MeXscape

Well, the Carnaval folks made it. Mostly. Thursday night was pretty much a bust. Only one stage was erected. Vendors were scarce. Olas Altas was devoid of partiers. I guess none of the organizers were really concerned about this end of town since El Recodo was playing at the Aquarium, and the majority of the population of Mazatlan and the surrounding area was there. We had a surprisingly quiet evening until 3:00 AM. During the night, all of the trucks and crews arrived and erected the stages and started sound checking. The noise I had missed all afternoon woke me from my very last sound sleep.

I have had my head down recently and haven't been participating in the Carnaval countdown. It's not something I usually have to make an effort to pay attention to. The city makes long and thorough preparations for Carnaval, and I can easily gauge the nearness of the date by what is going on around me.

I come from Texas, where every New Year's Day we ate a hearty bowl of black eyed peas for luck in the New Year. The tradition dates back to the War of Northern Aggression (that's the Civil War for all you who don't speak Southern). When the Yankees came through, they confiscated what food they could carry and burned what they couldn't, including the crops in the field. The only thing that survived were the black eyed peas. They sustained the Southerners through the winter, and they felt lucky to have them indeed. So, in most Southern households, you will find a pot of black eyed peas with the leftover Christmas ham bone simmering on the stove on New Year's Day.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the casa, not a creature was stirring -- Caramba! Que pasa? Los ninos were tucked away in their camas, some in long underwear, some in pajamas. While hanging the stockings with mucho cuidado in hopes that old Santa would feel obligado. To bring all children, both buenos y malos, a nice batch of dulces and other regalos.

For anyone who is here and interested, tonight should be "El Grito" - the huge mass affirmation of independence. It happens in Plaza Republica across from the Catedral. Lots of people, lots of shouting, lots of fireworks, lots of fun. Last year, we could hear the cries of ¡Viva México! from our house. The shout usually happens at 10:00 pm.