Mexican Radio – Sunset Observer #44

Fabulosa.

Gigante.

These words that appear on labels at the supermarkets where I live are being practiced on my tongue as I try to put words to what I am seeing and feeling.

Is a circular rainbow around the sun that I see as we cross the the border delicioso? Even if I knew another Spanish word, I probably would choose this one.

In this van, we have two high school girls who want to challenge themselves. So they are doing something that those twice their age haven’t. There is also a woman who came from Cuba when she was eight years old.  That’s where she got her fabulosa Spanish.

As our caravan drove closer to the border, pop music became something unintelligible that came through the speakers. It was time to turn on Mexican Radio. Then everything tuned in.

Later, the 560 grocery bags for Christmas dinners were all stuffed with care. After the church service, we were able to play violent patty-cake with kids from the church that is hosting us. We are staying in a room above the sanctuary that also gives shelter to pigeons who come in from the cold through a broken window in the open loft above. Their grey feathers fall down the spiral staircase and litter the floor, but it’s worth it to hear their cooing and rustling feathers as the settle in for the night. It reminds me of little Mia, the sun conure who loved me but I couldn’t save. I still miss her. Maybe when I get home, I will get a little bird.

I am tired, and this has been a big day.

Gigante.

…By Whitney Farmer

@farmer_whitney (Twitter/FLICKR) or farmerwhitney (Instagram) and whitney.farmer.146 (Facebook)

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Un Pop Culture

Quote of the Blog, from

…wind on my shoulder

And the touch of a world that is older

Turn the switch and check the number

Leave it on when in bed I slumber

I hear the rhythms of the music…

I hear the talking of the DJ

Can’t understand just what does he say.

I’m on a Mexican Radio…

Image from my cellphone, north of the U.S. – Mexico border.

For the archive of my previous Un Pop Culture blogs, click here: