When Pacheta, our maid, didn't appear at the door this morning, we worried that perhaps she was sick. She always appears on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to scour the house from top to bottom. Unaccustomed as we are to having others do our cleaning, it was uncomfortable at first. However it didn't take long to see that the dust level from road work, construction and traffic settles on all the surfaces quickly. So, we look forward to Pacheta's arrival, sharing laughter and broken languages.
When I asked Don Beto where she was, he launched into a lengthy explanation in Spanish from which I was able to distinguish 3 or 4 words. Apparently it is a holiday today for some employees. On Wikipedia I learned that Mexicans are celebrating Benito Juarez Day.
Juarez was the first full-blooded indigenous national to serve as the President of Mexico. He held this position for five terms, from 1858-1872. Because of his liberal efforts to modernize the country, he is one of Mexico's highly regarded leaders. One of his famous quotations is "Entre los individuos, como entre las naciones, el respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz". Translated this means "Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace".
Mexico is a country that remembers and celebrates its history.
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