Letters Home
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Dear
Richard,
Across the street the sewer main
sprung a vicious leak. Nasty, smelly water is burbling up, sending a gray
putrid pool down the street my way. The break is right on the corner of Calle
del Pulpo and Tiberon. Actually, I don’t know where the break is but that is
where the icky water is gushing out. Please send the guys down to fix it. With
all the flooding going on, a side effect of Hurricane Norberto, I don’t when
the city crew here can get to it. I would call in the break but I don’t know
who to call or how to find the department, my Spanglish being still poor and
all. You and your crew could have this fixed in the morning and spend the
afternoon on the beach; a well-deserved rest.
Fortunately the hurricane by-passed
Mazatlan. The winds tore down some palapas and the waves rearranged the beach
sand a bit. Today is warm and sunny with no rain in sight. I’ll start a batch
of shrimp tamales for a snack.
*****
Dear Kathy,
Remember when we walked Pacific
Beach during the storm that time we stayed at the Sandpiper? That is what the
waves looked like, rolling in from far out in the Pacific and bashing against
the seawall. There was no beach left to walk and I was glad to be solidly up on
the Malecon, looking over the water, being splashed now and again by sea foam.
We were lucky the hurricane didn't hit here, only residual
winds and rains. There is so much water that streets in some areas remind me of
Venice, which I've seen only in pictures and imagination. My apartment is safe.
My floor is eighteen inches above street level. The rain pounded for hours and over-filled
the street, lapped onto the sidewalks. But once the rains abated, the water
drained quickly. This happened several times each day.
I've got a feeling all the drains couldn't handle the load.
There is a murky pool, bubbling like a spring, on my street, creating a miasma
of swamp gas. I put in a request for Richard to come fix it. Sure hope the city
crew have passports in order.
*****
Dear
Richard,
It is past noon and I haven’t heard
a word from you. Probably your plane is delayed over Phoenix or something. I’m
sure you have a good excuse for not showing up yet. The stink is getting worse.
Let me remind you that I did the hard work: I made plane reservations and
secured seats for you. I arranged for Elias to meet you at the airport with his
Taxi to bring you here. If you haven’t
left yet, would you please bring me a pair of tall mud boots, preferably red
but black will do. I think Chuck and I have about the same size feet. Thank
you.
*****
Dear
Antoinette and Lexi,
School has
been out all week, what with the continuous rain and flooded streets. Bet you
wish you were here and could play all day. I would take us to Chili Peppers for
lunch, rent a beach umbrella and spend the day building sand castles, as long
as it doesn't rain.
*****
Dear Jane,
The last few
days have been exciting, what with flooded streets, including mine, with
lagoons where open lots and playgrounds used to be, with schools and offices
closed because employees cannot get to work.
Right now
I’m waiting to hear from the public works director in Harlem. I requested that
he bring down a crew to fix the broken sewer line that is spewing filth on my
street. The break is across from my apartment. I thought it would be a lovely
gesture—a “hands across the border” sort of thing.
*****
Dear Richard,
It is
raining again and still no word from you. I’m getting worried. Are you on
vacation? Is this the week of your daughter’s wedding? Should I call Dave from
Havre? Did you retire?
If I don’t
hear from you in the next hour, I am going to the clinic for a tetanus booster,
typhoid shots and anything else I can get. Then to a hotel for the night. You
have my number. Call me.
*****
Sondra Ashton
HDN: Looking out my back door
September 11, 2014
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