More of What I Miss about Mexico

Pepe and Katia.  Let us know when the little one arrives!

Clarita (Muy Movida) and Carlos. 

Enrique (Kike) and Pepe Lepe.  Don't ask why they are so close!

Oscarito and Vanessa.  Oscar received several offers to change jobs while we worked together, but he stayed with me.

Claudia and Fernando.  Claudia was my assitant for almost 11 years.  She said I'm the only man she has been with for that many years!

That's All Folks!!!

So, after 11 years and 9 months working in Mexico, it all came down to this:

• 1 very large and 2 carry-on size suitcases to take my clothing back to the USA
• 3 pretty emotional good-by sessions with my co-workers.  I couldn't say much.
• One of these was a small party at Oscar Rojo's home.  MTB was there as well.  It was hard for both of us to say goodby!
• One box of personal documents that I took from my office.

But more than anything, it is who we are and our influence on others that really matters.  And I think I can safely say that I am a better person becuase of my experiences here, and I hope that my friends believe thay are better people as a result of letting me into their lives.

Some Things I'll Miss, Others I Won't

These are some of the things I will miss about Mexico.

• The great people that I have worked with for the last twelve years.  I'm not going to attempt a list of names, because I'm sure I'll leave someone important off the list.
• Tacos al pastor from just about any street corner.  The best food in Mexico is not in the expensive restaurants, it's on the street corner!!
• The cool weather.  I don't have to get up at 6:00 am on Saturday to run or ride my bike.  
• Riding my bike in the mountains.  We actually live in a small canyon at an elevation of about 7,700 feet.  I don't climb mountains, but there are plenty of 500-yard to 1.5-mile hills that challenge this old body.
• Susana's tacos dorados and her enchiladas.  (Susana was the maid that prepared my meals until Susan moved here in 2007.)
• The abrazo greeting of my male friends, and the kiss-on-the cheek greeting of my female friends (without fear of a sexual harassment lawsuit). 
• The beautiful views of the volcanoes that are east of the city. 

Some things I won't miss so much:

• The traffic.  True story:  Ashley flew almost 700 miles from Houston in less time than it took Susan and I to drive the 16 miles from our home to the airport.
• Neighbors who think it is OK to play music so loudly that you can hear it for several blocks, and to keep it at this volume level until 4:00 a.m.
• The general culture of exploitation.  The wealthy take advantage of the poor; the poor have no problem in taking what they can from the rich, etc.
• The idea that being courteous means addressing others as 'usted' and not 'tu', while not really caring about others.  (See the point about loud music above.)
• The air pollution that makes the views of the volcanoes a rare occurrence.

My How Things Have Changed

I'm beginning my last two weeks in Mexico. As I pack things and prepare to move back to Houston, I'll be reminiscing a bit. Here is my first set of observations.

When I came to Mexico

• Susan was in her third year of Medical School.
• Bethany was in her Senior year at BYU.
• Ryan was a missionary in Peru.
• Brittany and Ashley were in at Taylor High.
• Carrie was at Memorial Parkway Junior High.
• Lindsey was at Memorial Parkway Elementary.

And I had gray hair.

Today

• Susan is a Board Certified pediatrician.
• Bethany is an OB-GYN, and will be taking her oral boards in November. She is also married and the mother of 3 beautiful daughters.
• Ryan completed an MBA at ASU and is making Chevron more profitable. He is also married and the father of a wonderful son and, in November, will be welcoming a baby girl to the family.
  
• Brittany completed a Masters Degree in Engineering at Penn State and is the Best High School Physics Teacher in the USA!
• Ashley completed a Mission to 'Dirty little Provo', earned a degree in Economics from BYU, and is consultant to major organizations.
• Carrie earned a degree in American Studies at BYU, is married and the mother of 3 great children, the Nashville Cats.
• Lindsey finished her degree in Spanish at BYU, is married and the mother of a not so shrinking Violet.

And I still have gray hair.

Texas Here I Come

Yesterday evening my new boss told me my last day at NXO Mexico would be September 30. Today at noon I broke the news to my co-workers. This afternoon, my new boss was upset with me for telling them. Go figure.

Anyway, Texas, here I come. Be there in October!!!

I Changed Jobs Today

Actually, I didn't change jobs, but NextiraOne Mexico now has a new owner. I put a lot of money in the pockets of the former owners, and I acutally enjoyed working with them. Everyone I knew and worked with at Platinum Equity was very professional. It's a good organization.

What happens next? I still don't know. But the future looks bright to me!!!

What I Did Last Weekend

I went to a Baby Shower last weekend. Men are invited to the showers here, and the father-to-be, Pepe, was pretty much immersed in the event. That's me on the right, if you're wondering. Pepe is in the middle. His mother drew a mole on his face every time he was unable to guess who gave the present he unwrapped.



And here is the happy couple.