Trip to Mexico, Day One

I had the sweet experience of spending a week with my daughter in Mexico at the end of September! Before I left I made myself almost sick with anxiety over how David would do while I was gone. He ended up doing fine on his own, and I learned important lessons: David is capable of taking care of himself and I do not need to be his caretaker. I also remembered (again!) that worry is a waste of time and counterproductive. Unfortunately I need this reminder all too often.
I flew to San Francisco, then to Mexico City on a red-eye flight and landed in Oaxaca City on a Friday morning. Lara and her husband Israel met me at the airport.  I haven't seen Lara in three years; such a joy to see them both again!

We spent the day exploring the sites of old Oaxaca City and the open air market. This was my first trip to a country where I don't speak the language; it was a little intimidating at first (especially going through customs in Mexico City), but I liked listening to the language and taking in the culture.
We first went to the market; the amounts of fruits and vegetables, meats, flowers, crafts and other merchandise was amazing. My favorite thing there were the assortment of flowers.

Masks for the upcoming Day of the Dead holiday (November 1)

After the market and a delicious breakfast at a small cafe, we visited the plaza at Oaxaca City.

An organ grinder; music was everywhere

One of the cathedrals 

At the plaza in Oacaxa City

Detail of the carvings on one of the cathedrals

We came across an arts and crafts festival that featured craft booths from the different sections of the state of Oaxaca and native dancers.

Young men dancing on stilts

These flowers are made out of paper, as is the owl below

At the arts and crafts fair

One of the traditional dances. After their dance they handed out deep-fried donuts

Young men dancing on stilts

The traditional headdress and dance of Oaxaca

After an exciting day of visiting the city, we left for San Miguel del Rio on the Sierra Norte where Lara and her family live on the town's bus. I was taken by the scenery and the lushness of the plant life.

Entrance to San Miguel del Rio

A Trip to Little Rock

The actual little rock that was a landmark for early river men.

I've been finishing up stories from my trip to Little Rock. I enjoyed meeting with and interviewing some of the LDS teens in the area. They are delightful, intelligent, well-spoken leaders in their schools and with their friends. I've said it before: meeting with this rising generation gives me hope for the future as they wrestle with issues and situations far more complex than what I had to deal with while growing up. We talked about the importance of staying true to their beliefs even when others criticize them. They know that when others are doing something they feel uncomfortable with that it's important to find something else to do, even when that means leaving the crowd.

One of the leaders who helped me set up interviews arranged for me to see the Clinton Library as well as a have a tour with the principal of Little_Rock_Central_High_School. They were great! I especially appreciated the tour of the high school and learning more about the Little Rock Nine. I was too young to remember that event, but I do remember the civil rights movement of the 1960s. I admire their strength and courage in persevering against tremendous odds for something that they believed in.

I also had the pleasure of meeting a family who have been able to work together through issues of severe chronic pain and bipolar disorder that their husband and father struggles with. I admired their spirit and appreciated the reminder that prayer and faith are an indispensable part of managing the disorder. He also talked about the importance of humor, talking through issues, forgiveness, and letting others help: "it's good for everyone, both giver and receiver, when help is offered and accepted."

I had some time to take in a few of the sites around downtown Little Rock. 

Arkansas River

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Steamboat Arkansas

A view of the hotel and the sculpture garden

The Peabody Hotel Ducks

These sculptures are part of a sculpture garden along the river front

One of my favorites

The first state capitol, now a museum with a great exhibit about the role of women on the Arkansas frontier

These fun sculptures were near a park featuring old log houses

At sunset

At the riverfront open air market

Little Rock will never be just another dot on a map to me again.