Oaxacabound

Day 1

Inspired by Nick/Sophie/Millie’s (son/daughter-in-law/granddaughter) world tour diary, thought it might be fun to jot down some things on my drive from Texas back to Oaxaca. I’ve been there dozens of times before starting in 1997, but this time it’s to stay.

For years, the visits were buying trips for the store… rugs, pillows, pottery, painted animals. I used to describe it as floating. All the stresses of everyday American life would dissolve instantly in the warmth, humility and generosity of Mexicans and native Zapotecs. Flying back to the daily grind, I always thought “If only I could live in a place like this…”

Then I sold the business and that was it, or so I thought.

Flash forward 20 years. I’m bemoaning life in Bassshtrop, TX (as locals say) for the umpteenth time to my sister Merritt and lamenting that I never got to live in Mexico. One thing about her, she’s a problem solver not a tear wiper, and she had heard enough.

“So why don’t you?”

“Why don’t I what?”

“Move to Mexico?”

“Uh, well, I (excuse, excuse, excuse)…”

“Just go down for 2 weeks. Either you’ll see it’s possible, or stop bitching about it.”

I don’t know if those were her exact words, but that’s definitely what she meant and it sounds just like her. So I did. Two weeks the first year, 4 months the second, 5 months the third.

No more touristing this time. I packed up my car and am heading back down for at least a year. It’s a weird feeling, like a high school kid going off to college, trepidation and anticipation.

When I planned this trip, I figured 1,100 miles Austin to Oaxaca, no biggie, I could drive that in a day. I’ve always been an A to B person. Fastest possible, just get it over with. Then it hit me…there’s no rush, no deadline. Why not take a week or so to explore on the way?

I stopped in the border town of McAllen to see my good friends Jesus & Rosario.  They’re originally from Mexico and always have great ideas so I figured who better to help plot my course. They advised me to start in their hometown of Monterrey.

Adios Texas, I’m taking the long way home.