It’s Mother’s Day weekend. By now you’ve noted all the temporary stalls, tents and shops filled with flowers and other fussy gifts for the Mexican mothers on their day, Saturday, May 10. The tenth of May is always Mother’s Day in Mexico.
Like most other Mexican holidays, the celebrations begin the night before. In the pre-dawn hours, or at least after midnight, all of the town’s musical groups, the duos, trios, mariachis and bandas head out to serenade the moms. As I listen from my bed as the strains of “Las Mañanitas” drift down the street from first one house and, an hour or so later, from another, I wonder who thought waking mothers at 2 a.m. to wish them “Happy Mother’s Day” was a good idea.
For most expats at Lakeside, Mother’s Day, observed as always on the second Sunday of May, has a bittersweet edge. Not only are we far from our children and grandchildren, many of our mothers are no longer living. Once upon a time, long, long ago, I remember folks at church wearing a symbol of their mothers’ status. Those with mothers still alive wore red carnation corsages or boutonnieres.
Most of the old folks who were probably younger than I am now, wore white flowers to honor their dead mothers. While some had professional white carnation or orchid corsages, I remember most fondly my grandmother and her friends who all pinned on a few springs of lily of the valley from the patches on the north sides of their houses. As girls in the late Victorian era and early years of the 20th century, these “elderly” ladies had learned the language of flowers. Their lily of the valley spoke of their mothers’ sweetness. The red carnations proclaimed admiration and heart-felt love for mom.
Somehow, a bouquet from the florist, a brunch with the family, another unneeded bit of jewelry or doo-dad for the coffee table just doesn’t say, “Mother’s Day,” to me. Those things are all nice, but they pale in comparison to Mrs. Pultz, Aunt Lulu Powell, Mrs. Brodersen, and the fragile Rhodes sisters (Miss Hermione and Miss Beryl) proudly marching into church with their homegrown stems of tiny white bells pinned against wide green leaves.
Maybe I’m just feeling my age and the years it’s been since my own mother died. Perhaps my perspective is been skewed by living so far from my family and the small Iowa town where I grew up. At the risk of sounding like one of the old folks who talks about walking five miles to school, all of it uphill, it just seems to me that many of these “minor” holidays, just aren’t what they were back in the 1950s.
Children's Day
On Children’s Day, April 30, the Lake Chapala Shrine Club and American Legion Post Nine teamed up to take 30 children from Chapala’s Tepehua neighborhood to see the model railway operation at the Old Train Station Museum in Chapala. The day out included a picnic on the museum lawn and ice cream. Tepehua Community Center volunteer teachers Elena Von Rossum and Dian Abell invited their learning disability classes following a request from the Lake Chapala Shrine Club Locomotive Unit. The photograph shows 15 of the children with the Shrine Club’s Perry King, Lake Chapala Locomotive Unit Member John Clarke and Von Rossum.
Democrats Abroad
During the Monday, May 12, 4 p.m. meeting of the Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad Mexico at La Bodega Restaurant, members and visitors will discuss a variety of issues. On the docket are finalizing plans for May voter registration and voter assistance booths, the organization of an outreach program to distribute voting information to dual citizenship Mexican-Americans, plans for a July 4 celebration, and forming a committee for upcoming Sunday Afternoon at the Movies programs.
Contact Executive Chair Francis C. Reidelberg for more information or to volunteer for any of these projects. Call Reidelberg at (376) 763-5271 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Four generations
While many Lakeside mothers celebrate Mother’s Day far from the members of their offspring, the family of lakeside great-grandmother Maxine Holbert recently gathered for a four-generation photo. From left, the mothers and daughters are: Holbert’s daughter Shari Milgroom of Ithaca, New York; Holbert; Holbert’s granddaughter Jessica Milgroom and great-granddaughter Nialeti Gonzalez de Tanago of Aracena, Spain.
Lakeside Progressives
The members of the Lakeside Progressive Group will continue to consider progressive solutions to problems not being addressed by either of the major political parties in the United States.
To ensure adequate seating at the Tuesday, May 13, 4 p.m. meeting, please e-mail your intent to attend to Chad Olsen at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Olsen can also provide additional information about the group.
Lakeside Conservatives
“Waiting for Superman,” a documentary about failing public school systems in the United States, will be the program at the Wednesday, May 14 meeting of the Lakeside Conservative Group. The film looks at the educational system and examines several potential solutions. One fact from the program states that of 30 developed countries, United States students rank approximately 25th in math and 21st in science.
The meeting begins at 4 p.m. at Sol y Luna, Rio Bravo 10-A. Light refreshments are available at Daniel’s immediately following the meeting for those who wish to mingle and continue the conversations.
Pet Food Drive
On the third Thursday of each month local volunteers from Anita’s Animals assist customers at the Lakeside Friends of the Animals Pet Store during the 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. pet food drive to benefit the various local animal shelters. On Thursday, May 15, those who wish to help these organizations can purchase pet food at the store in Riberas del Pilar and earmark it for one or more of the groups. Each of the local animal rescue groups: Anita’s Animals, Lucky Dog and The Ranch appreciates this monthly assistance.
Those unable to stop in on the day of the drive can make a pet food donation to any of the animal shelters at any time, as well as assisting the Shelter cats. Be sure to tell the store clerk that the purchase of cat or dog food is a donation to the chosen animal rescue organization. The shelter will hold the purchase for pickup by that group. Customers then must contact the designated shelter or rescue group so that the group knows there is food donation waiting at the shelter to be picked up.
Open Circle
The Mother’s Day meeting of Open Circle on Sunday, May 11 will begin with a social time at 10 a.m. with coffee, tea, and sandwich bites.
The presentation begins at 10:30am and will feature special guests sharing the thoughts and feelings of Mother’s Day.
HU Song
HU Song offers participants opportunities for insight, inspiration, and spiritual guidance. The group meets on the third Saturday of every month, with the next meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 17.
The HU Song is a contemplative spiritual exercise held at the Spiritual Center, Nicolas Bravo 17B, Ajijic. People of all faiths are welcome. The door is monitored and closed at 10:30 a.m. Contact Penny White at (376) 766-1230 for further information. The event is hosted by Eckankar Mexico.
Unitarian Universalist
The Lake Chapala Unitarian Universalist Fellowship plans to include a special chocolate communion during the regular Sunday, May 11, 10:30 a.m. meeting at Plaza del la Ribera, at Rio Bravo 10A.
A coffee and fellowship hour follows the service. For information call (376) 766-1458 or (376) 765-7231 or visit www.uuflc.org.
St. Andrew’s Anglican
“Who Cares for the Lambs” is the title of Rev. Iris Slocombe’s message for the Sunday, May 11 service of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church. Slocombe, former rector of St. Andrew’s, will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of her ordination. All are invited to help celebrate this special day in her life.
During the summer low season the church schedule has returned to a single 10 a.m. service followed by a time for fellowship, welcome, and refreshment in the garden. The children’s Sunday School begins at 9:45 a.m.
St. Andrew’s is at Calle San Lucas 19, one block south of the Carretera in Riberas del Pilar.
Lakeside Presbyterian
Pastor Guillermo Banuet, pastor of Iglesia Presbyteriana del Lago, the Spanish-language congregation of Lakeside Presbyterian Church (LPC), will be guest preacher on Sunday, May 10 at the regular 10 a.m. LPC service. Banuet has chosen John 10:1-10 as the text and will deliver his sermon, “Christians in a Material World,” in English.
Discussion of the challenges the modern world brings to those leading a Christian life will continue during the fellowship and refreshment time following the service.
Lakeside Presbyterian Church is on the Carretera in San Antonio, between Vigolari and Car City. Watch for the LPC sign, “You have family at Lakeside!”
Christ Church Lakeside
“The Gate” is the theme of Fr. Danny Borkowski’s message for the fourth Sunday of Easter, “Good Shepherd Sunday.” The Holy Eucharist Rite II service of the congregation of Christ Church Lakeside is set for 9:30 a.m., Sunday, May 10 in The Little Chapel by the Lake, Carretera 10 near Chula Vista.
The Little Chapel by the Lake congregation will join the members of Christ Church for a common 10:35 to 11:15 a.m. coffee fellowship time between the two services.
Deacon Rob Wells of Christ Church is leading the 10 a.m. Tuesday Bible study in the Fellowship Hall of The Little Chapel by the Lake with one-hour sessions on the Gospel of Mark. Wells uses the Jerusalem Bible as the main source due to its rich commentaries and notes. You need not have attended previous sessions to join this group at any time.