She Said:
Ironically we left our lives in Minneapolis to escape our hectic routines, or should I say, my hectic routine, but it seems, along with the rest of the animal world, human beings are destined to fall into routines.
Here at our casa in Zona Romantica, the roosters who reside kitty corner from us start crowing at about 5:30 AM. I personally find my way out of bed around 7 AM. After washing my face and, of course, making the bed, I am ready for my first cup of coffee on our small but entertaining balcony. Side note here…Judd insisted we would never use our balcony as it was just too close to the street. Yet, we have our coffee here every day, and I am writing this blog post on it right now while enjoying a more relaxing beverage.
The cast of morning characters is pretty much the same every morning making them all the more endearing:
• The Garbage Guys or Basura Boys who efficiently pick up the garbage and then wave “Buenos Dias Senora” from the back of their truck
• The vast array of roosters who come to check out what’s left for them
• The lady who then sweeps up any scraps around the garbage cans and then hoses the area down with soap and water
• The older gay couple and their dogs who really make me miss the show “Vicious”
• The polite young man who says “Buenos Dias” to me every morning
• The school kids in their adorable uniforms
• The elderly Englishman and his elderly dog
And the list goes on. You get the idea.
Then it is off for my Malecon walk, but that is another post.
He Said:
Early morning’s mourning mirror
I tie my tie to disappear
I go downtown
And run around
Like nothing…”
(Fragment from “Living Dead from 9- to-5” –Homeless in the Heart, 1994)
Mornings, and life in general much, much slower now. Although there is some variation, I’m usually up by 5:30 AM, Marcia still sleeps so it’s Coffee for One. Caffeine and a pinch of chew on top of that and then, miracle of miracles, my brain springs to life. Open my Kindle, catch up on my chess and Words with Friends, then peruse Google news and BBC. The joy of quiet time. Contemplation and amaretto creamer. Maybe knock out a haiku if one emerges.
first sip of coffee
as the early roosters crow…
soon I will join you
When I hear my esposa begin stirring (a euphemism for moaning?), I head to the kitchen to prepare Coffee for Two. To say Marcia is not a morning person would be an extreme understatement. She waits on the balcony for me to bring her the coffee I have prepared in deep love, but always approach with caution. Then I sit with her, and ever so gradually, lead the savage beast back to her marvelous and bountiful humanity… then, the garbage truck appears and our day officially begins.
