Mexico

Every year for 4 years, we have gone to Mexico for Christmas. But this year we stay home.

Frank's grandmother turns 100. Presumably Mexico will be there in the months ahead, but the 100th birthday comes once for a person, and not for many of us. This opportunity won't be available other than the day it happens.

We attended the Guadalupe mass in Spanish on Sunday and discovered a vibrant Latino community we did not know before. We will return to St. Mary's for their posada and Christmas Eve mass to share in a tradition that has become our own. After all we go to Mexico at this time to immerse ourselves in Christmas connected to church and home, to God. To escape the Santa Shopping craziness.

I hadn't realized how much we'd separated from the consumer side till last week when I realized I didn't know what to do to prepare for an at home Christmas. It has required us to look at everything with deliberation. Who would have thought?