And yesterday was one of those days; it was a day that separated the gringos from the Mexicans. In some ways they live a more idyllic life, far less encumbered by the things gringos think they need in life.

The day started about 5:45am with the sound of rain on the deck. I had closed up everything else expecting it, but left the bedroom doors open. So, I got up, closed the doors and laid back down thinking I'd snooze until 6:30 when the clock radio goes off. About 10 minutes later I saw/heard a flash/crash even though my eyes were closed. It was one of those lightening strikes that you see and hear simultaneously - not a good sign, waaay too close for comfort.

Of course everything went dark, so I got up, flashlight in hand, and came in to shut down the computer which was now running on battery power, returned to bed and snoozed off. A single precision surgical lightening strike had taken out my end of town, it was the first last and only strike? - so no reason to get up at dark:30. Later as it became light I got up and started my day.

Fortunately you can brush your teeth with bottled water, so no problem, there are about 4 flushes before the pressure tank goes empty, no problem. I headed down to feed the cats by flashlight, that doesn't require any electricity. But the coffee pot was offline, so heated water on the gas stove and poured it through the filter and promptly burned my tongue, guess the stove heats it a bit hotter? Breakfast for me is a Bimbo breakfast bar, again no problem - but at that point my day was on hold, no electricity, no computer, no radio, no TV etc. so I sat down by the window to consider options - which were limited, no shower, can't open the front gate to get the car out etc.

Now, let's visit the parallel universe where I was born Mexican, Estaban Sanchez and I was born a bit later, so I'm younger. I live on the N shore of a lake with my chubby wife Carmello and my 4 hijos (kids). I learned to lay bricks and do concrete work as little more than a child. When the lightening struck I just roll over and went back to sleep because no Mexican gets up this time of day and I have no computer, don't need one, and a weather station? - stick your head out the window, that's weather. So, no reason for concern, and if it rains in Carmello will mop it up later.

My brother-in-law Juan and his wife Galena and their two hijos also live with us, so we don't need telephones to catch up on family things and mi Madre and mi Padre live just down the block so we see them every day.

Later Carmello and Galena get up to fix desayuno (breakfast) for the kids and I head to the bathroom. Our water supply is on the roof in a tinaco and water runs downhill so, no need for a pressure pump, I take a shower and get ready for the day. We're lucky, our casa has off street parking with gates we can close. Of course they're not electric powered so I open them and Juan and I drive out, Carmello closes them behind me.

At work, we're rebuilding a rest home, the day begins with mixing concrete by shoveling a pile of sand on the ground, pouring some lime and cement and a pail of water into the middle and mixing it with a shovel until it's ready, and then I shovel it into a bucket and carry it to my work area and start laying bricks. We don't have a radio this morning, but my amigo Carlos sings some and another whistles while my brother-in-law is hammering to break up some old tile and cement floors. We really don't need electricity to work, everything we do is manual as it has been for centuries.

Steve, the old gringo next door, is doing nothing, his water supply is in the ground in an aljibe, so he has no water, no electricity means he can't get out of his electric gate. His telephones don't work because they're electronic and he can't call his Mother in Colorado because the computer telephone isn't working.

It is nice and quiet without electricity, like it was when I was young.

Gringos eat lunch at noon, but there is no power so Steve can't heat anything in the microwave (we don't have one, who needs them? - I have Carmello) so he has some potato chips. Juan and I eat our comida later, at 2pm, it was fixed for us by our esposas and we both have big bottles of Coke, we love sweet things.

At about noon the CFE had restored electricity although we hardly noticed, so the gringo was able to take a shower and check his computer, reset all the timers for his fountains etc. and update his weather station. But, just as we're eating comida the electricity goes off again, no problema, after siesta we'll go back to work as usual. The gringo once again has nothing to do and can't even go shopping because his gate won't open.

Finally at about 5 o'clock the CFE restores part of the power to the front of the property which means the gringos casita has electricity, but the casa grande power is only 94 volts, and will burn out his pump motors and refrigerator if they're not unplugged. For us it's not a problema.

The gringo finally runs 200' of extension cords from the casita to the casa grande, then one to his pump, one to his computers, another to his TV and so the entire house is running on a single extension cord plugged into the casita and powers all the things he considers essential.

We Mexicans work until 7pm and go home to be with our families and a good evening meal, the gringo still has limited power, so he'll have to heat something on the stove. Finally at 9pm power is restored to lower Riberas but we don't care because we've been sitting in the yard singing and playing our guitars. For the gringo there may have been a casualty, the frig was off for an extended time and didn't restart so the food in the freezer may be no bueno, of course we Mexicans don't have that problem, our esposas buy fresh food and fruits and vegetables so we don't need anything frozen.

Yes, many days I wonder if their way of life isn't better and it is definitely far less stressful.