The Rain, the Play, and the Fuga

Yesterday I was on my way to pick up my mail at La Conexion but found all the streets closed with yellow tape, each guarded by a policeman. Small groups of people who had seated themselves on the sidewalk told me there was a fuga de gaz causing the problem. Fuga was a new word to me but I soon learned it means “leak” - so it was a gas pipeline leak. Noting my interest, I was told stories about fuga de agua and fuga de la luce (electricity) that had occurred in San Miguel. As late afternoon clouds gathered, I decided to head home to prepare dinner for my friend David who had invited me to a play reading that evening. As we sat on the terrace near the garden, the skies opened up with a truly impressive deluge. I ran to close the front door but there was flood headed for the kitchen. David and I congratulated ourselves for our foresight in building and living in stone houses and thereby avoiding wood warp worries. I confidently predicted that the storm would be over in a few minutes as we headed for St. Paul's church in the driving rain sheltered by my broken umbrella – the only one that never gets lost.

Of course the rain did not stop and we found ourselves standing outside the locked gate when a voice hailed us from a nearby van where we headed for shelter. Joanna is one of the actors in the play reading, and Tom is an accomplished stained glass who was going to attend the reading. Shortly after David's partner, Jo, joined us, someone opened the gate so we headed for St Paul's small function room where we found the electricity off. The man who was in charge of the lights found some candles and flashlights and soon the four person ensemble began their wonderful performance of short pieces by Sam Shepard among others.

The vignettes were great story telling enhanced by the sense of camaraderie engendered by the storm and candle lit stage. We felt a sense of loss when the electricity came on halfway through the performance. What talented group, and what a bargain for a 20 Peso ticket. The time passed quickly and soon we were in the rain again to hail a taxi for the ride to our homes. The driver was delighted with the heavy rain, describing in detail the benefits to his tomato plants. Bilbo was really happy to see me, and insisted on a walk, rain or no rain. The air sparkled through the droplets, and we had to avoid all the waterfalls made by my neighbors' roof drains that hang over the streets. We were both cold by the time we got home so we dug out the extra blanket again and had a good sleep.

I am enjoying the afternoon storms more and more, especially when I am in the city center and seek shelter at the outside cafes. A party atmosphere starts as people gather under the vaulted arches and ceilings. Everyone shares chairs and the coffee tastes especially good and the vendor colors come into sharp relief.