Typhoid and Dengue Anyone?

Well, as we all sit here in the intense humidity of mid-June waiting for a serious downpour or two to wash out the stagnant waterways and dusty air, several of my friends have been hit by illness. Two have contracted Dengue thanks to the mosquitoes that carry it and one was in the hospital with Typhoid, while two others came down with Salmonella poisoning. 'Tis the season to be wary, Cholera, la, la, la, la, la, la, la. My friend with the Typhoid thinks he got it from those homemade icy sweet treats known as "Bollis" that some local kid sells after his soccer game. The obviously question being, where is he getting the water from to make them? My friends with the Dengue admit sitting in a mosquito infested area without repellant. Hello! The Salmonella victims were just eating the wrong thing at the wrong time, ergo, highly perishable street food in 100* degree heat. Diesel infused oysters anyone? I don't mean to make light of any of this since I can only imagine what it would be like to make continual "long distance phone calls on the porceline telephone" (as the Aussies so colorfully term it). I touch wood often, avoid road-side seafood and close the screen doors during the "mosquito" hours; then I touch wood again.

If Jeff is reading this, send me your new e-mail Mr. Spinmeister!!

June in Vallarta.

I'm so happy June is here! This is a month of many important events beginning with the finalization of another school year. Students I've known for many years are graduating and leaving our little nest for bastions of higher learning. We have kids leaving for UBC in Canada, La Roche in Switzerland and Spain, The American University in London, Swarthmore, University of Miami and the list goes on. It's rather exciting to think about what lies ahead for them and knowing we have done what we can to prepare them for the future. It's now in their hands.

June is also important for two major mile-stones. My dear parents are celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary which in this day and age of quickie divorces is quite remarkable. Congratulations!!!!! The other is the fact that youngest daughter is turning sweet 16! I know it's cliche to ask where has the time gone? But I'm going to ask it anyway. It's just amazing that my little bundle of joy, "la nina sin huesos" as she was dubbed by a neighbour, has morphed into this lithe and savy teen with a lovely sense of self. I feel very fortunate to have such a gift in my life, because I really believe kids are the gift that keeps on giving. Oh, happy June!