A visit to Mexico
“This baked Alaskan salmon is delicious” I commented to my gracious friendly hostess Lynndeen as she offered me a second mouth-watering serving during a send-off dinner in her winter home in Ajijic, Mexico. “Yes, we brought it down with us from our Alaskan home and we are cleaning out the freezer as we will be in New Zealand for a month” she replied. It was a farewell dinner, as she and her retired outdoorsy husband Jim were headed off for the long-dreamed-of motorcycle vacation the next day. It was mid February 2011; it was the last time Jim would enjoy a dinner around that table with friends and family.
The previous Fall I had been traveling in the Middle East with Jean and her friend Sharon. Both are adventurous; enjoy climbing, hiking and exploring old ruins. We got along well and endured some hardships in the desert at Wadi Rum, so we had become close friends. “You must visit us in Mexico before the spring and enjoy the 5000 foot mountain air around Lake Chapala” echoed both of them, knowing I enjoy travelling and like to get away from the grey New York winters. “Thanks, I will keep it in mind, and let you know” I replied, without conviction. I had already agreed to have a ski week in Chamonix followed by a week of skiing in Vermont with my family.
“This baked Alaskan salmon is delicious” I commented to my gracious friendly hostess Lynndeen as she offered me a second mouth-watering serving during a send-off dinner in her winter home in Ajijic, Mexico. “Yes, we brought it down with us from our Alaskan home and we are cleaning out the freezer as we will be in New Zealand for a month” she replied. It was a farewell dinner, as she and her retired outdoorsy husband Jim were headed off for the long-dreamed-of motorcycle vacation the next day. It was mid February 2011; it was the last time Jim would enjoy a dinner around that table with friends and family.
The previous Fall I had been traveling in the Middle East with Jean and her friend Sharon. Both are adventurous; enjoy climbing, hiking and exploring old ruins. We got along well and endured some hardships in the desert at Wadi Rum, so we had become close friends. “You must visit us in Mexico before the spring and enjoy the 5000 foot mountain air around Lake Chapala” echoed both of them, knowing I enjoy travelling and like to get away from the grey New York winters. “Thanks, I will keep it in mind, and let you know” I replied, without conviction. I had already agreed to have a ski week in Chamonix followed by a week of skiing in Vermont with my family.
Then, while booking a working trip to San Antonio, the thought struck me to add on a leg to Guadalajara, a short flight from Texas. I made the arrangements, and Jean said I could use guest apartment in their friends Lynndeen and Jim’s house just down the street. After an early flight from San Antonio and a change of planes in Dallas, I arrived tired but anticipating a relaxing week by the lake. Jean, her husband and Sharon met me at the airport and whisked me lakeside in less than an hour. We had a traditional Mexican dinner in a garden restaurant inn near the town square in the rustic small cobbled stone village by the lake. Ajijic has been an expatriate community for the past 60 years, with many Canadian and Americans choosing to spend the winters there in the ideal climate next to the largest lake in Mexico.
Then we went over to Jim and Lynndeen’s Spanish-styled mountainside home where I was given a tour of their three story villa overlooking the bougainvillea-latticed enclosed courtyard with an inviting lap pool in the corner. We passed by Jim’s shining Kawasaki 650 motorcycle parked in the terraced upper courtyard which has a spectacular view over the shimmering blue lake. Their living quarters were one flight down, then further down was my apartment with steps out on to the main lush courtyard. They were very gracious and encouraged me to use anything I wanted in the house and the verdant gardens. I arrived on a Sunday and would be there until the following Monday. They were to leave in four days for their trip to New Zealand with another couple. We arranged details for the farewell dinner on Thursday evening.
Then we went over to Jim and Lynndeen’s Spanish-styled mountainside home where I was given a tour of their three story villa overlooking the bougainvillea-latticed enclosed courtyard with an inviting lap pool in the corner. We passed by Jim’s shining Kawasaki 650 motorcycle parked in the terraced upper courtyard which has a spectacular view over the shimmering blue lake. Their living quarters were one flight down, then further down was my apartment with steps out on to the main lush courtyard. They were very gracious and encouraged me to use anything I wanted in the house and the verdant gardens. I arrived on a Sunday and would be there until the following Monday. They were to leave in four days for their trip to New Zealand with another couple. We arranged details for the farewell dinner on Thursday evening.
The week went by quickly with many activities including strenuous mountain hikes in the early morning before the heat of the day. We also rented a guide and boat to take us to a deserted island prison, rife with rattlesnakes! Among other activities, we attended the 33rd annual Chili Cook-off with professional and amateur cooks competing for the annual prize.
It was an action packed week, and the enjoyable farewell dinner came and went. Jean and her husband took them to the airport for their first leg to Los Angeles. Their flight to New Zealand was diverted from Christchurch to Auckland because of the devastating earthquake in that city, which occurred when they were supposed to land. They were able to reconstruct their itinerary and continue on their journey by picking up rented motor bikes for their scenic touring of the south island.
I completed my relaxing warm lakeside sojourn and flew back to snowy New York to prepare for my anticipated French ski trip with my brother Jeff.
“There has been a terrible accident in New Zealand! Jim is in a coma in the hospital” read the email from Jean. “He was riding ahead of Lynndeen and their friends; when they came around the corner, Jim’s mangled bike and he were in a ditch” it went on to say. “He is in an induced coma and will be for 3 days to 3 weeks”
I could not believe it! He was gregarious, friendly and looking forward to the down-under adventure so much when I had seen him just a few days earlier.
The doctors, after extensive tests and consultations, determined that there was little chance of recovery, and Jim’s wishes of no resuscitation were acceded to reluctantly by Lynndeen and her daughters. He passed away quietly surrounded by his loved ones a few weeks later.
‘Jim's spirit of adventure and zest for life will live on in all of us’ echoes from his obituary
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