Fear is one of the principal threads running through the story of the coronavirus pandemic, and so is the reluctance of many of us to articulate and deal with our fears. Fear induced by the pandemic engulfs the mighty and the lowly, from President Trump down to the working-class John and Jane Does.One suspects that the president's frequently …
Author: Alfredo Lanier
My husband and I live on an off-the-grid ranch outside San Miguel, along with the challenging but dear company of four off-the-street dogs and three cats. My interests lie in politics, writing, photography and sundry forms of spirituality.
May 20, 1902: Cuba's unresolved independence
Twenty years ago, when I worked for the Chicago Tribune, I maintained contacts with a few genuine Cuban communists, in particular a comely young couple who fervently believed everything Castro had ever said, thought or done. Any attempt at debate with them was about as pointless as arguing with one of Trump's disciples today.Once they …
Continue reading May 20, 1902: Cuba's unresolved independence
Adjusting to the new abnormal
We've been in shutdown mode for almost two months, and recently I was reminded of how this weird situation might be getting to me: I couldn't remember which day of the week it was.Being confined at home, except for a few outings to the grocery store and a restaurant once a week, hasn't been terribly …
Covid-19 forecast for San Miguel: Hopeful but with a chance of storms still ahead
This year, the vernal equinox, the official beginning of spring, fell on March 19. And by an odd coincidence, on the same day the mayor of San Miguel announced a sweeping lockdown of the municipality, to go into effect the next day, that banned most public activities indefinitely, in response to the coronavirus pandemic.And if …
Continue reading Covid-19 forecast for San Miguel: Hopeful but with a chance of storms still ahead
What is this? Summer, spring, early rains or what?
We haven't had any significant rain here for months, and that, in addition to a heat wave for the past couple of weeks, is making me doubt my own propaganda about San Miguel having the "perfect climate."It's been pretty miserable indeed, temperatures up in the low 90s. Not Baton Rouge, Houston or Phoenix miserable, mind …
Continue reading What is this? Summer, spring, early rains or what?
Trump jests while Americans die
Several people had asked me when my next blog post would appear, and I wasn't sure. But after Trump's Thursday night press briefing, in which he suggested people could shoot bleach or disinfectants as a cure for the coronavirus, a blog topic fell on my lap: L'affaire Clorox.Torrents of words have been written by newspaper and …
The quarantine is depressing the hell out of me
Not the most felicitous or inviting headline, I'll grant you, but that's how I'm feeling right now.Since this self-quarantine—house arrest, social distancing, or whatever you want to call it—began, when? 21 days ago?, I've tried really hard to convince myself that our situation here at a small ranch in Mexico could be worse.Yea, much worse, …
Continue reading The quarantine is depressing the hell out of me
Uneven compliance with coronavirus preventive measures may be a bad omen for San Miguel
Despite stringent, almost draconian, directives by the municipality, for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, substantial sectors of the population seem to be carrying on business as usual. More worrisome still is that those seemingly oblivious to the lockdown are poorer sectors of the populace most likely to be affected by the epidemic if, or when, …
Music meets memories during the quarantine
Judging by the increase in Facebook postings, most pretty lame, and in the number of newspaper advice articles on how to cope with "self-isolation," the coronavirus prevention campaigns may be driving people batty.Folks complain of insomnia; being unable to focus and grieving; excessive drinking leading to domestic violence. Some couples are even talking about marital problems. Other people fear a …
Of plans, mice, men and pandemics
I subscribe to a weekly newsletter from the Center for Contemplation and Action, an ecumenical think-tank (or prayer-tank?) in Albuquerque, founded by Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest and well-known author and celebrity in Christian circles.His daily messages focus on different meditation topics, many of which go zinging by six or more feet over my head. …
El Rancho Santa Clara 