For the love of literature

Magic
By Maria Luisa Rullan, June 29, 2007

After all of these years, it seems impossible that I remember so much of what I read in my early childhood. Envy was the catalyst; misguided envy as it turns out. I was mortified to discover that it appeared my younger brother had learned to read before I did. He would glibly read the Coca-Cola billboards and I, impressed and envious, mistook this for reading when of course he simply recognized the logo and didn’t have a clue what the letters were. Nevertheless, it was a catalyst and to appease my eagerness to learn, the Three Kings brought me a complete set of the tiny colorful Calleja storybooks - they couldn’t have been any four inches square. I went through them very quickly. My cousin however, had a room full of books, naturally they were his favourites: The Adventures of Salgari, of Raffles and Arsenio Lupin, those lovable Robin Hoods who always seemed to land on their feet. He had the Sherlock Holmes detective stories, full of horrific crimes waiting to be solved by the master sleuth. These I was forb
idden to read as they were considered “inappropriate” for young ladies. 

I got over my disappointment the moment my grandmother began to share her romance novels with me: chaste stories of true love of course. But then I got my hands on two erotic novels, The Lady of the Camellias and The Celestina. From then on I was a relentless reader – Jules Verne’s Journey to the Center of the Earth and Around the World in Eighty Days. Dumas’ Three Musketeers . I read everything I could find and I still do. Books have given me the opportunity to live many lives – be they filled with flights of fancy or painful reality, I’ve enjoyed hours and hours of magic while living these parallel lives.







New Books at the Library: Fiction
By Luisa and Robin Velte

The new software system is up and running at the Biblioteca Pública. This means that the hundreds of books purchased during the last several months are now being added to the collection.

Here are five we’ve read and liked. Look for them on the Recent Arrivals shelves.

The Attack by Yasmina Khadra, 2006. A highly respected surgeon of Arab-Israeli descent is informed that his wife was the suicide bomber who destroyed a restaurant. Amidst grief and shock, he sets out to discover how his seemingly normal and happy wife could have hidden her real self from him.

Five Skies by Ron Carlson, 2007. Three men haunted by their past meet by chance to work together on a bizarre engineering project in Idaho’s mountains. The satisfaction of a growing friendship and of a job well done works its magic.


On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan, 2007. With compassion and humor, McEwan explores everything in a young couple’s personalities and past experiences that might have caused their disastrous wedding night, the focus of this novel. 

Once in a Promised Land by Laila Halaby, 2007. A Jordanian couple, living in Los Angeles, encounters ugly changes in their work places after September 11, 2001. At the same time, their marriage starts to crumble.

Returning to Earth by Jim Harrison, 2006. Set in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula region, this novel begins with the recollections of a 45-year-old man who is soon to die of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The novel develops into the story of a remarkable and endearing family. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, 2007. By the author of The Kite Runner, this novel is an in-depth study of two women victimized by the decades of turmoil in Afghanistan long before the Taliban comes into power.

An Ishaya monk’s tale : Spiritual wholeness found in San Miguel
Photo and Text by Deborah Whitehouse, June 29, 2007

Ascension meditation course
Fri & Sat, June 29 & 30
Sun, July 1
LifePath Center
Recreo 80
152-2531

As a young girl Judy O’Neil had an ongoing love affair with God. He was her best friend whom she could talk to, sharing her feelings, her hopes and her joy. Years later, after many conversations with her Higher Power, she decided to enter a convent. She was 18-years-old. Little did she know that within a year she would be dismissed from the convent without explanation. “They called me into the office on a Friday night when everyone else was off to bed,” she said. “They told me that it was decided that I needed a vocation and that my family had been called to pick me up at the Boston airport the next day. I was told not to say goodbye or speak to anyone about leaving. The clothes that I arrived in were already laid out on my bed. Someone would wake me early for the airport limo arrival at 5am. I thought that God had rejected me.”

Now, decades later, this little girl has grown up and found a whole new life in San Miguel teaching meditation as an Ishaya monk named Nalini. One wonders at times about what leads people to spiritual discovery and the life changes that follow. For Nalini, hindsight has proven that her early experiences would guide her to her life’s work, her contribution to the world, and that there are no accidents! 

As a young woman Judy wandered through life wondering what to do with herself. Following her expulsion from the convent she had entered the working world with her spirituality pushed far into the background of her consciousness. Something was missing. Blindly reaching for answers, she went back to school to become a high school math teacher in Miami. A call to help troubled teens in her classes would revive her spiritual gifts for helping others.

Teaching underprivileged children in Miami’s inner city schools allowed her feelings of compassion to emerge. “I realized that I could affect people positively,” she recalls, “and with it came an awakening to service. Some students would come to my class upset, and we would talk about it on an intimate level before class began. Working with young people in what was called ‘dropout prevention’ touched my soul. Because I was troubled growing up, I could give back to kids with emotional problems from divorced, alcoholic families. There was something very genuine in this. They trusted me.”

Nalini’s spiritual recovery that began in Miami grew into one of profound discovery years later in San Miguel when she first learned Ishaya meditation. She had noticed changes in friends who had learned this form of meditation, but her decision to grow was so unconscious that she attended her first class because she “had nothing better to do.” Soon after, everything began to shift. 

“Something happened in my heart!” she said. “My heart exploded! There was a hope and spark inside me… Hope for the relationship I had with my Higher Power as a child that awakened an old yearning for the spiritual in me to be truly connected. I saw a most joyous people in the monks who taught me to meditate. I was finally able to be the kind of person I always wanted to be.” Nalini now knew that she had a purpose in life that was no longer dormant. She had awakened a connection with her higher self that grew as she continued to meditate. Life opened up to her.

As Nalini continued to ascend—a word used to describe the Ishaya meditation practice—everything seemed to fall into place easily and effortlessly. Eventually she entered training to become a monk. During this period, she was given the name “Nalini” by her teacher, which translates from Sanskrit as the Goddess of Innocence. To ascend with innocence is to enjoy everything in your life as if it were happening for the first time… to see the newness even if it’s the hundredth time. “I had learned a practice that was so very simple, yet it brought me to a quiet space inside where I felt joy and peace. I never thought it was possible, but I now know why I am here.”

Perhaps it’s no accident that one whose soul was touched so young by the Divine, and then touched again in middle age working with troubled teens, was on a spiritual quest to help people. “When I look back now I realize that my higher power must have wanted me to have many experiences in life that I would have never gotten in a convent,” Nalini said. “During my monk’s training I learned to love myself, which now enables me to feel love and compassion for everyone.” When asked how her life has changed as an Ishaya monk, Nalini first responded, “I now have a direction and a purpose to my life”… but then a greater truth emerged… “ I am whole.”

An Ascension meditation course will be offered at Lifepath Center, Recreo 80, June 29, 30 and July 1. For more information call 152-2531, email sma_ishayas@yahoo.com , or visit www.ishaya.org .

An ex-pat’s thoughts on Independence Day
By Georgeann Johnson

If you are an American living in Mexico, do you think of yourself as an “ex-pat”? Canadians can be ex-pats, too, but, as this is about American Independence Day, they can feel free to opt out now.

Internationally and here in San Miguel, the term “ex-pats” is often used to refer to an individual, or colony of, foreigners. In San Miguel the term is casually used to refer to Americans and Canadians who have moved here from El Norte. But what exactly does “ex-pat” mean?

For starters, it is short for expatriate—someone who has left the “fatherland.” When one has left the US voluntarily, it also can infer that one has left because of disagreement or disgust with the way the country is being run. Can one also be an “ex-patriot”? I’m sure that many of us have had a situation in the US that has implied as much when someone has asked you, “Why do you live in Mexico anyway?”

I will confess that I don’t like the term “ex-pat” myself. For starters it has that short “a” sound and kind of sounds like “splat.” Or cow pat. It is not an appealing word. Yet another reason is that it comes from the “pat” family that is related to “fatherland.” Patriarchy, patrimony, paternal, patriotism, patriot missiles. (Does the “pat” family sound like the ring of “liberty” to you? Or does it have more authoritarian tones?) And what exactly does patriotism mean, and where, when, and how does it start? Did our budding patriotism start in grade school? I’m sure that you, too, have memories of pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…. Hand over heart, staring earnestly at the flag…“with liberty and justice for all.” Or does it start with 4th of July parades? Fireworks? Civics classes?( Do they still teach Civics? Maybe Civics bit the dust along with Art, Music, Geography.)

Sometimes I wonder how things would be different if we had grown up with the word “matriot” instead of “patriot.” If we had pledged respect for Mother Earth, instead of allegiance to a flag? To whom do we owe respect? It’s clear to me. You can salute a flag; you can hoist it or lower it; you can lay it over a coffin or even burn it. But you can’t eat it.

On July 4th, I will enjoy seeing friends and eating Bar-B-Q and potato salad. But we have had more than enough of “rockets red glare, bombs bursting in air” for me to salute the flag. However, should Ray Charles be singing about “purple mountains’ majesty and amber waves of grain,” then I will feel the sweetness of country.

But back to thoughts about Independence Day, ex-pats, and patriotism. I have lived in San Miguel de Allende long enough to know that the US is a whole lot closer to San Miguel than it used to be. Without delving into the pros and cons of that fact, I will say that one of the good things about it is that you can be an ex-pat and still be an active citizen of the country you left behind. You can be an expatriate, but you don’t have to be an ex-patriot. When the term expatriate was first in use, one indeed did leave one’s country behind—in many cases, so far behind that it was too far away to return to.

But that is not the case in San Miguel today. You can vote from here. With Vonage phones, your senator is a phone call away. With the internet, we can easily be engaged in the politics of the US. You can sign electronic petitions, email your congressman, send donations. You can connect and collude with internet allies. You can even go up in person and lend your presence to any number of important gatherings.

I myself will forgo the term “ex-pat.” I live in Mexico because I love Mexico. Punto.

Life is to be engaged and enjoyed, and La Vida here is more of both. Yet, loving life here does not preclude participating in American political life there. The US, and the world, is at a critical juncture, and we are blessed to be able to live here and still be participating citizens up there.









Letters to the Editor: 
June 29, 2007


Editor,

I was very entertained by Paul Voudouris’ letter concerning incompetent “contributors” using Atención as a channel for their infomercials. There are excellent contributors to the paper whose expertise in their respective fields is obvious in their articles. Charles Baxter’s computer column being one that stands out weekly. On the other hand, there seem to be quite a few who could be charitably classified as charlatans and hucksters.

It was also a pleasant surprise that Atención printed Paul’s letter. I think that the editorial staff’s opening themselves up to criticism can only raise the quality of the paper and attract a more competent array of writers. Was publishing this letter the sign of changes in editorial policy? 

It would be interesting to see the editorial staff respond with a State of The Paper in response to the letter and addresses the issues that it raises.

T. O’Connor

Editor,

In response to article in 6/8 edition of Atención.

I met Daniel Trujillo, the head of our police force, several years ago when I contracted his private security company, SEPRIL. After several false starts with other local security companies, I found his personnel impeccable and professional, all having benefited from his extensive training programs. It is evident these same high standards are carried into the present police force, and I consequently have much greater respect for the police officers on the street today than I have in my 20 years living in San Miguel. 

With an increasing crime rate in our city, San Miguel is incredibly lucky to have him as head of our security force. It is an utter disgrace that a police officer is put in prison like a common criminal when he shows up to work Colonia San Antonio to protect the people of San Miguel. This outrage should never have happened and I publicly implore the administration to step in and reverse this terrible injustice.

The citizenry of San Miguel may be quick to complain of police injustice and even lack of presence in the past, but where is their response to the injustice to a police officer who put his own life and future on the line and now faces the possibility of spending years in jail? He could have been killed by that bottle. We should be out in the streets with placards denouncing a legal system that allows this. Kudos to Daniel for trying to protect the rights of his maligned and abused staff. They work long shifts for incredibly little pay. One can already see a remarkable difference in their presence in this administration.

I am always amazed when I see an honorable and decent member of the administration have to grapple with the injustice of the very system they are trying to support. I hope that as San Miguel grows in size and reputation, we continue to have such impeccable and professional administrators such as Daniel Trujillo keeping the bar as high as he does. I applaud Jesus Correa’s administration for hiring him.

Michele Connor





Editor,

The article of May 29 about the environment and in particular San Miguel’s environment is enlightening. There is no question that the last few administrations have been responsible or irresponsible, depending on the point of view, for the extensive housing development in SMA. What is shocking is that the multimillion dollar homes in the “Rinconada de los Balcones” neighborhood are permitted to discharge their raw sewage in the presa. The municipality is at fault by allowing that to happen, they can not claim ignorance, for in doing so they are admitting they were not doing their job. What is the situation on all those developments that have sprung in the surrounding area? 

Of course if it is left to the developers they would want to divide a parcel of land in the most advantageous way possible for themselves, with as small lots as possible. The authorities in charge of granting developmental permits are aware that public sewer drains are not going to be feasible any time soon in those areas. Sanctioning a subdivision without sewer drains or an alternative plan is an invitation to disaster, especially when the lots are small. Small lots do not allow the proper functioning of a septic system. Housing lots that are going to be serviced by septic tank need to be al least 1000 sq. meters (1/4 acre), to allow for the tank proper, but most important for the leaching field. There needs to be a regulatory body that regulates the appropriate installation of septic systems as well as their proper functioning and periodic pumping of the system with sanitary disposal of the contents. 

R. Kandell



Editor,

We just finished our first garage sale for the benefit of Hospice San Miguel with great success. We want to thank all the people who generously donated things for the sale, all of you who supported us by your purchases, and the many volunteers who unselfishly worked to make it a successful event. We were able raise money that will be used to provide hospice services the community.

We plan to do future sales and are always happy to accept donations from 10am to 5pm Monday through Friday. Call for pickup if necessary.


Thanks to all,
Lee Carter
Executive Director
Hospice San Miguel
Tel: 152-4287
mail@hospicesma.org 





Editor,

Thank you for publishing the new food and cooking column, “The Dinner Goddess,” by Lila Shaw Lash. Each column is informative, friendly, engaging, inspiring. This professional cook sends the reader to her favorite San Miguel stores for cut meats, healthy vegetables, special foods and cooking items, thus making shopping in town a delight-filled adventure. Supporting local, owner-on-site, homegrown San Miguel food markets and tiendas is easy to do, affordable for anyone and helps the local economy tremendously. One has to ask: why would we ever shop at Mega for food??? 

Patrice Wynne



Editor,

I am sure I am not the only Atención reader who is an avid listener to internet radio. Unfortunately, the future of internet radio is in immediate danger. Royalty rates for webcasters have been drastically increased by a recent ruling and are due to go into effect on July 15 and be retroactive to January 1, 2006! This could put a good many radio stations out of the webstreaming “business.” We can’t let this happen and you can help! All you have to do is go to www.savenetradio.org for [simple] instructions on what you can do about this. Don’t Let The Music (and more) Die!

Thank you,
Barbara Luboff.