Comings and Goings

So much has happened in the last month that it's hard to know where to start...and the only organizing principle I've come up with is the title of this post.

Here are a few things that have come and gone since I last posted.

Zapatistas en masse

On December 21--the final day of the Mayan calendar, as you may recall--more than 30,000 Zapatistas suddenly turned up for a silent demonstration in about four communities throughout Chiapas, including our city. I understood that the purpose, in part, was to show the newly elected (PRI) government that yes, the Zapatista movement still exists, that their efforts to defend the rights of the indigenous still continue.

We walked downtown to see the demonstration (we four, plus Grandma Nancy). It was incredible: people of all ages moving in complete silence, four abreast, all around the main square in a caracol (snail) pattern--the shape of eternal time and community and one you see often in mayan art and crafts.

It was humbling to see them, sobering to try to answer the kids' simple questions: Are they winning? Are things more fair? Will this make a difference? (We don't know.) We marveled at the  sacrifices the participants had to have made to be part of this event (hours in the backs of trucks from small villages throughout the state), at the impressive planning it all required, at the dignity and determination we thought we all felt from the people.

I think we will all remember that cold and rainy and inspiring morning for a long time.

Escuela Extravaganza

The kids had their holiday program at school; it was great that Nana could be there for it!

Classroom piñatas. The one in front was made 

by Oscar's class. Per tradition, it's supposed 

to have 7 points, but they ran out of time and 

gave it just 5 points (because as Yair explained, 

the important thing is that the piñata NOT have 

6 points, because 6 is the Devil's number, 

as everyone knows). 

The littlest kids did some kind of Jingle Bell Rock thing.

 Oscar's group told the story of Nestor, the long-eared
donkey. (Despite his unusual anatomy and the scorn of
his barnyard peers, Nestor is chosen to transport Mary
and Joseph to the famous Bethlehem stable.)  In the role
of a lifetime, Oscar was a singin' and dancin' baby chick!

Secundaria did a nifty number featuring
life-size dolls and toys. Lorena was a
dancer doll, and Wilhelmina was...Tinkerbell.

Christmas

We had a great Christmas. We got a tree (expensive; it was a Noble fir from Oregon for some reason; blame NAFTA?); we made cookies; we listened to carols and had the words to the Hawaiian-style hit "Christmas Island" stamped into our brains.

(How'd you like to spend Christmas...on Christmas Island?? It sounds like a threat. Swimmin' with the fishes and so on. We menaced each other with that question for days: Hey, you--punk! How'd you like to spend Christmas...on Christmas Island???)

Wilhelmina had made soaps and body scrubs and a photo album; Oscar had sewed felt ornaments and sachets; Nana was here--it was great.

Our tree and two of the BEST fireworks.
(The tops of the babies' heads blow off, and the
green foil scalps spangle the air all around.)

Stockings hung with care.

Our terrific new Nativity scene (thank you, Shen) made
of styrofoam and glitter. The paratrooper was one of
Oscar's presents and a late addition to the scene.

Nativity scene 2: O heavenly light!

Popcorn garland with felt accents. 

Wilhelmina got this groovy purse.

Oscar's haul: dogtags, flight coat and
goggles, pyrotechnics. (Note the
Guadalupe light-up thing in the
background--another favorite new
decoration. Has three different settings
for speed/pattern of flashing lights.)