for the perfect pillow that would allow him to spend all day sitting in his scooter in comfort. I now have 10 pillows of all configurations piled on an old office chair to sell in a consignment shop. He bought silverware with fat handles that let him grip more securely. He had two back brushes but ultimately sourced one for petting the cat when it didn’t do what he wanted for his back. He bought a device whose rubber legs affixed it to the shower floor so he could wash his feet on his own.

He had me buy him a seat that raised the toilet 6 inches so he could go to the bathroom by driving his inhouse scooter up next to the toilet. He solved his soap gripping problem by buying soap on a rope, or encasing the bar in a net bag to increase his grasp.

But his most ingenious device was a green plastic clothespin. He would affix it to the middle front of his Tshirt, pull on his Bermuda shorts, and then clip the waistband of the shorts to the green pin. Then he would use both hands on the handlebars of his scooter to slowly pull himself upright. And magically the shorts would rise into place without him losing his balance.

Doing all these things on his own kept a great deal of pressure off me but still the details of keeping a Mexican house and car running, doing all the driving and buying until he couldn’t go in the car without an aide as well as attending to the details of a Connecticut property with seven rental units and a property manager plus handyman, to manage and pay bills through my ebank account were trying. I obtained the mortgages, gathered and listed the deductions for the accountant, went to the bank for money, and was the general business head. This was a lot to keep track of in my head but I am not plagued by the lack of knowledge and inexperience that plague many widows.

Chuck did other things for me. He started the dishwasher, glued broken things back together, and sharpened knives. This may not seem like a lot until you have to learn to do it yourself when the partner dies. Once during a really stressful week, I told him, I could not do ONE more thing for us, that he would have to step up…and he did. He rode his scooter to the fruit and vegetable store! I was overcome with gratitude at this simple gesture and for that day, I felt I had my OWN caregiver.

This brings me to a couple of other truths. Every caregiver needs someone to take care of them. And, caregivers find it painfully hard to let others help them. They are fortified in their daily struggles by their belief in their ability to solve every problem that besets their struggling spouse.

When Chuck died, friends called, emailed, and came by to ask how they could help. I said there was nothing for them to do, except maybe bring him back. But I wasn’t eating or sleeping and once when I fell as a result of the tranquillizer I was prescribed, I spent five hours on the floor unable to get up.

I was only saved by friends who took over and called my children to come down from the US and help me. Another friend was like a bulldog. Every day I would get an email. I want to see you. I want to have breakfast. I want to have lunch. Finally, I capitulated and discovered that she had been widowed seven years earlier and could assure me that my crazy reactions were normal grief.

Since I had the unusual reaction of experiencing my brains as falling out such as being unable to remember my step-daughter’s name, or my cellphone password; my children put me in an assisted living facility for a month. It was exactly what I needed. Someone fed me, gave me my meds, and assisted my showers. I could be alone or see people. And the ones who knew Chuck came to visit me and would talk about him. This latter was crucial because talking ABOUT him made it feel like he was present, that he would pull up a chair to the table and listen to the stories about himself. I lost two friends because, though knowing Chuck for twenty years, they changed the subject whenever I brought up my painful feelings or HIM when we went to breakfast. Sad.

Sinking to one’s level of incompetence is critical. You get to the point where you start thinking about yourself first. Your inability to pick them up when they fall. Not having enough strength to help them from scooter to bed. Being overwhelmed by sadness at the power of the disease to steal one more ability or muscle. And thinking about your own inability to cope with the next decline, whether that be a need for oxygen, or IV treatment, or loss of memory. It all gets to be too much and you have to take responsibility for your own inadequacy and get help. Self- awareness falls on your head like a ton of bricks. And none of us are kind to our suffering selves.