A surprising city — Touted as the leather capitol of the world, Leon, Guanajuato is also Mexico’s fourth largest city. Wikipedia lists its population as 1,579,803 compared to Montreal, Canada’s 1,762,949. That was my first surprise. I live in Zihuatanejo, Mexico (population 124,609). It’s a quiet fishing village blessed by lovely beaches. What’s missing…

That’s a good question to ask — I decided early in life that I should work at what I loved, because if you love your work, you will be good at it (no one loves doing things they’re not good at). If you’re good at something, you can usually make money doing it, and even if you…

A pandemic story — March 11, 2020, I was in Zihuatanejo, Mexico with my partner Marie when the WHO announced that Covid was a pandemic. She is from Quebec, Canada. Her travel health insurance was running out, but she had her Canadian health card. Everyone was rushing to get on the last flight out…

Why is there a tent city protest in the main plaza of Oaxaca, Mexico? — If you’re not into social justice and just want a nice travel story, skip this and go to my previous story about Oaxaca here https://medium.com/globetrotters/oaxaca-in-seven-souvenirsc0480b369a57. In the main Plaza, in front of the government offices for the state of Oaxaca, you can’t help but notice the tent city and protest…

Understanding why I am the way I am. — As a child, and to some extent all my life, my father was my hero. He was also a binge alcoholic who would disappear for several days at a time when he drank. My mother would send me in to talk to him after he returned and sobered up. “He…

If you’re responsible, you can’t ignore the call — When does parenting end? Never! My son, Eric called one night. He said, “Sit down. I have a big ask of you.” “I’m sitting down what’s up?” “I tore the tendons on the back of my right leg and need an operation to reattach them. …

Or lack of it — For the last 50- or 60-years education in America has been the poor stepchild. Teachers have remained underpaid, facilities have not been upgraded, and curriculums have been molded to suit whatever fringe philosophy is current. One disturbing result has been “Trumpism”. While it’s true some Trump supporters are well educated…

We’re going to Morocco — Just the other night my wife announced my Valentine’s/ birthday present. A trip for the two of us accompanied by her two daughters and their partners for 12 days in Morocco. …

Or do we decide what happens in our lives? — Some people I know believe that everything is predestined. I have been told, “We decide nothing. Everything has already been decided by God or The Universe. You only think it is your decision.” Many Presbyterians adhere to this view. The idea seems to have originated from an Augustinian view of…