Dia De Muertos, A Magical Day of Creativity & Community in Todos Santos
Thursday, November 2nd, A Day in Our Life
7 AM - Wake up in panic. We need to put together a Dia de Muertos costume for Emilio’s costume contest and school
7:15 AM - Drinking coffee, because nothing happens until I drink my coffee
7:20 AM - Looking for and finding old face paint in my camper/studio that I haven’t used or cleaned in two years
7:25 AM - Looking through my collection of costumes, finding an old hat of mine, and fishing out Emilio’s hole-filled pants from the hamper
7:45 AM - Applying make up to Emilio’s Face feeling rushed, stressed and inadequate as mother
8:15 AM - Drop Emilio and his friends at school
9:30 AM - Look desperately through the mess in my house to find my painting pants, paint brushes (which I haven’t used in many years) and pallet
10:30 AM - Show up at the wall at the Cultural Center in Todos Santos, find my spot and start painting my skull
3:30 PM - Emilio comes to help me paint. I find out he won first prize at the costume contest at school
5:30 PM - Finish up my skull and go to Hotel Casa Tota to be fed and quenched. Sit with old and new friends and celebrate
7:00 PM - Head to the Town Plaza to see the beautiful ofrenda, Emilio, friends and other offerings
8:00 PM - JJ does a puppet show and dance party for los niños. All the kids get up on stage and dance with him
8:30 PM - I am unexpectedly invited to dance along with the Mojiganga giant puppet show that Emilio has been helping to paint on for weeks with Maria at Puente de Milagros
8:30 - Fretting I am wearing nothing but my dirty painting clothes, and therefore am not prepared to perform on stage, I go to get my face painted as a clown skull in two minutes by the lovely Zephyr at the Puente de Milagros booth
8:40 PM: I am suddenly on stage with Maria, Emilio, Ashta, a group of adorable children of all ages and from all places, and am helping to lead the children in an improvised dance that supports the energy of each Mojiganga— Earth, Fire, Wind & Water. JJ is playing bass, electronic beats and another woman is singing a haunting melody. I am dancing and my body is aching from painting all day, but I still release the energy needed. We are joined by a team of drummers, including Kurtis & my mother in law Ruth
9:20 PM: Done with the performance, all of us exhausted, Lucas Emilio and I head to the ice-cream parlor for a treat