Its the Eve before Christmas Eve and back at the RV Resort....

I am back at my RV looking for the Ibuprofen bottle. It is 84 degrees and I just got back from playing my first game of water volley ball.   We had a Christmas dance last night here in the park. The band played a mixture of western/ranchero/oldies music. This time I did not lack for having dance partners. I was no longer the new kid but an accepted member of this community. I had fun and was invited to poolside today for wet ball play. I discovered that it was a wee bit more challenging than I first thought. Its like trying to walk in wet peanut butter.  So the other side sent a preponderance of their shots to me so I could "practice" they said.  A good many laughs were had at my expense by both teams. Wait till tomorrow....
I participated in The Las Pasadas celebration that I told you about in the previous blog. This reenactment tradition goes back to Spain in the 1500s when St. Ignatius Loyola suggested that special prayers be offered on nine consecutive nights before Christmas.. In 1580s a religious pageant was made out of those prayers and the Spanish missionaries in Mexico used the pageant to help Indian converts come to understand the story of the nativity.  In time this celebration became part of the folk life of the common people in private homes and community life. Following the pageant is when the food is laid out abundantly and the games and festivities begin, often with a piñata at the end. The finale of the Las Posadas ends on Christmas Eve with the "Misa de Gallo" or "Midnight Mass" followed by the 12 days of Christmas.

I walked, sang and celebrated with my fellow church goers. I also ate many of the tamales I had help prepare the day before. It was a Holy and good time for all.
Being close to the University, the church here has an orchestra and a choir. I expect the Christmas Eve service, with candle lightening, special music and Holy Eucharist, to also be an unforgettable event.

I took the opportunity to head to South Padre Island on one of our 80 degree days. I drove to the end of the road and then walked for an hour heading North along the beach. You can drive the shore here but I am a little leery of getting the heavy one ton stuck.  So barefoot in the sand I walk the shoreline while the waters lap over my ankles. The sun is warm and the wind is cool to my skin. The mixture of the winds, sounds of the surf and frequent crying of the shore birds are my constant company.  Every now and then a surf fisherman would drive by me heading to some favorite remote spot. With a wave and a smile they would share the road with me and be off.
I reflect on where I am at this time in my life.   I am at peace. I am healthy. I realize that I do have many blessings of children and grandchildren. I love and in return am loved. I am humbled by this creation that I walk in and its Creator. In a very short time we will celebrate the coming of Christ. It is a time of happiness and of hope.  My wish for you my friends and family is for "A Very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!"

 PPS...


On the way home I celebrated my glorious day at the beach with an appropriate offering...beer and gulf oysters...Yummy!



Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

I got my "tree" up. Or rather it is suctioned to the back window with lights and decorations. I also have a garland of lights with pine cones strung across one interior wall above the kitchen sink. My final touch is a lighted green wreath just as you enter the door. I flanked the tree with Mr and Mrs Snowman and even have hung stockings on the mantle above the fireplace.   As I write this, I have a jazz Christmas CD playing in the background for added effect.  This is my home and it is now ready for the Christmas Gift Season. But something is missing! Hold on! I just got several gifts in the mail and have placed them by the tree. All is now ready.

During the nine days before Christmas, many Spanish speaking Catholics reenact Joseph and Mary's search for lodging.  Costumed figures walk through the neighborhood with Mary riding a donkey, knocking at doors, and are refused entrance. At the last place they are welcomed, and a party with piñatas and food begins. I am helping the Lutheran church I attend to prepare the food for this event here in the upper Rio Grande Valley. Today, I have spent the morning making tamales from scratch. Or at least putting them together. It is a family affair and a 90 year Hispanic grandmother, her sister, a son and granddaughter taught me how to do it and I am going to show you.
This is the food we will have here at this church (the place where all will gather to provide shelter for Joseph and Mary) the last stop or Inn stable.

It very simple to make. All one needs to make 40 dozen tamales is ground corn or masa, a hogs head, (thats right a hogs head), 20 # shredded roasted pork, 5 # lard, corn husks for packaging meat mixture and lots of conversation to pass the time. Oh the key thing is the elderly grandmother who would taste the mixture for chili, salt, pepper,garlic, and cumin flavors. She also would test the texture and consistence of the lard and corn dough. Its a matter of experience. She was cute and in charge for sure!

The corn masa was shaped in to a shallow bowl and juices from the previous nights pork roasting and hogs head rendering was poured into the depression and kneaded.

 Next lard (and lots of it) was added along with the seasonings until the corn dough was the right consistency.(I actual did this until I got tired and another took-over!) It is spreadable, like a thick cheese spread. The final test was the grandmother would make a small ball of the mixture the size of a marble and place it in a cup of lukewarm water. If it floated it was ready.
While this process is going on the meat is separated from the bones and shredded. One just has to make sure that all bone, cartilage, eyeballs, ears and such (the stuff that added flavor but does not digest well) are discarded.  The corn husk are soaked in a warm solution of water in the kitchen sink until the texture is soft and pliable but not tearable.

 I was asked by my mentor the grandmother to taste the corn mixture for seasonings. When I suggested that more chili powder was needed and not salt, she gave me a quick smile of agreement.   I felt like I had won the lottery. The corn mixture layer is then spread on the corn husk. A meat pile is placed on this layer and then rolled up like a crescent roll. The final cooking will take place by steaming the rolled tamales till done.
I was on my feet for 3 hrs with a few others doing this. My back hurts from leaning over the prep table and feet ache from standing, but I do look forward to eating tomorrow. Now to check out the hot tub.....

Winter Haven (so to speak)

My site is 40'x50'. But there are sand burrs and red ants as neighbors too.

Natures Resort

I am finally settled for the winter near Edinburg, Texas. Last year I spent the winter in California and Arizona. This year I am back to southern Texas. Prior to last year I stayed in the eastern portion of the Rio Grande Valley. This time I am further west. I came here knowing only one couple-Lee and Jay. Winter of last year we were together and we are again this year. My life is never dull around them!  This resort is newer . It has about 90 RV and Modular sites with a 19 person hot tub (my weakness), a heated volley ball pool ( 4 ft deep), and heated lap pool. There is a club house for gatherings like games, potlucks and dances. Lots of open grassed spaces. The important thing for me is that the people here are very friendly to newcomers. 3 days after my arrival there were several Xmas cards in my mail box from folks I had not met yet. Smiles and hugs are abundant. Its like I was a returnee instead of a newbie.
I am familiar with this part of the valley but now just closer to the flea and farmers' market and my favorite border town. The University of Texas-Pan American college is here for cultural activities and there is a lot of Texas history to investigate.  This area has a strong Hispanic history and dominance.  It is jokingly referred to as "occupied Mexico" by the non Hispanic occupants. This influences the shopping stores, music, food and cultural activities. But it is a hoot to go into a major grocery and listening to a Hispanic-speaking  food vendor demonstrating the oriental art of making great sushi and handing out tasty samples.
It has taken me a week of just holding up getting my nest ready by washing windows and fixing the main TV that developed 2 loose cable connections in 2 different places. (I had to replace  a couple coaxial connectors) I had long loose wires hanging from the ceiling and wall cabinets. It took me a bit. My only other maintenance item was to replace both truck 12 volt batteries. Yes, on the 32 degree frosty morning I left San Antonio, my motorized baby would not turn over.  I borrowed a tractor to jump start and I was off after a 30 minute delay. After getting here it again failed to start the next day so I was off to my favorite wally-world and let then put in 2 high cranking power sources. Again God is just reminding me to remain humble...that I am not in charge most of the time!

With all the concern about the cartel issues around the border, I asked questions and still went to a little town to eat, shop for medicines and bring cheaper booze back for the house. It was very quiet with moderate tourista traffic. Of course I went to one of my favorite eating places. Had chicken fajita meal with all that you  see for $6.00.

When I left there I went to Rio Hondo on the Texas side to visit people in the small resort I used to stay in. As luck can be they were having a Christmas House warming with lots of decorations to view and food to eat. You really have to be there to appreciate the decorations that this one couple does to her home an RV. They have 2 RVs side by side. With in them I saw: 187 Mr & Mrs Santas, 81 Snowmen, 42 Bears, 42 decorated trees of all sizes, 35 Reindeer, 28 Angels, and at least a dozen Elves, dolls, nutcrackers. There is even a full sized animated Santa. I visited friends. They took the opportunity to tell Chip stories of course. Much to the glee of all gathered.  It was fun. I have been invited back on dance night with pre-arranged dance partners...I will be there.

My First Post

Greetings All:
This is my first post on Blogger.com since I have discontinued the goodsam.mytripjournal.com/chipstravellog one. This new series begins when I left North Dakota in September 2010. I am starting a new phase in my life. I realize that I am a seeker. I also realize that my search is for contentment in spiritual and also physical forms. I will find these in the various experiences that I encounter from the relationships that I make with others on this journey. It is the journey that is important. So I am off and will journal these ventures. I am not quite sure how I will document my travels but will want you to comment and to travel with me. We'll see how that goes.

First Stop 2010 Escapees RV Gathering in Goshen, Indiana. This is a organization of folks who live full time on the road in their RVs.- couples and single men and women for which the call of the road is very strong. Annually we get together for a rally in which we educate, share stories and tips of what to do and not to do and and how to do.  We eat, drink and be merry and remember those who have taken the last road home since last year. It is a celebrate of life and freedom. It is a blast. There were over 1200 rigs there.  A good time was had by all.
I was there for 6 days and then scooted to Eureka Springs, Arkansas for a few days before doing what I really wanted to do. That was to go see my grandsons in Manhattan, Kansas. I had been talking on the phone and video chatting with Josiah and Levi. They were expecting "Pop-pop" to come and see them all summer. I did.   Then they came  to see me and stay in what Josiah calls my "real House" for a long weekend. The neat thing is that a couple of week later I went to Kansas with my "house on Wheels" (another Josiah) for Thanksgiving as the beginning of my first leg to head South for the winter.

Another highlight for me during the month of October was to head back to Virginia and Va Tech for my 40th College reunion. The last one I had made was with Valorie it was no 5.  35 Years difference. It was a blast as well. It was fun to see how we all had faired with aging. Some I recognized right off and had not changed a bit.   Most like me were balding, fat and wrinkled. But it was like yesterday. We had several meals together and the banquet featured a DJ that spin tunes of the 60s for our dancing pleasure.  Most of my class mates were married but I encountered two great women who were there together and that filled out my dance card completely. Of course we had a football game to go to and we won to boot!

Linda and Daisy made it Fun

 My brother Mark and his wife Denice gave me a place to stay at their home near campus.

Lived here for 3 years in 80s

 On my way to visit my brother in Winchester, I stopped near Roanoke , VA to visit old friends the Pierces. They still lived in the old neighbor hood. This is the first time I have seen their boys all grown up. Now that made me feel old!

 In Winchester, Va I stayed with Bruce and Ann (upper right) and my Sister Angel and her brood keep noise and excitement always happening.

Sister Kaye put me up in Petersburg Va.and Sister Pam and and Debbie Hosted me in Fayetteville, NC.

I was gone 3 weeks on this Va Family and Reunion Journey. I will do it again. But next time, I will bring my home on wheels with me. I missed being surround by familiar stuff. My home truly is where I park it.