RUBEN ~ HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY

RUBEN

WHO DID IT HIS WAY AND FOLLOWED HIS DREAMS

HAPPY 70^th BIRTHDAY

About two years ago we met this person at a restaurant in Chapala, who we became friends with. He is an amazing father and spouse, but more then that he is a great singer, entertainer, comedian and a true friend.





Ruben grow up in a town called Jocotepec in Mexico where in the day the schools only went to middle school. The town was founded by his ancestry on his mother side. So when he turned seventeen he adventured to America. He landed in California where he did not speak any English. In speaking to him, he explained that music taught him how to speak English. He would listen to music like Frank Sinatra, I DID IT MY WAY and other songs. Last week on his 70^th Birthday it was much fitting that he sang this song I DID IT MY WAY. As time went on he stuck it out and made California his home and married. Raised a family of six and worked until both retired.





When asked why he moved back to Mexico, Ruben replied, “ This is where my roots are and where I am meant to be.” The saying that everything happens at the right time and the right place, well its true. If Ruben had not felt the way he does, then Dan and I would have never met him.







Ruben has given back in so many ways, his children have all gone to college ( which he paid for) and are now dual citizens of the US and Mexico and speak both Spanish and English. He gives back to the town that he was born in and even gives free Spanish lessons to us Americans that live here in the area. His restaurant Rubens Grill is right next door to where we live and on Saturdays after breakfast he helps the gringos with these lessons.





Dan and I were honored to be invited to his 70^th Birthday party, which was a smash. He is truly the role model of following your heart and dreams. A true lover of music and of people. He never over looks a person going by or in need.





I am humble to be able to be in the presents of him and his family. So next time you are in the area, do not forget to stop and visit his restaurant. Maybe he will song to you I DID IT MY WAY.

KARAOKE ( Dan & Dee) I Got You Babe

Tuesdays here at Mama’s they have Karaoke and our friend Dee and Dan sang a duet for the first time together. Dan picked out I Got You Babe. They did an awesome job for the first time together and everyone loved it.





"I Got You Babe"






[HER:] They say we're young and we don't know

We won't find out until we grow

[HIM:] Well I don't know if all that's true

'Cause you got me, and baby I got you



[HIM:] Babe

[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe



[HER:] They say our love won't pay the rent

Before it's earned, our money's all been spent

[HIM:] I guess that's so, we don't have a pot

But at least I'm sure of all the things we got



[HIM:] Babe

[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe



[HIM:] I got flowers in the spring I got you to wear my ring

[HER:] And when I'm sad, you're a clown

And if I get scared, you're always around

[HER:] So let them say your hair's too long

'Cause I don't care, with you I can't go wrong

[HIM:] Then put your little hand in mine

There ain't no hill or mountain we can't climb



[HIM:] Babe

[BOTH:] I got you babe I got you babe



[HIM:] I got you to hold my hand

[HER:] I got you to understand

[HIM:] I got you to walk with me

[HER:] I got you to talk with me

[HIM:] Igot you to kiss goodnight

[HER:] I got you to hold me tight

[HIM:] I got you, I won't let go

[HER:] I got you to love me so



[BOTH:] I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

I got you babe

KARAOKE ( Mike and Elena) WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Tuesdays here at Mama’s they have Karaoke and our friends from Guadalajara Mike and Elena stopped by to check it out. They never have done this before and so it go’s. Mike picked out it’s a Wonderful World. They did an awesome job for the first time and everyone loved it.



I see trees of green, red roses, too,

I see them bloom, for me and you

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.




I see skies of blue, and clouds of white,

The bright blessed day, the dark sacred night

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world.




The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky,

Are also on the faces of people going by.

I see friends shaking hands, sayin', "How do you do?"

They're really sayin', "I love you."




I hear babies cryin'. I watch them grow.

They'll learn much more than I'll ever know

And I think to myself

What a wonderful world

PROUD MARY (Mike and Elena)

Karaoke

Tuesdays here at Mama’s they have Karaoke and our friends from Guadalajara Mike and Elena stopped by to check it out. They never have done this before and so it go’s. Elena picked out Proud Mary. They did an awesome job for the first time and everyone loved it.





Left a good job in the city

Workin' for the man ev'ry night and day

And I never lost one minute of sleepin'

Worryin' 'bout the way things might have been



Big wheel keep on turnin'

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river



Cleaned a lot of plates in Memphis

Pumped a lot of 'tane down in New Orleans

But I never saw the good side of the city

'Til I hitched a ride on a river boat queen



Big wheel keep on turnin'

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river



If you come down to the river

Bet you gonna find some people who live

You don't have to worry 'cause you have [if you got] no money

People on the river are happy to give



Big wheel keep on turnin'

Proud Mary keep on burnin'

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river



Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river

Simplifying Life

Simplifying Life

Healing Our Bodies

On April 1^st it will be three years ago that Dan and I moved to Mexico. We only planned on living here for two years, but it has been so comfortable and we are managing our illnesses with the simple things in life. This is what Mexico has taught us.

A lot of my family and friends were afraid for us to go to Mexico, but with us losing everything, our house, our cars, and most of our retirement savings due to our treatments from cancer the world as we knew it had disappeared before our eyes. Not only was there just cancer that both of us were inflicted with and had to worry about, but Dan also had ten stints in his heart area. We have had to maintain this health issue as well. Life in the states was not affordable for us to live there anymore. We not only had to deal with the treatments of cancer, but also, the aftercare ~ the healing process. Between the two of us we are spending over a thousand dollars a month on medicines and supplements because insurance does not cover them. We are living on Dan’s disability check and this takes out a big chunk, so our living expense which we are left with is quite small affording us not the luxury of a car but only the use of the local buses and the taxi drivers to get us down to the bottom of the hill for shopping Right now we are living off of the disability check from an injury on Dan’s left foot due to an old bullet wound and my book that I published last year. I am very disappointed for the sales of the book has not been overwhelming.

Nevertheless, we downsized and took off where we can live happy and not be worried about things (stress) for this is one of the lifestyle changes that we had to overcome to heal ourselves from cancer. Dan and I found this lovely Hotel in Ajijic to start over in which was affordable for us. We were offered a casita which we made our home. The price was only under 400.00 American dollars all included ~ internet, gas and electric. I felt this was fabulous to us for we were able to feel less pressure on our shoulders. Like someone close to me would say, this was our choice. Yes, but it was not my choice for us both to have cancer and be in the situation that we ended up in. We were living the American dream until then.
It has been a long road, but I am very proud that I am able to lift my head up and say that Dan and I did it on our own. We have never asked anyone for help and continue to do things on our own. With this said, I am asking for help on another issue. Dan and I are starting an organization to help others that have been in need of help regarding their cancer treatments. The fund is World F.A.C.T.S. ( Functional, Alternative, Cancer, Treatments Society). Please go to https://www.gofundme.com/changethethinking and give a gift to someone in need.

Throughout the five years and Dan’s three years of managing our cancer, we have been researching more and educating others in keeping healthy and to think outside the box. There are so many other treatments that work throughout the world that should be FDA approved so that others would be able to afford them with the insurance coverage. I have started a new petition that I also need your help with to sign so the future would be with out all the side effects that are happening NOW. There are scientific approaches, like Dan’s and I used that if the insurance company had paid for, maybe our lives would have taken another turn. Go to sign and share the NEW petition https://www.change.org/p/quality-of-life-a-gift


The experience that we have received from moving to Mexico opened up our eyes that Mexico is just as safe as the U.S. There are areas in the U.S. that you would not travel in, much like Mexico. There are gangs and drugs in the U.S., just like the cartel in Mexico. You have to do research to find the areas that you would be safe in. Our community in Chapala is full of ex-pats from America, Europe and Canada. We have many veterans here and they are being taken care of through clinics and facilities that specialize in their needs.

Please, help Dan and I in our quest to start World F.A.C.T.S. This would mean so much to us and would make a difference in what we had been through. The most precious gift that you could give Dan and I would be a donation to this cause. There is this saying that I love and have been repeating in all my writings. You are a drop, but together we can be an ocean. This is so true, I need you to be the ocean.

WHO IS SHERY SURDIL MALIN

I haven't forgotten that I am just one person,
That I am but one voice attempting to stand out from the crowd.
I know that I can't sit here and expect my words to create change without reason.
I can see if I don't educate and try to make a change, then I can't expect and follow my world.
I can feel that time is slipping by me, that it will be gone if I just stand still.
I have heard that there are a million other voices that sound like mine, that want also to be heard.
I've been told that it's not enough to wish for dreams that I have to work them into reality.
Your voice, your opinion-- mean something.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!!
You are one drop, but together we can make an ocean.
Let's think outside the box, and let your voice, your opinion--be heard.
JOIN ME
To make the change.
This is who Sheryl Surdi Malin is.

https://www.change.org/p/quality-of-life-a-gift

 https://www.gofundme.com/changethethinking

Scorpion Island

Scorpion Island

January 18 was my birthday and Dan and I decided to go take a boat ride to this Island that we have been hearing about. There are tour boats in Chapala that takes you to this island which is named for Scorpions. It was a very pleasant relaxing day. Enjoy the movie of the surroundings and the beauty of the area.





I would like to thank everyone for all the fabulous birthday wishes. I have lots to thank for and I am blessed that each of you are in my life. Since I moved to Mexico I have experienced and explored how other cultures live. I do not regret making this change for I have met wonderful people of all nationalities. You become humble and thankful for the experience. It is never what one expects it to be. I recommend going out and explore other countries for your idea’s will change for the best. Dan and I have !!!!