'18/#32 Feliz Navidad

This is my Merry Christmas blog from the Rio Grande Valley. it is that time of year when everyone is getting into the spirit of the holiday. While some the spirits of the holiday may be getting into them (LOL). Anyway the office in the park is overflowing with decorations and the rest of the building is decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and garland. Christmas dinner in the hall is coming together nicely and those of us who want a quieter celebration are getting things ready for our holiday meal at home.

Last week we drove down to Hidalgo to see the Annual Festival of Lights put on by the city and local businesses. The stores are all dressed up and Christmas music is playing everywhere. The crowds haven't been too bad. It is just the usual Winter Texan congestion just like the Snow Bird situation in Florida.

In our home we have put up our flat Christmas tree, strung some garland with a number of ornaments, and have several music emitting decorations and animated items. we are starting to watch all the Christmas shows we have saved to our DVR and of course there is Christmas music playing. Sometimes Mary even joins in and when she belts them out....well lets say she should keep her day job. I love her and wouldn't dream of stopping her but sometime I have to find ways to deal with the excess (ahem) noise.

We have decided that on Christmas eve to go to the office and make sure all the last minute packages that show up get delivered to the residents in the park. It is not something that we have to do, but in the spirit of Christmas and as retired postal workers we feel it will be our contribution to making sure that everyone has a Merry Christmas.

Well I am going to end this blog now. We are volunteering in concessions for tonight's dance so we have to eat a little early. This may or may not be my last blog before Christmas so we are sending out our Merry Christmas wish to everyone now from our home in Pharr TX because......

Home is where we park it,
Frank and Mary

'18/31 We Scaled The Wall

We have been here in the Rio Grande Valley now for a month and it was time to go to Mexico. The park bus was going so we joined the party instead of driving. As we approached the border we kept an eye out for the troops that were stationed down here to keep the South American caravan from crossing into the US. Since the city of Donna is just a few towns from where we cross in Progresso we expected to see some build up of troops but none were to be found.

At the bridge crossing, the Mexican check point was the same as before. A fifty cent pedestrian toll and welcome to Mexico. When we go by bus we usually have about four hours to spend in Progresso so we just strolled down the main street and checked out the stores to see if anything had changed. Not all of the shops were open but for the most part it was business as usual.

Like most Winter Texans we picked up a few trinkets and some OTC medicine that is considered prescription medication in the USA. These medications are also at a substantially lower price. That tells you something about the pharmaceutical business in the US.

Last year I finally got Mary to eat lunch in Mexico and since she survived we decided to have lunch before we headed back to the bus. Two lunch plates, two margaritas, and a beer for $15 and it was delicious. Apparently the margaritas were a little potent and hit Mary a bit harder than she expected. Needless to say she was enjoying herself.

Well it was time to get back to the bus. A 25 cent toll to get back to the good old USA, a check of our passports, and we were on our way home. No soldiers, no barbed wire, no invading horde. All a bunch of baloney to scare the American public.

The bus was ready to leave and Mary was already closing her eyes. It was a quiet trip back to the park with our fellow travelers tired and Mary with a little buzz.

Once home Mary continued her nap in her own bed in our home in Pharr because...

Home is where we park it.
Frank and Mary


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