From Sadness to Happy Madness
The staff – more like the family that comprises La Catrina Cantina – gathered their friends and customers together to their collective heart to say goodbye to their bartender, Manuel Betancourt. Last Friday, La Catrina Cantina was filled to overflowing with tearful guests and friends who wanted to pay their respects to a young man whose smile spread joy. Manuel warmly greeted everyone who passed by the bar, and his kind eyes made all feel welcome and safe.
La CC owner, Juan Alvarado, tried and failed to keep it together, saying he had cried so much the past few weeks his tears had all dried up. Not so. But that’s what friends do when they grieve. When someone as young as Manuel at 45, and so big and strong, could just die seems impossible. As Juan said, he never envisioned Manuel leaving La Catrina Cantina for any reason. These hard lessons are incomprehensible to understand, but we have to remember that we are fragile and must be handled with love and gentleness, and extend that to all living things on our earth. Rest in peace, Manuel. Heaven will be brighter with you in it.
I had to leave Manuel’s Celebration of Life early to spend Allyn Dixon’s 65th birthday at the house he shares with the Gringo Gourmet, Scotty McIntyre. It took the long taxi ride to move the sadness aside and have room in my heart for the lovely things that we creatures share: The milestone birthdays, the gorgeous house bedecked, the dining room table laden with food, the pool temporarily covered over to become the stage, music filling the air, and being shoulder to shoulder with new and old friends.
There are birthday parties. Then there was Allyn’s 65th. It was extraordinary and set a bar so high that it may make Allyn’s 70th impossible to exceed. I have a feeling that Scotty will try! God willing, I will be around for that bit of extravagance! The wine station was set apart from the tequila bar, which is always thoughtful. The double-layered chocolate cake was delicious, washed down with champagne. Of course. How beautiful was Stela Rosas in white sequins? She sang for hours, backed by maestro Salvatore Rodriguez on piano and a percussionist who kept the beat perfectly. I missed the mariachi and can’t imagine how long the last guests stayed! Both Scotty and Allyn looked as great at the end of the night as they did when I arrived. What a party, you two! Bravos all around and mil gracias for having me there! Thanks also to Jack Bramy and Suzanne York for the Uber back to your place and for the lovely company at the bday party to end all bday parties!
This week is busy: ”Broadway Boys” this aft at Coco Cabaret, and ”An Evening with the Stars” at Casa Karma on Tuesday. Wednesday has Scrabble at the Q, Bingo at Nacho Daddy, then the free classical concert at our Lady of Guadalupe Church at 8:30 pm. See you everywhere, From Here.
