But we are certainly close. This *is* the U.S., but the Mexican influence is considerable. If you wonder how that influence got here, it’s because this used to *be* Mexico. Years ago, Mexico wanted to settle the lands to the north, so it invited immigrants and provided land grants. The people that settled here to the north were an independent bunch though and decided to secede from Mexico in 1836. That secession was contested, but ultimately Texas became an independent country. The border between the two countries was defined as the Rio Grande River. Problem solved? Not really. It turns out there were two different rivers referred to as the Rio Grande. The river to the south, that flows through Brownsville, the U.S. referred to as the Rio Grande, while Mexico referred to it as the Rio Bravo. The river to the north, that flows through Corpus Christi, the U.S. referred to as the Nueces and Mexico referred to as the Rio Grande. The current border didn’t get settled until after Texas joined the United States, and the Mexican American War in 1848 defined the border between the two countries as the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo River. The Rio Grande Valley where we live; we’re in the middle, between the Rio Grande and the Nueces (or the Rio Bravo and the Rio Grande from Mexico’s point of view); and it is still predominantly Mexican American/Latino here. If it is ever suggested that anyone here should go back to where they came from, it wouldn’t be the people in our neighborhood who should leave, it would be we gringos.
Henry did an interesting thing
Last night we were playing Joker in the dining room with Barb and Henry. They brought Bailey and Willow. Judy brought several toys and stuffed animals and put them next to the table, so the dogs would all be right there with us. This time she brought Henry’s soft puffy bed that normally sits in front of the fireplace, and put it there too. That worked for a while. Then we heard Henry wrestling with the bed and watched while he dragged it off back into the living room. It wasn’t an easy process and involved a couple wrong turns, but when he got done, the bed was back in front of the fireplace; inside out and upside down, but right where it belongs. Judy turned it right side out and his world was back in order. When I was young, the prevailing attitude was that animals, non-human animals, were just reactive creatures, responding to their environment. (Actually there was considerable resistance to humans being referred to as animals. Humans were separate and apart from the rest of the animal kingdom.) The appearance of conscious thoughts and emotions, ideas and feelings, in animals were only illusions. The understanding of animal behavior has evolved since my youth though, and we now realize that other animals are conscious creatures that carry on complex lives. Watching Henry drag that bed, fix a situation that wasn’t right, and put things back where they belong suggests a certain amount of understanding, ingenuity, and determination. He observed, figured out what was wrong, devised a plan, and executed that plan. There is a lot going on in that furry little head.
Leafcutter ants
Well, we thought they were leafcutters, but on closer inspection it turns out they’re carrying berries, not leaves.
They harvest them here at the bottom right.
Then form up a line carrying them across the grass.
When we’re out hiking we see signs informing us that “It only takes ten people to create a new trail, please stay on the path.” Maybe ten thousand ant steps equals ten people steps, but they have clearly trampled a trail through the grass.
Across the road.
And down into this hole!
That’s got to be some cavern down there to handle this steady stream of goods.
They harvest them here at the bottom right. Then form up a line carrying them across the grass. When we’re out hiking we see signs informing us that “It only takes ten people to create a new trail, please stay on the path.” Maybe ten thousand ant steps equals ten people steps, but they have clearly trampled a trail through the grass. Across the road. And down into this hole! That’s got to be some cavern down there to handle this steady stream of goods. Time for more gymnastics videos?
Hey!
We miss our nightly joker game with Becky and Brian! (And by the way, if the women say they beat the men two out of the three nights, let me declare right now FAKE NEWS! Believe me!) We sent them off at the Harlingen airport at noon today. They’re safe and sound at home now. Just got Alex’s results of the gymnastics meet in Phoenix: Rings 4thVault 3rdPommel 2ndHigh bar 2ndParallel bars 2ndFloor 1st All-around 1st He won the age group skill level!