Two Funerals And A Canceled Rv Trip (Temporarily)

living.boondockingmexico@yahoo.com

But there is saving grace.  Read on.

When I studied to be a teacher, this was required reading, "All I Really Need To Know, I Learned In Kindergarten".  Rule number 15 applies to this weekend. " Goldfish and hamsters and white mice and even the little seed in the styrofoam cup - they all die and so do we".  Sad, but reality and so it was.  Juan's cousin passed away after a long battle in the hospital and at home.  Also, the great art director who formed the dance group 30 years ago lost his mother at age 94.   QEPD.  Here are some pictures of what a funeral home looks like in Monterrey as most of you are only familiar with small rural towns in Mexico.

This is a picture from the website but you can see it is not an austere funeral home and has valet parking along with three floors for chapels, cafeterias, sales, and of course the viewing rooms.  

This is where they have a mass and you can invite your own priest, minister or rabbi and of course they have a small temple as well.  

The waiting area on the fourth floor where we attended the viewing (velorio or wake) for our friend's mother.  Here in Mexico, we don't use the normal embalming process.  It is for three to four days maximum because you have the wake in the first 24 hours and the burial the next.  Bodies are not embalmed to last for decades like in the U.S.  There is no concrete crypt or container of any kind for the casket.  You're dust in less than six years.

Priorities, and we had to do those things.  Taking into account the threat of the virus, which few Mexicans take seriously, we went and attempted to avoid all the risks but, I'm telling you, people here just don't give a shit.  Now the numbers are rising and Spring break has now become a month-long and even though people are urged to stay at home, good luck finding a spot in a resort, a beach, or a mountain lodge.  I guess the whole world is nuts except for us and this was a hoax created by the Chinese to take over the world.   

I still have the SUV hooked up to the rv.  I figure as long as we are out alone and in the open air, we are following the rules.  I'm not going to the gym and will do my workouts at home and walk my 10 km or more.   

This week there are two days of exams at the high school and then the break begins.  I am mapping things out.  I had never used iOverlander, and now that I am looking through the website, I find it kind of worthless.  It's all about shitty roads and staying in Pemex stations.