La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
When we arranged to meet Connor (that sweetheart from Glasgow) the other day, he texted me a few minutes before to say he was running 5 minutes late because he was working on his hair. Once we were on our way he explained, “Having hair is hard.” I won’t bother telling you what I said in response. You can figure that out on your own.
He and I were supposed to go see the neighborhood Belén yesterday afternoon, but the time kept shifting. And it had nothing to do with his hair. Our mutual friend through whom we met, Jessica (Old Jessica, my first English student) was there with her two sisters and her new (less than 2 month old) nephew. They had planned a quick visit, but the baby needed feeding. And then changing and, well, time passed. It was worth the wait because we all ended up going to see the Belén together.
We had just seen Jessica’s little sister, Martina, last week after nearly 8 years when we bumped into her with her parents at a local restaurant. She’s now 10. I hadn’t seen her other sister, Georgina, in about 4 months. The baby is adorable, although Connor hogged him the entire afternoon. Georgina thought he might take him home — and she would get a good night’s sleep. But it didn’t happen.
After spending a long time at the Belén, we went to the new café around the corner, where we saw Alejandro (click here) and I received another huge hug — and probably the envy of those around me. I then spotted two women I hadn’t seen since July. We used to see them all the time at Mesón Salvador. We had no numbers for each other and had all been worried. I think we may have hugged and kissed a dozen times. As we were leaving, I heard my name and saw one of our few neighbors with her 5-year-old daughter. It’s such a small town and I was overjoyed. Jessica was outside waiting for me and said, “I’ve lived here all my life and I don’t know any of these people!” Here’s a link to videos and a gazillion, more or less, photos of last year’s Belén. No reason for me to reinvent the wheel. I’ve shared just some of yesterday’s views.
The owner of the Belén, María Jesús, is now 83 and still looks 60. The work she does is astounding. Martina said it was “the best Belén in the world.” It’s definitely the best one I’ve ever seen even though it has only a one-seat crapper and the other guy has to do his business outside.
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Cuando quedamos en encontrarnos con Connor (ese amor de Glasgow) el otro día, me envió un mensaje de texto unos minutos antes para decirme que llegaba 5 minutos tarde porque estaba peinándose. Una vez que estábamos en camino, explicó: “Tener cabello es difícil”. No me molestaré en decirte lo que dije en respuesta. Puedes averiguarlo por tu cuenta.
Se suponía que él y yo íbamos a ir a ver el barrio Belén ayer por la tarde, pero el tiempo seguía cambiando. Y no tenía nada que ver con su cabello. Nuestra amiga en común a través de la cual nos conocimos, Jessica (la vieja Jessica, mi primera estudiante de inglés) estaba allí con sus dos hermanas y su nuevo sobrino (de menos de 2 meses). Habían planeado una visita rápida, pero el bebé necesitaba alimentarse y luego cambiarse y, bueno, pasó el tiempo. Valió la pena la espera porque acabamos yendo todos juntos a ver el Belén.
Finalmente habíamos visto a la hermana pequeña de Jessica, Martina, la semana pasada después de casi 8 años cuando nos encontramos con ella con sus padres en un restaurante local. Ahora tiene 10 años. No había visto a su otra hermana, Georgina, en unos 4 meses. El bebé es adorable, aunque Connor lo acaparó toda la tarde. Georgina pensó que él podría llevarlo a casa, y ella dormiría bien por la noche. Pero no sucedió.
Después de pasar mucho tiempo en el Belén, fuimos al nuevo café de la esquina, donde vimos que Alejandro (haz clic aquí) y yo recibimos otro gran abrazo, y probablemente la envidia de los que me rodeaban. Luego vi a dos mujeres que no había visto desde julio. Los veíamos todo el tiempo en el Mesón Salvador. No teníamos números el uno para el otro y todos estábamos preocupados. Creo que nos hemos abrazado y besado una docena de veces. Cuando nos íbamos, escuché mi nombre y vi a una de nuestras pocas vecinas con su hija de 5 años. Es una ciudad tan pequeña y estaba encantada. Jessica estaba afuera esperándome y dijo: “¡He vivido aquí toda mi vida y no conozco a ninguna de estas personas!”. Aquí hay un enlace a videos y un montón, más o menos, de fotos de Belén del año pasado. No hay motivo para que yo reinvente la rueda. He compartido solo algunas de las vistas de ayer.
La dueña del Belén, María Jesús, tiene 83 años y todavía aparenta 60. El trabajo que hace es asombroso. Martina dijo que era “la mejor Belén del mundo”. Definitivamente es el mejor que he visto en mi vida a pesar de que solo tiene un cagadero de un asiento y el otro caganer tiene que hacer sus necesidades afuera.
• La última vez que vimos a Martina, enero de 2015.
• Martina todavía ama su chocolate.
• Conner y su cabello. Debe apestar ser él, ¿no crees?
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Would love to see this Belen. The work put into it!
I remember my HAIR! lol
Jim:
The Belén is incredible. I could go back every day. I remember my hair, too, and I don’t miss the responsibility.
Such an elaborate Belen. And Happy New Year to you…2023 will happen there very soon!
Frank:
We’re more than 12 hours into 2023… and we’re still here. Happy new year to you two!
It must suck to be him? Just rearrange a few of those words, and you have my thoughts… Jx
Jon:
Truth be told, although Conner spends some time worrying about his hair, he has no idea what he’s got going on.
Not one single hair out of place on Connor’s head! Thanks for the crapper photo — my Christmas is complete now, LOL!
Debra:
I would build my own Belén just for the crapper. Although I used to have a lot of hair, I was never the every hair in place kind of guy.
I didn’t have hair like that, when I had hair. Swoon! I was waiting for this year’s outhouse photo, I looked carefully at the market and couldn’t find that figurine (I would have bought two, so I could bring one home.)
David:
I wish I had known you wanted a caganer. We have a shop in town that has everything. By the time I got there this year, last week, they were almost completely sold out… and no caganers. I did have great hair, but I never maintained to that level of perfection.
Well, he does have good hair, I’ll say that. I, however, do not miss hair at all. Not having it has made my life a lot easier!
YES! That’s the character I remember from the Belén, I think — the guy with his pants down.
Steve:
I agree. I joke about not having hair, but it’s so much less responsibility and maintenance now.
Conner’s Hair IS everything, Also, his smile, jawline, shoulders, muscular arms, chiseled torso, LOL. May 2023 be the best year ever for You and San Geraldo.
Shirley:
And what makes Conner even more lovable is that he’s got no clue how stunning he is. And a super-achiever who received his master’s degree at the age of 22. All that and brains, too. Wishing you a strife-free, happy and healthy 2023.
Ohmygod, send Conner to me and I’ll make him very happy. Martina and the baby are adorable. I would hog that baby, too. I think that’s Joseph in the outhouse. He’s been pressured to stay with Mary but he’s gone to the crapper to hideout because he really doesn’t want a baby fathered by some other guy. He’s also going to use his cell phone while he’s in there to call the Jerry Springer show. Topic: My wife is having a baby with God.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
No offense, but, although I’m sure Conner would like you very much, I doubt you’d make him “happy.”
Now THAT would be a Jerry Springer I’d watch!
Oh yes, my heart bleeds for Conner. What a burden that head of hair must be!
You have so many friends because you’re a lovely person, Mitchell. They’re all lucky to have you in their lives–as are we, your blog friends! Happy New Year to you and San Geraldo (and Dudo and Moose, of course!).
Jennifer:
Thanks! As for Conner, he has so much going on! I can’t imagine being that young, that smart, that handsome, that charming. If he could only speak English!
It must suck to be him, was not what went through my mind with Connor. It was something else I’d was thinking but Ill refrain from saying it here. I’m sure you can imagine what that is!!!!!!!! I’m swooning…….and ready to see the balls drop, I meant to see the ball drop on 2022.
Oh yes, and Happy New Year to you and San Geraldo!!!!!🎇🎆🎉✨🎆
Mistress Borghese:
You’d be so good for his ego. He has no clue how irresistible he is. Smart and funny, too.
And thanks for remembering us, too. Sending you hugs!
Mr Connor has lovely hair. Ah youth.
Urspo:
Great hair… and charming, sweet, kind, brilliant. Poor guy.
Thus it proves there is no god.
Youth is wasted on the young, eh? Happy New Year to you, Mitchell, and S.G., Dudo and Moose!
Tundra Bunny:
Truer words were never spoken. Sending hugs and best wishes from these four boys in Fuengirola.
As usual, Ancient Bethlehem looks spectacular. Seems odd it would have place to go to the bathroom.
Happy New Year to you, Mitchell, and San Geraldo.
Kirk:
Didn’t Bethlehem have public crappers with lights that went on when you opened the door? Happy new year to you, too, Kirk. Thanks for your blog and all the time and effort you put into your fascinating posts!
Does he like grated parmesan?
Walt the Fourth:
Do you want me to ask?
I’d fly across the ocean to either get a hug from Alejandro or muss Connor’s hair!
HNY, Mitchell, to you, SG and The Boys!
Bob:
I can arrange that… well maybe not mussing Connor’s hair! HNY to you, Carlos, and the kids!