My guy, Luis!

I'm back "home" to Loreto from my shopping trip in Guadalajara. The furniture for our little casa has now been designed and ordered and partially paid for, and I feel quite proud of my performance as a psuedo-designer and buyer. Of course without the help of Luis, the driver who toted me to the best deals in town, I would have succumbed to panic and returned empty-handed. The first day there, before Luis was scheduled, I wandered around Tlaquepaque with my friend, Cathy,(she stayed two days) through the hundreds of retail shops while a growing sense of "what have I gotten myself into?" threatened to choke my enthusiasm. After two days under Luis' care I was feeling pretty confident and running the risk of self-congratulatory delusion. "Piece of cake," I told myself after finishing my two-hour design session with Domingo Hecht, the furniture factory owner, before it occured to me that now I had to arrange to get all this stuff home. "Luis!??"

Luis escorted me to a local shipping company where I sat across the desk of the manager who spoke only Spanish. Somehow, I managed with Luis, to strike a pretty good deal. More success! Although some people praise me for tackling the adventure alone, I know it would have flopped without someone like Luis. He watched over me, followed me through shops and factories with the alertness of a trusty shepherd-dog. Occasionally, he'd whisper to me, "that's too much, I know where we can do better." He was worth every peso. I grew pretty fond of him to where my handshake greetings evolved into a kiss on the cheek which I think embarrassed him. I was just always so grateful and thrilled to see him because it meant somebody was there to take care of me.

So the mission went well and my week impersonating a rich American is now over. Back to Loreto and the absense of consumer goods. I may have withdrawl symptoms. Where is my chauffer? My morning coffee with Stan's mouthwatering flaky pastries? (Stan, who owns Casa de las Flores was once a chef who worked with the famous Alice Waters in San Francisco) I spent the first couple of days back sleeping off and on all afternoon. I guess I was wiped out. I'd worked hard and walked much in Guadalajara. Sleeping too much is a sign of depression, Robert teased. Well, Guadalajara to Loreto is quite a contrast, but for me, I was just glad to be "home" sleeping in my own comfy bed.