After a five-month RV road trip through the US and Canada (including two months in Alaska) we settled into our 16th year of wintering along the shores of Lake Chapala.  Our house withstood a minor earthquake and with a week of cleaning, we were settled in for the season. From there, we dove into the deep end of the pool of volunteering. In April, Glorine suggested an idea to honor those we lost during COVID, and over the summer that idea grew into a four-day Intercultural Celebration of Life and Honoring Death Festival at the Lake Chapala Society. The festival included an installation ceremony of a "Before I Die" wall. Here is Glorine with Loretta, her co-volunteer, along with representative from LCS, Have Hammers (who built and painted the wall) and the local delegate from Ajijic.

Ajijic keeps growing and with that growth new businesses are cropping up including this new restaurant setting on the end of a pier on Lake Chapala.	We picked up our Sunday tradition of attending Open Circle, this one was a lively discussion from members of Toastmaster on the stereotypes we have of Mexicans and those Mexicans have of us.
Kevin Anthony who entertained us with tunes made popular by Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder at a LCS Concert in the Park used Larry as one of his props Here are two of the songs he sang.	We continued our weekly dinner/card party with Wayne and Maureen. So, Glorine pulled out all the stops and created this awesome Chocolate Crepe Cake for dessert.
While winter weather is settling in on Canada and the upper tier states, we enjoyed walks along the Chapala Malecon with temps in the mid-70s.	Since last year, we noted lots of improvements, both infrastructure, landscaping and new pieces of art that line the walkways.
In honor of the Day of the Dead, this wall, one of 5,000 in the world and the tenth in Mexico, gave people an opportunity to reflect on and write things down that they want to do before they die.	We were among 40 guests to help celebrate our friend Mark's 75th birthday at the clubhouse of their condo, with great food, live music and lots of dancing. He and Bernice are snowbirds, who like us, love to travel.
The Guadalajara's US Consulate General, Eliza Al-Laham and her team came to LCS to present a host of services they provide to US citizens living abroad.	This young girl all dressed up is celebrating her quincearnera.  This celebration marks the transition from childhood to young womanhood.
Loretta Downs shared stories from the 'Book of Life' about the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Forgotten as reasons Mexicans flock to cemeteries to spend time with their loved ones during  the Day of the Dead.	The Intercultural Celebration of Life and Honoring Death Festival shared the cultures on both sides of the border. Over 120 children participated in a Halloween Party at LCS including face painting, musical chairs, science experiments, etc.
The most popular event was making slime, using glue, baking soda, liquid starch, and food coloring.	The event ended with a contest to select the best costume. The lad dressed as a mummy was selected as the first place winner. He won a smartphone.
As the children left LCS, the neighborhood extended the celebration with an opportunity for the kids to do some trick or treating.	El Parque, is well known for its generosity in giving out candy and other treats on Halloween. Here are a few of the hundreds of kids who stopped by.  Notice the three big bins - they were full of candy.