Families

This was yesterday's blog but I fell asleep writing it................

We have met many families in the past week and a half.  Amazingly, they have all been American and/or Canadian.  We did not invent this idea of getting away and heading south to mexico.  As far as I can tell, people do it for lots of reasons.....sense of adventure, don't really fit in else where, need to escape,  looking for meaning,  need to regroup and slow down, and just plain because they can.  They all have stories to tell of "jumping off", or how they ended up in Sayulita, or of other cracy adventures they have taken.

Today was another La Lancha trip and it included 5 families. The ten minute walk from the cars to the beach was managed by all from 78 to 4 years old.......each  carrying surf boards, umbrellas, boogie boards, skim boards,  sand toys,  and various backpacks and beach bags.  Within minutes of arrival on the beach, a small but efficient camp was set and kids were surfing.  Kids spread out up and down the beach, some buried in sand, some exploring tide pools and capturing fish and crabs (can you guess who was involved in this?), many surfing or hangin in the water.  The general feeling of community was tangable.  There wasn't one kid left out or unhappy, lunches and water and laughs were shared, as well  as encouragement, support and a good bit of silliness.  The adults had just as much fun, chatting, encouraging and admiring the examples set by the kids.

In the midst of fun,  a young one of the clan was stung by a stingray.  Stingrays bury themselves in the sand and are often stepped on while walking in the shallow water.  Emerson, our sweet 11 year old friend, was stung on the side of the foot and the nasty little bugger really put a hole in him.  It is extremely painful and the pain can last for quite a while.  The group rallied around and tried to help.  Sadly, the treatment for a stingray sting is soaking the sting in very hot water for about an hour, we did not have any hot water and it was a long trip back to Sayulita.  Emerson was a trooper and hung in as he was carried to the car on his dad's shoulder.

After soaking his foot, for quite a while, the pain went away and when we ran into him later, he was laughing and playing tag in the plaza with the kids.  Being with other families here makes me miss being with my  families at home.  I'm sure we will meet many more families as this adventure continues, but it's good to know that I have my families to come home to.