Posted by RickFeliz on November 13, 2000 at 02:38:22:
In Reply to: Re: "Nothing make 'em happy like a dog fight" Mark Twain posted by YoungBrig on November 12, 2000 at 01:28:15:
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...cruise with "un calentador" (a heater). YoungBrig, I agree the ATM metaphor is useful for understanding probably 95% of the "transactions" on Calle Coahuila. However, I suggest that outside the box, lies a more powerful metaphor. I remember one of the more interesting "senoritas de la fiesta" (party girls) I met on Coahuila. She was exotic. She'd just returned from an extended "vacation" in Japan. She was alone except for her best friend, a tiny white dog with a Japanese name. She was looking for "un caballero" (a gentleman) to take her on a nice two week "vacation" in Can Cun. I was just beginning to speak Spanish and she could speak excellent English and Japanese as well as her native Spanish. She had a model's body. What an incredible waist that flared out silouetting her hips. We were kidding about sex one time and she stopped, grabbed my arms, stared deeply into my eyes and very seriously told me she was available whenever I wanted. She'd never say no. Anytime night or day, she was available for me. A proposition worth considering. I had just discovered the book department at Sanborn's department store on Revolucion and was telling her about it. She wasn't impressed. She said that shopping was much better in other countries. Her explanation was that Mexico mostly just had stores for essential goods. There wasn't the variety and choice that there is in wealthier countries. She explained that Mexicans don't have enough "discretionary income" to support the sort of stores she liked. I specifically remember her using the term "discretionary income" and thinking to myself that this is a very surreal conversation. It definitely didn't fit my preconceptions about interactions along Calle Coahuila. I suggest that some of las senoras view us not as ATM machines, but as world-class dispensers of "discretionary goods". Regards, |
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