About to check out of Hotel Las Mariposas

Eight year old Miguel setting up a new business

With considerable sadness I am being picked up by a taxi at 6:00 am tomorrow morning, I'm leaving with several reservations. One is because I've been uncomfortably sick for the last three days. Dolor en cabeza, estomacha and garganta. Much coughing and total loss of energy. The other reason for my ambivalence is related to the first. I don't want to pass this on to anyone greeting me in SFO. I'll sit in back, Steve.

 This hotel is so much like that famous place in India where a disparate group of Brits contracted to move to. Everyone knows each other or soon comes know each other for better or for worse. Here I'd say it's ninety something percent for the better.   Some really solid friendships begin her and blossom over the years. And of course, some of us develop lasting friendships with those in nearby villages.

 I received a surprise visit from Jacobo Mendoza last week. He said he'd like to take me anywhere I'd like to go in the next few days before my planned departure. I was thrilled and chose San Bartolo because I like the lovely museum there for indigenous people to exhibit their arts and crafts. It just happened that Jacobo had a new piece in that show and had received a prize for it. — So I chose well. I will have a ton of pictures to share with you from that show. But they're not off the camera yet and I'm only  two thirds finished with my packing.

You never know when the next sweet thing is going to happen here. About an hour ago I heard a gentle knock on the door of my  room. I opened it up to face eight year old Miguel. He held out his hand and told me that their contents were a gift for me — to wish me a happy voyage home and bring me good luck. This child is amazing. Several weeks ago the "other Jackie, " who is an artist, bought him some makings for  "aretes" (earrings) and he was soon off and running. They have worked together before an he's always full of surprises. I bought three pairs of his first batch.

So much more to tell you. Like the demonstration of kindness by some people in a local bank where I had occasion to attempt making a deposit for my friend Gabriel in Guadalajara. I promise I'll get back to you on that and many more things when I catch my breath.

Please know that I am definitely getting better and will be battering you with words and pictures before you know it. Until then, my dears, I'm about to fly north. I'm sorry if this reads like it hasn't been proofed. It hasn't.