fewer virgins this year

Today is the festival of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Of course we've been "celebrating" for the past 12 days; fireworks and church bells. But not the same as in years past. The commotion usually starts at 5 AM with rockets and church bells announcing the early mass. Then the whole thing all over again at noon, 5 PM, and 10 PM. All through the village are little shrines to the Virgin decorated with statues, pictures, candles, flowers. This year there is less of everything. Why? This town, like others all over Mexico, has fallen on hard times. First and foremost, the priest died last year, quite suddenly, and no new priest has been called to fill the post. Masses are few and far between. If there is no mass, no bells announcing same. There is a substitute who makes the rounds of priest-less villages who comes here on Sunday, but otherwise, services are rosaries only. Fireworks are usually only in the morning; they are too expensive and families and individuals who pay for them simply cannot do it this year. As for "Where have all the virgins gone?", there are far fewer altars than usual. But tonight will be the usual end-of-festival fireworks and craziness up on the main street in front of the Cathedral. I've been a couple of times but find it too loud, confusing, and, partly, dangerous. A couple of years ago Jack got hit with a firecracker and his shirt caught on fire. So Mr. C will undoubtedly go to represent the family. I will stay tucked up here with a good book.

This morning began the new season of the Met's Saturday opera broadcasts; Il Trittico, three one-act operas by Puccini. I have done everything I can think of to beam it into the computer and out the auxillary speakers, but to no avail. I hope to have better luck with next week's offering, Les Comtes d'Hoffmann.

Jaime came by this morning to give the patio situation the once-over. We are having all the scummy bricks taken up in the front and the two pathways along either side of the house, some dead plants ripped out. This will be replaced by poured cement with pebble seams and borders along the plant beds. Photos, of course. The front area desperately needs a face lift. Then I'll go tree shopping; I have already seen what I want. Now I just have to locate one in a nursery.