August 2023

Kenneth Salzmann—or just Ken, moved to Ajijic in 2014, from New York’s Capital Region and Hudson Valley, following careers in nonprofit administration and journalism. His poetry has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies throughout North America, and in Africa, Asia, and Europe. Another Gray Afternoon in Guernica Not even the startling red of anguishpooling in […]

September, 1942, Somewhere on Guadalcanal Dear Mrs. Lowe, My name is Allan Brady. I was in your husband’s company.  I am sure you have been notified by now of his death.  You will soon learn that he has been awarded a posthumous Navy Cross for his leadership during the action which cost him his life.

Religious shrines cast a peculiar spell over me, irrespective of the tradition. They exude a special energy, each faith producing its own unique flavor. The Basilica Cathedral of San Juan de los Lagos—located 76 miles northeast of Guadalajara, in Jalisco state—proved no exception in this regard. It contains the diminutive statue of Our Lady of

Janus Words Most of us have experienced the rewards and challenges of learning a second language. To hasten the learning, we take courses, watch movies in the new language, and engage native speakers when possible. Both consciously and subconsciously these exercises expand our comprehension and confidence with our developing language. But even advanced learners from

In so many ways, science promotes truth and justice. We need not rely on unfounded opinions and beliefs. Science can establish moral principles. For example, a few hundred years ago, the belief was that a mentally ill person had been possessed by a demon. The cure was to beat and torture the person until the

The debate on Nurture or Nature continues about which is the predominant guiding factor in someone’s life. In other words, is it genetics that control who we become or environment? Some thinkers believe that everything we are as adults is the result of evolution and is handed down to us through the family tree. While

Can Photosynthesis Save The World? If you are looking for the smartest energy source on the planet, then look to plants. They have a cheap, clean and abundant way of creating energy: photosynthesis, which is perhaps the most efficient power supply we know. Plants have perfected the conversion of sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into

(Whether or Not We Wanted It) Yes, new life had come to the geriatric set, and it was exhausting. Consider Papi — our puppy.  My husband Juan named him Papi, a term of endearment in Spanish, translated into English as “Daddy,” but also as a general term of affection for any man. It became a

As I mentioned in my previous article, when I introduced my good friend Carol Gremil to our Lakeside community, so many of us are writers, accountants, artists, teachers, forensic scientists, retirees, etc., all of whom dance. I had the great pleasure of meeting and talking with a retiree who dances, Phyl Gaskell. She is the

Deceased July 4, 2023 Margie Keane, longtime Lakeside resident, noted writer and poet, died peacefully in her San Antonio Tlayacapan home on July 4, 2023, with her husband of 27 years by her side. Margie had just celebrated her 90th birthday, having been born on July 1, 1933, on her grandparents’ farm in rural Glendale,