The here and now... and what and why

Complacency is a trap. At least that’s what I was thinking when I up and left the comfort of a Yankee prep school gig, where I taught music, amongst other things, for 28 years. There was also that life long career as a composer, musician and artist.

First, it was a year in St. Thomas, USVI, working as a reporter and shooting photography and then, a year in San Agustin Etla, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Time passed.
More time passed and a year back in the Athens of America followed by a hasty return to Oaxaca where it is all happening.
A couple of years in San Sebastian Etla and now, just down the road in San Pablo Etla. Life is good.

Click on an image to see it larger.
For additional photography please visit my flickr page.
You can find my music on Jango (World & latin - Worldbeat) and at iTunes and most online stores.
¡Soy consciente de todas las tradiciones del Internet!
If you are coming to Oaxaca, please contact me for tours or advice.

Santo Domingo

Santo Domingo
The view from Corazon del Pueblo

The hereafter re me

My photo
Oaxaca, Oaxaca, Mexico
Musician, photographer, videographer, reporter, ex-officio teacher, now attempting to be a world traveler

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Betwix and between

The eve before the big day, El Grito, September 16.  2oo years since winning independence from Spain and 100 years since the toppling of the dictator, Porfiro Diaz.  Viva Mexico!

In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico's War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.
I wish I was there, but... I'm not.  So start the revolution without me.

And i guess I am not sure where I am, maybe between worlds.  So much has changed in El Norte in such a short time.  I barely recognize the place.  Sure, many things are the same, but in case you haven't noticed one of the political parties has gone Galt or something like that.  And the rampant greed and hatred, what people are openly saying, well, it has done a number on me.  And there is NOTHING on teevee, just total sh*t, reality shows and idiot talking heads - as Sting says, "they all look like game show hosts to me."  Man, I am paying big bucks for expanded basic cable and I've got a channel that show nothing but old hockey games all the time!?!

So I feel like an alien here and I feel like, and always will be, an alien in Oaxaca.  Being of two places is really like being of neither.

It makes me think of the kids we used to teach that came from inner cities or foreign countries.  They were never gonna be preps and when they went home, they were no longer homeys.  It was and is a tough way to live, but it opens many doors, many insights.  Back to the other world, Oaxaca, in a few days.  Eyes wide open.

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