Calendars: All : October : November : December : January 2001

Almost exactly one year ago -- I even think it was today, the fourteenth -- I moved into my apartment on Fourth Street across from the Teniente Guerrero Park, after nine months living at the beach. (There's another story.)

In February of this year (2000) I started attending classes at CEHU -- the Centro de Humanidades de Baja California. In March, April, June and July we studied sociology, history, art and literature, all with a focus on Baja California and Tijuana. In fact it was one class on art scholarships and contests which led me to start searching for poetry concursos and eventually I saw the binational one which I entered and won.

I haven't attended any classes with CEHU since last July, but have stayed in contact. Tonight they are having a... no, tonight WE -- the group from the culture-development program -- are having a Christmas get together in the classroom to meet and talk and celebrate the turning of the holidays.

Six women and myself show up. Over wine and snacks and later, cake, we talk and talk and talk. Politics. Art. Who will be appointed head of the Cultural Center (CECUT) -- no one knows.

Then the women start telling Taxi stories. Things they'd seen and heard riding in the crowded Route Taxis.

• A girl, eleven years old, riding with her mother, talking about the modern times. -- Mama, isn't it strange that it used to be men went to work and women stayed home to keep house. But now, women go to work, and the men stay home and are nothing but "couch potatoes?" -- (("huevon" -- big lazy egg))
• Two men in the back seat of a taxi, on either side of my classmate, discussing the northern dialect and how you must say things in a certain way so that people won't know you're from Mexico City and rob you or beat you or rape you.
• Wife of taxi driver who rides with him every night, scolding and harangueing him -- I know what you do! I know how you go with other women and never tell me! -- The passengers all know her.
• Another taxi driver chatting up a woman who recently arrived from the South, telling her if there is anything he can do for her, etcet., etc.

There is one thing you should know. I met Maria there. At CEHU in February. We started going out in April and May. Then, as you know if you read my pages, we decided in October to become novios.

On Sunday this coming weekend we are going to my church in San Diego. I haven't been there for a while. But I want to attend our annual advent concert and introduce Maria to Pastor Noel.

There's something else... oh yes. Rings. With some of the money I won in the poetry contest, I bought a pair of silver braided rings. Actually, Maria and I selected them together several weeks ago, but now that I have the money, I'm going to get them on Saturday. And surprise her on Sunday. Hope she doesn't freak out!

AH! I know what I'm trying to remember! Maria has her new visa! She can go to San Diego with me now!

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All Calendars OR August 2000 : September 2000 : October 2000 : November 2000 : December 2000 : January 2001 : February 2001

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Copyright 2001 Daniel Charles Thomas

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