Merry Christmas

The blog has been quiet over the last couple of days even though I have been very busy.  I tried to post this morning but I find myself very sad and lonely at this time of year and I just wasn’t up to it.  I am not alone in this as many of the other women in the park are teary at this time as well as we miss our families.  My mind strays to the times when our girls were small and we had a tiny Christmas with just the four of us.  I was sad and lonely for our families far away then as well.  Just the way it is!

On Monday Marilyn and Helene presented Genardo and Raphael our park workers with their Christmas gift that they had collected from all of us.   We like to let them know how much we appreciate their hard work and how well they take care of us while we are here in Mexico.  Needless to say they are very grateful.  They deserve it. 

Tuesday I managed to get my Greek pasta salad made, Wednesday it was the Angel bars and today I was supposed to cook a ham.  Sadly Felipe forgot to buy one so we just had turkey….and lots of it. 

Marilyn and Helene organized the dinner and they did a wonderful job.  Marilyn was worried that we wouldn’t have enough food.  We do provide food for park owner, Felipe and his family and this year Raphael who is new to us brought his wife and three daughters and Genardo comes on his own so we do want to make sure we have enough.  I am happy to report we had more than enough food for everyone and it was all delicious. 

Marilyn’s decorations look lovely and the food table is set up along with tables for our guests. 

This is the sign up list posted on our bulletin board. 

 

Soon these table will be covered in cloths and loaded with food. 

Looks pretty festive now. 

 

Felipe rides his bicycle checking the park.  Eric tried to tell him his seat is way too low but that’s the way he likes it.

Helene is setting a place for herself and Hal.

Here comes Jeannette and she’s wearing her Chili cook-of apron.

It is 3 o’clock and we are gathering for an early happy hour.  That’s Hal smiling at me. 

 

Ursula, Max and Gunter….three of our favorite Germans, Regina is somewhere close. 

  Hal and Bill chat.  

Dennis and Sandi.  I tried to get Dennis to wear my “Red Pointed Setter” T-shirt but he wouldn’t bite. 

Raphael, his wife and three daughters arrive.  Raphael speaks English but his family does not.  The little one is Brittany. 

They were a little uncomfortable at first but everyone was very welcoming.

Hal and Helene have taken Spanish lessons and have many Mexican friends so Hal was able to communicate with Raphael’s family which is a huge bonus. 

Hal is very charming and the girls were all smiling.

Marilyn thanked Felipe for providing the turkeys for the meal and also welcomed everyone.

Sandi said Grace.

and then….we ate with our guests going first. 

No danger of going hungry….just look at all of that food.

Desserts with more to come. 

Raphael and his family relaxing.  Brittany is a real little cutie.

This is my meal and you can see I like the turkey on the bone.  Yummy!

Fred’s dinner….very colorful!

It’s 5:30 and we are all full and it’s now getting dark.  Genardo in the back is still eating as he doesn’t start work until 5pm.  He will be here until 8am tomorrow morning.  A long shift. 

Raphael and his family have departed for home on the bus.  He said it will take them 45 minutes.  I told Raphael’s wife that he is very bueno and that “todo personas mucho gusto.”  She did appreciate my broken Spanish comment and I just wanted her to know how much we like him.  She understood. 

Felipe had music playing quite loudly by now and he wanted us all to stay and party. 

There are a few people left but most of us are tired and head back to our rigs. 

A lovely dinner eaten with good friends. 

Merry Christmas all!