Leaving in the grafitti car....

Here we are again, another blog another country another escape from winter in Rochester NY. This year we are leaving later for a several reasons: 1. there was no particular reason to be in Mexico earlier (Venezuela had the elections happening in November last year) 2. We needed to save enough money 3: Andy didn’t want to be gone as long as 3 months this year, so I decided to make the trip for the worst winter months of all... February and March. Well they are only the "worst" months because by this time the winter just drags on! We leave Jan 21 and return March 21st, it’s a little arbitrary but that is the first day of spring. Andy and Zarha may come back earlier and I may not come back at all! Just kidding.

So really is this only about escaping winter? Certainly not! I imagine a pilgrimage to this amazing neighboring country that I ought to know more about. I want to feel greater solidarity with the people of this country who struggle for dignity and their lives at the borders of "my" country, but I don’t believe in borders so I don’t believe in "my" country. I want to learn Spanish and see beautiful old magical places; I want to absorb spiritual and radical energies from the most inspiring cultures of all. The Mayans and the Zapatistas. I want to meditate at Mayan ruins and unite with people behind barricades fighting for justice! I want adventure. I want to challenge my comfort zones and confront the privileges I take for granted and depend on everyday. Ok, ok, I want sun and warmth and beaches, but I don’t want the tourist traps. I want to break out of work patterns and material accumulation and live appreciating that this is all we got. Right now. I want to give up on "future" and live now, I want to "retire" every year and work and explore until I die. I want to liberate myself from the confines of expectations and I want THAT to make me a "richer" person. Not rich in money but rich in experience and understanding. I want to share stories with others, and seek insight from political radicals and alternative healers. I want to indulge in the celebrations of another culture and talk my baby talk Spanish and accept myself for trying. I want more time with my best friend and lover ('husband' for all the traditionalists reading this) aka: Ando Calrissian. Don’t ask, but it does sound sexy like I have a new 'boyfriend.' I want to get cozy AND argue with the coolest kid I have ever known! Zarha can also protect us if we need it, with her black belt skills. I want to feel grateful and think about how my life can be of service to others. oh and... I want to travel with gremmie for his first trip out of the country. Can gremlins get passports??

So the trip could go something like that. We are leaving Monday driving down to Texas visiting some of our favorite family members along the way! We will get to the border of Texas and Mexico leave my Graffiti car (yes it is still running at 232, 000 thousand miles!) at the border with folks who do border support work. We will be busing into Mexico and have absolutely no itinerary as of yet. Stay tuned.
Any ideas or suggestions...we are open!
Peace and kisses on both cheeks
Dawn