When in Mexico Make Limonada

It will be three weeks by the time we leave Mexico. Before summers end we will have been here, in total, a month.  Here, as in Guadalajara.  We arrived under the most unfortunate of circumstances.  My youngest brother has lived in Guadalajara, Mexico with his wife for 2 years.  In May, he fell ill and was diagnosed with a blood clot in one of his major veins that migrated into his intestines.  It is rare to be diagnosed with such an illness-even rarer if you're 29.  After 9 weeks in the hospital, 3 hospitals, 1 surgery & countless of CT Scans later it appears he is on the road to recovery.  Exhale!

Yet, while traveling this unknown and windy road,  our family managed to weave a tapestry of beautiful moments too.  My mom and I have taken shifts sitting with my brother and entertaining Bebe Bird. There have been long chats outside on the hospitals rooftop terrace listening to the church bells ring and monks sing.  There have been "explorations" of the surrounding Mexican neighborhoods near the hospitals where local vendors can now be heard  calling out Bebe Birds name as he walks by. We discovered new restaurants on tiny side streets, found new parks with tree houses to climb and see-saws to ride.  We met new friends. While there have been many obstacles to overcome it is Bebe Bird who helped bring some peace to a confusing situation.  He lives in the moment. So we had to be in the moment.  We had to be present.  It were these moments, together as a family, where we were able to step back from the fear of the unknown and discover the beauty of the neighborhoods and warmth of the people we met along the way.

1.  Let me introduce, Eduarado, the baker, who parks his van outside the hospital and sells fresh pastries daily from 12pm-4pm.  He has been doing this for 10 years now.

2.  There are beautiful colorful homes that sprinkle the cement blocks.

3.  There are outdoor markets filled with fresh fruits, household goods, clothing and anything else you could possibly imagine.

4.  We discovered the most amazing eateries.  One of our favorites, La Tragoneria, tucked on a tiny side street with a garden in back where Bebe Bird could play, pick (and then toss around) the fruit from the trees and enjoy a good meal.

5.  We fell in love with local street vendors, like Arturo, who is selling tasty fresh fruit from his cart every day but Sunday!  

Or this yummy food stand with it's old tree trunk that moonlights as stools.  This restaurant has delicious tortas and tacos for an incredible price (Papa Bird and I both got a meal, drinks and apps for $8) 

6.  And then there were the parks for Bebe Bird to play in and children to run around with.

But, what has stood out more than anything is to witness, first hand, the resilence of the human spirit and the  goodness of people. To see how many lives my brother has touched in his short life and how all those lives (from grammar school to grad school friends) came together to be there for him-whether through letters,  fundraisers, phone calls and time. I feel so honored to be his sister.  And I am proud Bebe Bird has an Uncle he can look to for guidance, when life gets tough and hands him some lemons, as life surely will. By example, my brother can share his story.  When "once upon a time" he had traveled an unknown & bumpy road filled with lemon trees- his head held high and spirit bright and made some limonada.