Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo

It’s a new year and time to get on with it.  The last several weeks have been strange, disorienting, reflective, and full of learning.  I suffered my first illness in my new country.  Albeit, a simple case of the crud, it put me down for a good 2 weeks.  I hear it’s everywhere this winter and it hit me pretty hard.  After 12 days feeling bed ridden and only leaving the apartment for necessities I decided it was time to see a doctor and end this.  I have heard that in Mexico some of the pharmacies have physicians on staff that can diagnose and prescribe you on the spot.  Well my friends, this is a true story.  Andy found a pharmacy in walking distance, San Pablo Farmacia, one in many of a chain around the City.  I walked in, signed in, and was sitting in front of the doctor within 5 minutes.  Andy came in with me for translation purposes because none of language skills included illness with the exception of the word enferma, and that wasn’t going to get me very far.  The doctor checked me out, asked a lot of questions, and got down to diagnosis.  My condition was not in fact a bacterial infection which would call for antibiotics, but was a viral infection which would clear up on it’s on if I could hang in there for a few more days.  He did prescribe an all-natural cough syrup and something to clear my sinuses.  Both worked to relieve symptoms and sure enough, within the next few days I was feeling much better and on the road to wellness.  It was interesting that he pointed out that due our move and immense culture changes I have been experiencing that it was likely I was under stress which was contributing to my depressed immune system and some of my symptoms.  What a nice personal side to the visit and I reflect on that to internalize the fact that yes, there are a lot of changes and I am slowly adjusting even though I would like to believe it’s easy.  Someone else recognized for me that it is not necessarily without stress.  Thanks doc.  And the cost to see the doctor, in and out in 20 minutes, prescriptions for symptoms, a short therapy session, and good advice?  Forty pesos my friend.  That’s $2 American dollars and I never even flashed an insurance card.  Now let that sink in.

The Doc's List Price

A week before Christmas we attended a pastorella, Ciscalo, Ciscalo, Diablo Panzon.  It was  a small musical performed by a local troupe and we had a great view from the messanine at the Enrique Lizalde theater.  After the show that staff shared tamales with the crowd.  The experience was certainly a highlight of the season.   During my bed stay the holidays came and went including Christmas.  I had managed to get a single gift for Andy, but I think it was the best.  A pair of Steelers house slippers because carpeting is rare here and floors are always cool.  He wears them every day so I think they are a hit.  Otherwise, it was a quiet holiday season with no local friends or family to share it with, so we did it on our own, along with my sickness.  We went out to Reforma, a main strip, and found a restaurant open on Christmas Eve, Meson Gaucho.  We had a couple of cocktails and watched the Cowboys play.  They are really sucking this year, but whatever.  Afterwards we went to Casa de Toño, a 24 hour joint famous for pozole, flautas, and all manners of delish dishes.  We ate and it was good.  And on Christmas day we watched the Steelers.  And I loved it.  And they won. Oh, and I almost forgot the best part.  During the extended home stay we binge watched Game of Thrones.  Yes!  All 7 seasons.  We never made it thru a single season in all the years it has been on and in about 2 weeks, all 7 seasons.  It was epic and fun.  And now we are patiently awaiting the 8^th and final season along with all of the rest of the GoT fan base.  And why does that make me sad?  

The Enrique Lizalde Theater before Showtime

And then there was a New Year!  We walked about a mile to the Angel of Independence had some drinks, watched the fireworks, hugged and kissed strangers, and welcomed the new year.  And that’s that.  The holidays for now are behind us.  They were different, but they were good.  And like I said, now it’s time to get on with it. Welcome to 2018.

Happy New Year from the Millers, presently somewhere.

An articles that I like and would like to share with you.  Will Mexico City one day be my home?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5184735/Why-theres-no-place-like-home-holidays.html