Mexico

It was around this time of year three years ago that Mom and I took a trip to Texas. We drove (well Mom drove and I rode) for 32 hours straight. It was wild though because when we got there, we couldn't go to sleep. I guess after being in the car for so long, we needed to just unwind for a bit. We ordered a pizza, and then finally went to bed about 2 or 3 hours later.

I was thrilled to no end to know that we would be so close to Mexico (I think it was about 100 miles or so)!! I asked her just about every day if we could go...and then one day WE DID!!!

We found "Nowhere" on the way. I'm not kidding - There was literally nothing but fields and mountains in the distance for miles and miles and miles. We joked about it while we were riding along that this must be what people were talking about when they say that something 'came out of nowhere.'

We stopped at a gas station just before we crossed the border at Del Rio and learned something kind of interesting from the cashier. In Texas, as long as a minor is with his/her parent or guardian, they are allowed to consume alcohol. And not just at home, but even in bars!! I was 18 at the time and though it should have been kind of cool, what the hell did I care? I was going to Mexico...I was gonna grab a beer when I got there, anyway!

I LOVED Mexico!! When we crossed the border, we went right into a small town called Cuidad Acuna (I hope I'm spelling that right). The streets were pretty much what you'd expect - Dusty. There were kids running all over the place kicking soccer balls and playing tag in the alleys. And every time I reached a new store front, there was someone holding the door open for me "Come in Senorita!!" We shopped around for a little while, mostly just to check out all of the different stores. I ended up with my favorite Harley t-shirt, a couple bottles of tequila (the kind with the worm in the bottom), some cool bracelets and a cowboy hat! LOL I don't even think we spent more than 10-15 dollars on that stuff.

We went to a bar called the 'Corona Club'. There was one table of what were pretty obviously tourists and the rest were what I'm guessing were locals. The bartender was quick to ask what we wanted, and there was a man with a shoe-shining kit offering up his services. I ordered a Corona and Mommy Dukes, being the responsible mom that she is, ordered a Pepsi. I tried to take our picture at the bar, but it didn't turn out great. I guess the bartender saw that I was about to try again and offered to take the picture for us. I'm glad he did, though - I really like that picture!

I was about 1/2 way through my first beer when some people starting coming in...One of them a really loud people!! It was the loud one (go figure) that spoke up to ask mom if she was married. She said yes of course, and then he turned his attention my way. It didn't take long for one of them to notice my eyes. It was kind of the same reaction I get here. Most people just want to see. But there was one guy who moved away...Quick...All the way to the other side of the bar. I was kind of offended at first, but then I thought of the woman who thought I was 'possessed' when I worked at Food Lion, so I brushed it off. Some people are crazy!!

So Mom and I were left talking to the loud one and his friend, Edgar (I can't remember the 'loud one's name, but I know it was hard to pronounce!!). They were pretty freakin' hilarious - Kept us laughing pretty much the entire time!! We found out that Edgar and his family owned one of the largest ranches in Mexico and that the 'loud one' had actually been a professional bull-rider in Mexico, as well as America. Somewhere around that time, the man with the shoe-shining kit came by for the second time, and even though his shoes looked brand new, the loud one indulged the man and had his shoes shined. I thought about that for a second and found it kinda cool. I mean, this guy didn't need his shoes shined. He let the man do it so that he could make some money. I dig it...

There was a beautiful girl that came in just as we were about to leave. They showed her my eyes (I'm so used to this), and she was so sweet, complimenting not only the color of my eyes, but the shape. Made me feel a whole lot better about that man that moved away from me so quickly at the bar!! We thanked the loud one for my beer and mom's soda and said goodbye to Edgar. I hated to leave - I would have stayed a LOT longer if I could have.

I'm not sure why Mexico had such an impact on me. Maybe it was the way the kids played in the street. Maybe it was the way they all greeted us at the front of every store. Maybe it was the old Mexican woman selling Jesus Christ necklaces on the bridge over the Rio Grande....I dunno. I'm not sure what it was, but Cuidad Acuna has stayed with me. I would love to go back there one day....I WILL go back there one day.

~Just as a side note: Mom and I have been going back and forth about the 'Copyright' on the bottom of some of my photos. I put the year that I actually placed the copyright on the image. Mom thinks I should put the year that I took the photo. So, the photo up top was taken in Mexico in 2005. I put '08 because that's the year I actually put my name on that photo. She thinks it should say '05. Any opinions?~