Xmas xtra

Christmas Eve with the Gonzales.

As informal as it can be.
The women cooking a delicious meal.
But exceptionally the dinner is not served in the kitchen but on the big table in what could be considered their salon.

Who wants, joins and eats.
One or two though go to sleep.
Some eat later.
Nobody is dressed up.
There is nothing alcoholic.

But by gosh, they do have a good time together.
They don’t have much money and they don’t live in wealth but they are warm and caring for each other.

More and more Gumaro is the head of the family.
At 61 years of age he is the oldest now.
And highly respected.

The children are helping as much as they can.
Making the table, serving the food, cleaning the table.
And not one adult has to ask them.

At the end of the dinner there are presents.
Although it’s hard to earn money and not much comes in, the children all do get presents.
For some reason, the daughter of Christina called after her grandmother Lucretia, gets proportionally a lot of presents.
She gets actually pampered and why is this?
The other children though seem to know because not one is showing envy.

The dinner over and the presents unwrapped, they sit down comfortably and Norma prepares a whiskey soda for her father, for her uncle and for her brother.
And soon that makes the conversation lively.
Especially because Gumaro, when he is in the mood and Christmas and whiskey helps in that matter, starts talking: he is a great story teller.
Stories from his childhood: how his mother secretly dressed up as the devil to scare her children out in the field not to play in a laguna for fear of drowning.
The story has been told on different occasions but still tears come from Gumaro’s eyes as it makes him still laugh from his heart.
And everybody around him laugh with him: not so much for the story anymore but for seeing Gumaro so happy again.

This is Christmas in optima forma.
People together in peace and harmony: happy and content with each other.







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A child is an extra dimension

Christmas is a good time at the rancho of the Gonzales family at Punta Boca del Salado in Baja California, Mexico.
This is for one reason only.
All the children of the large family are there.
And this brings a liveliness to the place that makes feel joy, hope and bliss.

Twice a day they want “classos”.
That we all sit around the table under the big palmtree leaved roof.
Each child having a piece of paper and a pen.
On top of the paper they write their name, the date and draw a large box.
This box serves to note the stars they are going to make when having accomplished the challenges successfully.

They chose themselves what subject they want: English, Spanish, mathematics, drawing.
And they chose themselves how many stars they have earned for the job they did.

What makes this teaching so interesting is to try to give as much independence to the child as possible.
It is absolutely authoritative to decide for a child how good or how bad the result of working is.
The child knows this very well and can decide him/herself how much should be awarded.
And the child should chose what it wants to do.
There are moments a child is for example more ready and in the mood to do mathematics.
Then why impose to want to teach English?

Another vital aspect to the teaching that makes it so interesting and such a joy is that children remain interested and eager to learn if the challenges are presented to them each time in a new and different way.
This asks creativity and inventiveness of the teacher.
The rule is, the more of this is put into it, the more will come out.
So, in fact the children are teaching the teacher also.
To be creative and inspiring.

Never a session with the children is ended without telling them:
muchas gracias, estudiantes.
And this is sincere because the children are adding a fantastic dimension to life.



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Happy for a truck

These days dear friend Gumaro Gonzales is a happy man.
He got himself a new car.
And he is very proud of it.

He bought the impressive vehicle through a friend who knows an American that brought the car down to Mexico.
It is a Ford F250, with a diesel engine, from 1997 and has 150.000 miles on the clock.

Gumaro paid $ 10.000 for the truck.
Not having cash money because the economy is doing so badly in Mexico, he traded a piece of land he owned to purchase the car.

It is a beautiful pick-up truck and still in very good shape.













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A family reunion in images

A family reunion

A special day at the rancho of the Gonzales family at Punta Boca del Salado in Mexico.
All the brothers and sisters are coming together at the location where they were born and raised.
Even the sister that lives in the USA.

For this occasion a cow and some chicken are killed for the big dinner in the afternoon.

With the brothers and sisters most of their children have come as well.

The pioneering photographer is invited to join the party and runs over there soon to publish the pictures here later.

A day and days

Miguel Gonzales in February 1995

Miguel Gonzales in March 2010





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tsu tsu tsunami

In the morning the BBC Worldservice informed that a serious earthquake had occurred in Chile, South America.
Due to this earthquake a tsunami developed in the Pacific Ocean.
Not only going at jet speed to Hawai.
But also to Baja California.

Soon the first e-mail from a dear friend nearby came in:

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is issuing alerts that a tsunami has been created as a result of the earthquake in Chile. According to my calculations that means it will be here any time now - they are estimating it will arrive around 9:45AM!! Please take precautions and stay out of the water and away from beaches. Exposure does not matter as the wave will wrap AROUND!! Stay safe!!

So, what exactly had this Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to say ?

TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 010
PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
ISSUED AT 1545Z 27 FEB 2010

THIS BULLETIN APPLIES TO AREAS WITHIN AND BORDERING THE PACIFIC
OCEAN AND ADJACENT SEAS...EXCEPT ALASKA...BRITISH COLUMBIA...
WASHINGTON...OREGON AND CALIFORNIA.

... A WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT ...

A TSUNAMI WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR

CHILE / PERU / ECUADOR / COLOMBIA / ANTARCTICA / PANAMA /
COSTA RICA / NICARAGUA / PITCAIRN / HONDURAS / EL SALVADOR /
GUATEMALA / FR. POLYNESIA / MEXICO / COOK ISLANDS / KIRIBATI /
KERMADEC IS / NIUE / NEW ZEALAND / TONGA / AMERICAN SAMOA /
SAMOA / JARVIS IS. / WALLIS-FUTUNA / TOKELAU / FIJI /
AUSTRALIA / HAWAII / PALMYRA IS. / TUVALU / VANUATU




A serious alert therefore; including Mexico!
A tsunami coming!!

But what is exactly a tsunami?
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center:
A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE FIRST WAVE MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST.
TSUNAMI WAVE HEIGHTS CANNOT BE PREDICTED AND CAN VARY
SIGNIFICANTLY ALONG A COAST DUE TO LOCAL EFFECTS.
THE TIME FROM ONE TSUNAMI WAVE TO THE NEXT CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO AN HOUR, AND THE THREAT CAN CONTINUE FOR MANY HOURS AS MULTIPLE WAVES ARRIVE.

Soon after, a new e-mail:

Michel, YOU MUST GET OUT OF THE ARROYO NOW!!! THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU WILL BE GREATLY AFFECTED BY THE TSUNAMI - GET OUT OF THERE. PLEASE GO TELL EVERYONE IN BDS TOO. EVERYONE MUST STAY 100 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL!!!!! GO NOW

Pretty serious, that tsunami coming from Chile.
Without hesitation the Fuso Szulc was made ready to travel, a procedure that takes over half an hour.
While watching the sea from a corner of the eye in case the first sign of huge waves could be seen yet.

Next, the Gonzales family was informed about the tsunami coming.
The dear friends are in the dry river bed as well and at about sea level and big waves would wash them away.
And their animals too.
Amazingly, they didn't know anything about an earthquake in Chile and a tsunami coming.
But fortunately they took the news serious.
Gumaro jumped into his pick-up truck and raced to where his son was delivering water with their tanker.
To go and save him from possible danger.
The gates of the corrals were opened and the horses happily galloped into freedom.
The cars and trucks of the family were driven to higher grounds.
The chained dogs couldn't believe their luck thinking their ordeal had ended when they were set free.
The many roosters in their cages the Gonzales keep for cockfights were left where they were.
Letting the expensive animals go was not considered.

A new e-mail from the dear friend living nearby:

you have some time, but please do move to higher ground - my estimate of time of arrival was wrong

Fortunately, the Gonzales didn't panic.
They took it in a relaxed way.
Maybe also because they have no concept what is exactly a tsunami.
Never one occurred where they live.
And because they don't read newspapers, see no magazines, do not watch the news on TV they have never seen a tsunami and its devastating effects elsewhere in the past.

The Fuso Szulc was parked on top of the hill.
Close to the edge with a fabulous view of the sea and the dry river bed.
Great observation post to see a tsunami happening.



Another e-mail!

SORRY, I HAD THE TIME CONVERSION WRONG - THE TSUNAMI IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AT 12:45PM TODAY. JERRY BARSTOW SAYS THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING TOLD TO GET 100 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL, WHICH MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE ON THE PENINSULA...I SUGGEST THAT IF YOU ARE HERE YOU GO TO HIGH GROUND.

In the meantime the news of the Chilean earthquake and the tsunami had spread around the world.
Also the people in the Netherlands knew now about it.
A Skype call!!
Another dear friend calling to warn and advice to look for higher grounds.

But right then, the weather was fabulous and the sea like a mirror.
With even some boats fishing and sailing.
Hardly any wind and a nice temperature.
Impossible to imagine that suddenly huge waves would come to bring devastation and disaster.

As everybody and everything was in safe places now, a relaxed lunch could be afforded now overlooking the Sea of Cortez waiting for the waves to come while the Nikon D 300 was stand by to document the cruel phenomenon for eternity.

But in the end, nothing happened.
Absolutely nothing could be noticed of an earthquake in Chile.
Of a tsunami hitting land with high waves.
The day remained as beautiful and peaceful as all the others.

Now, was one to feel disappointed or was one to feel relieved?
Maybe both?



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Swimming in money

Besides the daily running, there is also the daily swimming.
In the Sea of Cortez.
Each morning, after finishing writing and publishing the blog and replying electronic mail, a 15 minutes walk is made along the shoreline to a wide bay.
Where is a sandy beach and no rocks.
For having easy and safe access to the sea.

There are no houses built yet along this beach and rarely in the morning one of the gringo's drive by on their decadent ATV's.
Hence, swimming takes place in the European way: all clothes are taken off and the fish see a human as he was born.

First the swim goes east, away from the beach.
And when a point beyond the surf has been reached, course is changed for the south to swim parallel to the beach.
For about 12 minutes to turn around and go back.
Then total relaxation is achieved by floating on the back with arms and legs spread while releasing Bhudist sounds of relief and de-stressing.
But then once more, the swimming goes south all the way, to return and relax again before coming out of the water.
Total swimming time: about 45 minutes.

These days the water of the Sea of Cortez is not warm anymore.
But not cold either.
In fact, it has a perfect temperature for Olympic Games style swimming.
One thing though is that jelly fish and other vile creatures surprise sometimes the swimmer.
Therefore the throat, the breast and the forearms are marked these days by swellings.
Where jelly fish have touched and burned their tentacles into the human flesh.
But they are unable to create fear and stop the courageous swimmer.

After swimming there is always a visit to the kitchen of the Gonzales for having a cup of Mexican rancho coffee.
They have a mill in which they crush coffee beans and the coffee powder is cooked in a kind of sock hanging in the metal coffee pot on the fire.
They add sugar and serve the coffee with fresh milk from their cows.
But besides the excellent coffee, this moment of day, several more people come to the kitchen for coffee.
And the most interesting conversations take place.
Yesterday Daniel and Kiah happened to be there.
The conversation went from the fishing on his small boat Daniel is doing to the pirates of Somalia who fish for big boats and lives to cash ransom.
Hence, pretty soon it was communally decided that it was an easy and convenient way of making some money.
The idea was born to lock up Kiah in this small house on the property of the Gonzales and ask her family for a ransom so we all could go out for dinner.
Although Kiah had no objection, she claimed her family had no money and therefore wouldn't pay.
And surprisingly, every participant in the conversation believed it was a great plan, and not one objected to be locked up, but all claimed they were worth not a penny.
But then, a smart participant in this fascinating conversation proposed, what if we lock American citizen Kiah up and we inform CNN?
And if they don't respond quickly we send CNN one of Kiah's fingers.
Yes, said Mexican Daniel, and then her ear.
To force CNN to make it a headline story and have all the Americans stand behind their daughter Kiah and donate together millions to the abductors who have to make a living also.
But I want 50 % said Kiah and that greediness killed the plotting.

Time to leave the kitchen and absurdity to continue the work in the Fuso Szulc.

Thinking and sinking or swinging and singing?

A permanent pilgrim can never stay in one place too long.
Why is this?
Because what is new becomes old over time.

Once arrived on a new location, many impressions enter the consciousness.
Most new and refreshing, stimulating and inspiring.
That effect remains only for a certain period.
It looses eventually its freshness and sinks into routine and cliché.
Until no more new impressions are available.

24 days have been spent on the rancho of the Gonzales family at Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico.
And clearly the point has been reached that the balance has found its horizontal position and is now going down into the area of routine and cliché.
The surprising and beautiful aspects of being here have grown old and have withered.
Opening the side of reality where the negatives are which are pressing and pushing to move on.

The beautiful sea is still there.
The sunshine and the warmth.
The warm seawater to swim in every morning.
The blue sky and the freedom of living in nature.
But it can't seduce anymore.

Now the many tire tracks of the quad bikes are seen on the beach making it look like an unpaved street with heavy traffic.

Now disgust has been reached for Alfredo tying up two of his dogs on very short chains to trees and then leave for a holiday with his girlfriend.
Making the dogs after four days without food and water howl and bark with total desperation.

Now sadness is felt for the Gonzales family because they are hooked to watching soap operas on TV all day.
Episodes full of false emotions and baroque drama offering sentimental garbage for the soul that is consumed by the friends like addicts.

Now opposition has grown to its maximum for having to wait immobile in one place to see the new photo book "Sequences: the ultimate selection" and to meet the "Queen of Dreams".
When moving and traveling these events will start approaching at high speed.

It is time to go when the situation one happens to be in is turning against the visitor.
Too much negativity opening up in the territory.
Where is now too much thinking and sinking.
Better to leave for swinging and singing.

Angelito means little angel

Gumaro said: "Are you coming with us to the cemetery tomorrow?".
The family was going to put flowers and place candles on the graves because of "Dia de los Muertos".
Being friends with the Gonzales for many years, by now most family members resting in the cemetery of Miraflores are known.
So, Gumaro's question was more a polite piece of information.
It was only natural to come.

At the cemetery of Miraflores are buried the parents of Gumaro and the parents of his wife Lucretia.
The custom is that each parent has its own tomb.
A small house with a little altar inside.
Built next to each other.
In Europe most couples want to be buried in one grave together.
Not so in Mexico though.
Each deceased parent in its own little house gets on "Dia de los Muertos" several pots of artificial flowers.
And a visit inside where a prayer is said.

Parents die.
That's only the natural way of things.
And because in the case of the Gonzales it is quite some years ago, the visit is without too much emotion.

This is different when the tomb and little house of Angelito is visited.
He is the son of Gumaro and Lucretia.
Died too young of a kidney disease about 5 years ago.
And this is a deep wound.

Especially the mother, Lucretia, has never been the same after the son's death.
And on "Dia de los Muertos" she goes into the little house alone and all waiting outside hear her cry in such a sad way.
It is total grief.
Hard pain for a bad loss.

When Lucretia eventually comes out of Angelito's little house, it is Gumaro who goes in.
And he can be heard too.
Gumaro, a strong and proud and good man, crying for the the loss of his son he loved so much.

Next, there are the other members of the family who go inside and pray or meditate.
And because the pioneering photographer is considered by the Gonzales as a member of the family, inside the little house Angelito is tenderly remembered as the beautiful and happy boy he was.
Memories so soft and sweet that his departure from this world is making the eyes wet.

Afterwards, when all the flowers are put and candles are lighted and the crying is done, there is relief with everyone.
Like normal breathing is possible again.
And an even stronger bond between the Gonzales can be felt.









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Hugs from the heart

The children of the Gonzales family at Rancho Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico are begging, each weekend when they are there, for classes.
To all sit around the large table under the palm leaves roof with each kid equipped with paper and a ballpoint to do mathematic, drawings or English.

What remains remarkable is that these children all ask to have these classes.
It is not organized for them and then offered.
They are crazy about the teachings and as they know they are the most important, they naturally get a positive reply to their request.

Each time a new way of teaching is applied.
And these days the pedagogic focus is how to learn children more than just mathematics.
Of course it is good for them to know how much is 45 + 74.
But there is something more essential to learn.
Like being independent.
Like being responsible.

This is now achieved through mathematics!
To catch two birds with one net.
The kids learn how to do correctly the mathematical tricks and at the same time they learn to be independent and responsible.
The way it works is that they get incomplete sums.
In the past they would have to solve a sum like 67 + 54 = ?
Depending of the level of the student the sum would be more easy or more complicated.
But now they get an incomplete sum.
Like 67 + ... = ?
They have to put themselves the amount with which to add and then solve the sum.
This means they can make it as easy or as difficult for themselves as they like.
For example they could put 67 + 2 = 69.
Sum ready and perfect result.
But children are smart enough to realize that this is more a way to escape the challenge.
Hence, they will put a bigger figure there.
Like 67 + 271 = ?

Suddenly they are solving mathematical problems and at the same time they have to make decisions how easy or difficult they are making it for themselves.
The children of the Gonzales family at Rancho Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico love this.
They feel they are being taken serious and that they are trusted a responsibility.
They even get deeper involved because now the sum is not something from the brain of the professor anymore.
But it is something that is coming from themselves also.
Therefore they identify much more with the mathematical problem and are much more motivated to solve it correctly.

The same strategy is now applied when they want to do drawings.
In the past a drawing would be made and they would have to copy it as precisely as possible.
Now a drawing is presented to the student and he or she is asked to continue the drawing.
To expand it.
To add to it.
To have as a result a drawing that is made together.
In this way the visual and imaginative capacities and drawing talents of the child are expanded.
And at the same time the child learns to do things together.
To have a result from a collaboration.

Working with children gives a tremendous satisfaction.
It is not only fascinating when approached in a creative way.
But it is rewarding.
Not with money or anything like that.
When the class is over they spontaneously come to the teacher and give him a hug.



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No prestigious pretensions please

Visiting a family living on a farm in Mexico and spending a long time with them has many aspects.
One most important one is that each party has a set of moral standards.
When most match a harmonious living together exists.

They actually do, the matching of moral standards.
In may ways the thinking about the things of life by the Gonzales family and the visitor are similar.
In synchro are the ideas about what is right or what is wrong.
Of every detail of life.

There is one major exception though.
There is unity in thinking about how to be vis a vis other human beings.
But an important discrepancy about how to be vis a vis animals.

And this is paramount.
Every day there is interaction with animals at a ranch.
Very visible and present.
Interaction with horses and mules.
With cows.
With goats.
With the dogs.
With the cat.
With the pigs.
With the chicken and roosters.

And the way the animals are treated is not like the standards of the visitor.
For the Gonzales it is the normal way.
While for the visitor it is animal cruelty.
Hence, a clash of standards.

Basically, a visitor can do only one thing when in a situation where no harmony is found in moral standards.
Leave.
Because to try to change the people that are visited, who opened the doors and the arms, to try to have them accept different standards, is not polite and in any case, a megalomanic illusion.
A prestigious pretension.

Probably the animals would not agree with this point of view but unfortunately in matters like this, they have no voice.

Hence, a visitor can only observe the attitude towards animals and either accept it or go somewhere else.

However, the friendship with the Gonzales is very much alive for over 25 years.
That means there is a high level of flexibility and acceptance.
Room for expressing own points of view and possible different standards.
Like attitudes towards animals.

Therefore, no restrictions are self imposed to inform the Gonzales how appalling the treatment of the animals is felt.
It is clearly expressed.
In detail.
(On behalf of the suffering animals)

But in a good atmosphere.
Without accusing.
Without putting blame and creating guilt.
Treating the subject with humor.
Light and easy.
In a way that it won't matter if they do not have understanding or possibly do not accept the opposing standards that are kindly presented.

Within this context of the issue of treating animals no examples are presented on this blog about how exactly the animals suffer.
That would be disrespectful towards the Gonzales family.
And make a possible change hardly possible.

Now they are made to think about how they handle their animals.
And they may be inspired and come to different conclusions benefiting the animals.

But if the visitor talks to the Gonzales and next informs the rest of the world, the position of the visitor towards the family becomes corrupted.
To the disadvantage of the horse, the mule, the cow, the goat, the chicken, the rooster, the pig, the dog and the cat.
And are fervent and loyal blog readers anxiously waiting to learn details about animal cruelty?
Let us remain in harmony.



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Let's go to Europe!

The situation has been changing drastically compared to the time when staying in the dry riverbed near the Sea of Cortez and the Gonzales family.

Now days are lived deep into the American society together with good friends.
Talking, discussing and dining.
And getting things done on the Fuso Szulc.

But now the serious travelling is starting.
Today the Fuso Szulc drives from Temecula to San Diego.
A two-hour journey.
Next, with a rented Porsche, from San Diego to Laguna Beach for lunch with a long time friend.
Then, from Laguna Beach to Los Angeles for dinner with another good friend.
While tomorrow the British Airways flight is booked to go to London and Amsterdam.

This results in excitement although many travels have been made already.
Each time it remains an adventure.

At the same time, in the left corner of the heart, there is nostalgia twirling.
Sentiments for the people, the dogs and the environment left behind less than 8 days ago.

Reports have reached the Fuso Szulc that the two best dogs Guante and Rocky who shared life in the dry river bed of Punta Boca del Salado so gallantly, are now sitting right on the spot where the Fuso Szulc was parked.
Waiting for a return.
This inspires the thought to cancel everything on the schedule and drive back immediately.
Because dogs are innocent.
They can’t understand what is going on.
Intolerable to let that happen and have them in this kind of confusion.

But returning to what once was is not in the dictionary.
It is never a step made in the approach of life this photographer is performing.
The head is always facing forwards.

There is much more that is left behind in Punta Boca del Salado.
More than any fervent and loyal blog reader can imagine.
Major situations in the personal life that have not been reported about in postings.
Because the fervent and loyal blog readers are not classified to know everything.

Nevertheless, it feels good to have left the situation with all its aspects experienced during the last five months.
To widen now the horizon and allow new and surprising events to happen.
To remember in a perspective, that puts it all in a more objective and balanced way.

The luggage has been packed.
The Fuso Szulc will be without an inhabitant for at least 4 weeks.
Maybe even longer.

Let’s go to Europe!



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A tear and a smile

It is with amazement, confusion and surprise that today it has to be realized that the Fuso Szulc is going to leave its location in the dry riverbed of Punta Boca del Salado, Mexico.
The place where the last five months were spend.
Next to the Sea of Cortez and the rancho of the Gonzales family.

The reason is British Airways.
They fly on March 31 from Los Angeles to Amsterdam and a seat is booked for that flight.
In order to catch that flight, Punta Boca del Salado must be left pronto.

Retrospecting is slicing the heart into two.
One part is happy and excited to leave.
To face new adventures.
To meet family and friends.
To get into new situations.
To boost the work on the market.

But the other part is sad to leave the dear members of the Gonzales family behind.
To know that the dogs will see the comfort level of their lives go down drastically.
To leave the healthy, peaceful and harmonious life behind.

Those competing emotions are the best one can have when leaving a place and persons.
If it was only happiness for leaving, the departing situation has not been one good for life.
One must cry when leaving otherwise something has not been done well.
And one must be happy and excited to depart for a new destination because why otherwise go there?

The encampment has been broken up.
Everything is stored safely inside the cargo spaces of the Fuso Szulc.
Two weeks of constant travelling are now on the program.
With a tear and a smile.




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Mass for Angelito

There were about 60 to 70 people. Family and friends.
Some came as far away as Cabo San Lucas: a two-hour drive.

Under the large palm leaves roof a table was put to serve as the altar for the Mass.
And plastic chairs had been brought in for the people to sit.

The priest came punctually at the agreed time of 1 pm.
And celebrated the Mass in memory of Angelito Gonzales who passed away four years ago.

Lucretia, the mother of Angelito, was sitting right in front of the priest.
Next to her daughter Norma, who had been giving up one of her kidneys to try to safe the life of Angelito.
They were crying.

Mass did not take too long.
The priest had a short sermon, some people took communion and people embraced at the end.

Then the food came.
Each person getting a plastic plate with pasta, meat in a sauce and salad.

After two hours most people were gone.
Only some family members were staying till the next day.





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Angelito away for four years

Today is a special day at Rancho Punta Boca del Salado in Baja California, Mexico.
It is four years ago that Angelito Gonzalez died.
Of kidney failure.



Angelito was the son of Gumaro and Lucretia Gonzalez.
Who had five children.
Juan Manuel, Norma, Christina and Ismaël are still alive and are all married now and having kids of their own.

Angelito was a nice boy.
And handsome too.

He left school early and came to work on the rancho.
In his early twenties he was a rather wild guy.
Sometimes drinking heavily and racing the dirt roads.

But later he calmed down.
Married the half sister of the wife of his older brother Juan Manuel.
They had two children.
Angelito and his small family lived in a small house in the hills behind the rancho of his parents.

Then he fell ill.
Angelito was diagnosed to have kidney problems.
Eventually it was decided he needed a kidney transplant.
The family sold land to have cash to pay for the operation.
And his sister Norma made one of her kidneys available.
They went to a hospital in Tijuana, at the border with the USA near San Diego.
The transplantation was not successful.
Angelito’s body refused to accept the sister’s kidney.

After this tragic failure he lived some time more.
Even made a new baby although they knew he would not live long anymore.

He had to take strong medication.
His body inflated tremendously and he looked like the Michelin man.

He died in his sleep.

This happened four years ago but the dramatic event still plays an important role in the life of the Gonzalez.
They still experience grief and deep sorrow.
Life never became the same for them anymore after Angelito’s passing away.

Today a priest is coming to the rancho.
In memory of Angelito, he will celebrate a Mass.
Between 20 to 50 people are expected.
After the Mass all will eat dinner.
Good food but no alcoholic drinks.

Later that day a Mass is celebrated in the church of the nearby small town of La Ribera.
Organised and attended by Angelito’s widow and her children.
Who are not coming to the rancho.

Once Angelito had passed away a conflict about the heritage arose between his wife and the Gonzalez family.
This has resulted in Angelito’s children never coming to the rancho.
And a serious void exists now between Angelito’s wife and the members of the Gonzalez family.
They don’t speak to nor see each other.

Everything is tragic about this story.

Except that the sadness and grief is respected and allowed to surface.
The emotions are experienced and shared by many people.
Making their lives more full, optimal and complete.





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The propane decides

The thing is to remain calm and relaxed. Not to get excited and become nervous.
To stay completely in the moment and not to wander off with the thoughts into the future.

This situation is created by the fact that on March 31 a British Airways Jumbo jet will transport the pioneering photographer to London, UK.
That is exactly four weeks from now.

Hence, soon an end will come at the period of staying at Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico.
That started on October 13, 2008
For 142 days now.

The peaceful, healthy, productive and relaxed life will change dramatically.
Life in nature will change for life in town.
Surrounded by just a few persons now will change for being surrounded by masses of people.
Seeing sunny days and feeling warm temperatures will change for clouds, cold and chilliness.

And then all those things to do.
To be at certain places at specific times.
To develop strategies and collect documents for the many meetings to come.

It feels from here and now as overwhelming.
As too much and too big to be able to handle.

First issue is to decide when exactly to leave from Punta Boca del Salado.
To say goodbye to the Gonzalez family.
This is decided by the propane in the tank of the Fuso Szulc.
It was filled on January 10th: for 54 days it was supplying the refrigerator with gas and it was used for the morning tea.
It should run out soon.
The Seelevel II Tank Monitor shows “ 0 “ as the contents of the tank.
And the red arrow of the indicator on the tank itself has reached the “ E “ position.

Once the propane is finished, the Fuso Szulc goes.
Heading north.
Into a different lifestyle with new interesting adventures.
Soon.



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The treacherous trap

A good friend from the United States has with her husband a gorgeous holiday house not far from the rancho of the Gonzales family in Baja California, Mexico.
Sometimes she goes to Gumaro Gonzales and borrows one of his horses.
She likes to ride horses.
And over here it is a perfect location for this activity.
Along the beach or wandering off into the hills and riding deep into the dry riverbeds.

Last year she borrowed a horse and was riding into the wide dry riverbed at one end is the rancho and the Sea of Cortez.
On the other end, much of the year, is a small waterfall in between huge boulders, rocks and exotic plants.
A fabulous place for some reflective and spiritual moments.

She rode the horse in a professional way.
The good friend had horses herself and was born on an American farm.
She kept to the south side of the dry riverbed.
The side where was shadow to give the horse natural air conditioning.
But suddenly, the horse was sinking into the sand.
QUICKSAND !!!!
The animal was sucked into the earth.
The good friend threw herself off the horse and on her back on the sand.
To slowly move away from the dangerous area.
Once on harder sand she saw the horse up to his belly in the sand.
She was deeply shocked.
Was she going to see the horse disappear in the quicksand?
What to say to Gumaro, the owner of the horse?

But contrary to her own excitement and nervousness, the horse remained super calm.
Once kind of settled in the quicksand, he started to move slowly his legs.
Little by little freeing himself and rising out of the treacherous trap.
Eventually managing to come out of the quicksand.
No big deal.
The horse did it like a routine job.

Last night many members of the Gonzalez family were assembled in the kitchen hut.
It was Saturday and therefore the children and grandchildren had come to the rancho.
A good situation to bring up the subject of the quicksand not far away from the rancho.

Now, one must understand that Gumaro and this protagonist have their ways of having a conversation when other people are present.
They realize that the others are listening.
Especially the children.
So, a conversation is at the same time a theatre piece.
To entertain the others.
And of course to impress them.

One trick is to have a lead-in of the subject and to give the other the floor completely when it is the moment.

“Gumaro!”
“Tell me, Miguel”
“You live here now for 60 years, right?”
“This is true, Miguel”
“You know therefore everything of the situation here, right?”
“This is so”
“But now I am going to tell you something and I wonder whether you ever heard of it”
“Go ahead, Miguel”
(Meanwhile all the others are now very curious what this is all about, as we can imagine)

Gumaro is told the story of the American friend, the horse and the quicksand in the dry riverbed.

“Gumaro, do you know anything about this dangerous quicksand not far away from us?”

(Now Gumaro is manoeuvred into an excellent position to demonstrate his knowledge and to tell a fascinating story)
And next Gumaro tells how, as long as he lives here, there has been quicksand in the dry riverbed.
But only for a period after the annual rainfall.
And that the horses know this and are not afraid of it.
Because the quicksand is not too deep.
Even a man could survive it.
And then he speaks of the different times he got in the quicksand himself making the children in the audience hang at his lips.

A Saturday evening in Mexico.
Story telling still more important than the TV.




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Swinging a club

Antonio is 7 years old.
The son of Christina Gonzalez who was born and raised at the Rancho Punta Boca del Salado, Baja California, Mexico.
Now she lives in the small town of La Ribera with her son Antonio, her daughter Lucretia and her husband Charro.

Charro is one of the local policemen in La Ribera.
A very nice guy.
Soft and friendly.
It would be nice to be arrested by him.

Yesterday he told he had been following a workshop.
The workshop “El Bastón”.
Policemen are trained in using their club to control or silence recalcitrant individuals.
It was supposed this was one day of training after which a policeman should know how to swing their club correctly.
But to great surprise Charro told that the workshop takes 20 days.
Often people have no idea how much time it takes to make a good picture.
But it seems an equivalent is found with the Mexican police.
Only to use a club, the Mexican policemen are trained during 20 days.
Imagine how long they are trained to fire their pistol!

Meanwhile Charro’s 7-year-old son Antonio was whining in the background.
He had a broken cycle-pump in his hand and was anxious to have it repaired so he could inflate the tires of his bike to take a ride.

Those are excellent moments to have special experiences for the child.
All conversations with the adults present were broken off and Antonio was asked what was the problem.
Asked, although it was very clear.
But it was considered important that he himself would describe what was the problem and what he wanted.
Of course an adult could take immediately the cycle-pump out of the hands of the 7 year old and fix the thing.
But that is treating a human being like a stupid child.
Who will have an uneducational experience.
And a wrong idea what adults can be like.

Hence, after Antonio described what was the problem the strategy was applied to have him fix the cycle-pump himself.
Of course, by advices and suggestions of the adult.
That were given though in such a way that Antonio believed he found the many solutions to the technical problems himself.

For example, a bolt had come off from the long metal rod.
An adult could show the child where and how to put back the bolt.
But another way is to ask the child where he thinks that bolt should go.
Of course he doesn’t know.
But when he is encouraged to look, check and discover, he will find it all by himself.
Eventually.
And that is an enlightening experience for the child.

In this way, Antonio managed to repair the cycle-pump.
And he was very much praised for his effort that he enjoyed deeply.
“Antonio, you are like an engineer!”
He was the most proud boy in Mexico.
Went to his father to show the fixed cycle-pump and to explain that he had managed to repair it.

Of course his father had been seeing and following what had been going on and went along with the important experience for his son.

“Antonio, you repaired the cycle-pump?
But that is wonderful, my son.”

This particular strategy of dealing with kids is not new.
Nor has an adult to be very intelligent to understand that it is very good for the child.

But the adult needs two things.
That are often hard to find these days.

One is time.
It takes time to deal with the child as was performed with Antonio.
Everything else on the agenda needs to be postponed and all attention must go to the kid.

Second is that there must be love and affection.
Of a strictly fatherly or motherly nature.
It is realized that the time and attention invested in Antonio now will have influence for the rest of his life.
And this is the most loving thing an adult can do for a child.
To give, to respect and to trust.

After Antonio was able to use his bike again, there was a return to the Fuso Szulc.
Passing the corrals of the rancho it was noticed that 13-year-old Edgar was in the section with the goats preparing them to go out into the mountains.
With him was his 11-year-old half sister Rocio.
Edgar had been doing something amazing.
He had tied up his sister completely.
To some poles with tight ropes around her body.
Even around her neck making it difficult for her to breath.
It obviously had started out as a joke.
As a playful thing between the two.
But Edgar being a difficult and often aggressive boy, had taken it too far.
The corral with the goats is relatively far from the kitchen where the adults are, so the family was not aware of what was going on.
They were not hearing the screams of pain and panic of Rocio.

There is a policy not to interfere with the life of the Gonzalez family.
They do the things in their way.
That is respected and rarely criticised.
But in this case action was taken.
Even to Mexican standards it was believed Edgar was going too far.
And if he was not corrected this time, what would happen between him and his cute young sister the next time, we may ask.

Hence, with authority and without hesitation Edgar was commandeered to release Rocio immediately.
Suggesting anger and displeasure for the way he was handling his sister.

And later that day, in the presence of Rocio and Edgar, their mother Norma was informed what had been going on.
Expressing disagreement with Edgar’s conduct.
Norma supported this opinion and rubbed her disagreement in.
Now Edgar knows he went too far.
And hopefully a barrier has been put up behind which Rocio finds protection from her unstable brother.




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How to remain friends

Naturally there is a huge difference between the reality of life on a Mexican Rancho and the reality of life of a pioneering photographer.
Different cultures, different objectives and different traditions.

However, there is nevertheless a harmonious symbiosis working well due to mutual respect.
And by limiting the knowledge about the other party’s reality.
The Gonzalez do not know all the ins and outs of the practice of the photographer.
And the photographer doesn’t know too much what is going on in the family and on the rancho.

There are very few questions asked because the mode is to politely wait until the moment someone involved in the friendship feels it is appropriate and relevant to tell something.

This may sound like a superficial relationship.
While it is definitely not.
To the contrary.
Because most of the daily anecdotic stuff is not the subject of the communication, the sharing is of only essential words and feelings.

One thing the Gonzalez family did not have to inform about was their sudden passion for roosters.
Over the last two months cages were put near the house of the rancho.
In those cages roosters are housed.
By now there about thirty.


The Fuso Szulc is about 500 metres away from the rancho but every morning the roosters can be heard at daybreak.
A tremendous concert of thirty roosters trying to outperform one another by crowing as loud as possible.
And the Gonzalez do not seem to bother much about this rather overpowering way of the cocks waking up people.



There is a reason why they keep roosters these days.
They are used for cockfights, the new hobby of the young Ismaël Gonzalez and his oldest brother Juan-Manuel.
During the weekend they go with some of their roosters to villages and towns in the area where cock fights are organized.
If one of their roosters wins a fight, the brothers can earn as much as 30.000 Mexican Pesos ($ 2.060 or € 1.600).
A lot of money in a country where a construction worker makes daily 300 Mexican Pesos ($ 20 or € 16).

For the rooster it is a different thing.
The fights are about life and death.
If the roosters looses, it is because he died in the fight.
And the rooster that wins is probably so wounded it is also going into the soup pot.

In the USA and Europe cockfights are illegal.
Because it is considered a heinous blood sport due to the physical, always-mortal trauma the cocks inflict on each other.

Meanwhile, nearby the thirty roosters waiting for their life-ending fight lives the photographer that loves and respects animals.
Who is even a member of a political party in the Netherlands defending animal rights in Parliament.
Who is more concerned about the well being of animals than about the well being of the NATO-troops in Afghanistan.

The only way to live with this situation of 30 roosters at the rancho is not to have an opinion about these activities of the Gonzales boys.

Jiddu Krishnamurti explained that man has built in himself images as a sense of security—religious, political, personal.
These manifest as symbols, ideas and beliefs.
The burden of these dominates man's thinking, relationships and his daily life.
These are the causes of our problems for they divide man from man in every relationship.

So, the pioneering photographer observes the roosters without having a condemning opinion.
What Krishnamurti calls the “ choiceless awareness”.
And is therefore still friends with the Gonzalez.




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