Dia de los Muertos

 I was afraid that with all the obnoxious ICE threats and activities that our colorful neighborhood would avoid Day of the Dead celebrations, but thank goodness that is not the case. The top photo is from inside my favorite gift store Luz de Luna and then the next is just one of the many, many altars in restaurants and shops. The parade will be Sunday night and I so hope everyone stays safe in these perilous times.

dia de los muertos on 24th Street

 Neighbor Nicole, grand daughter Samantha and I strolled on the colorful main street of the celebration last night. The bottom photo is a feather headpiece. Amazing. Marigolds, altars, face painting, candles, photos and peaceful crowds in costumes. All the restaurants were packed so Nicole wrestled up some left overs for us and we had a lovely evening indeed.

the flower of the season

 Our neighborhood is, as you know by now, heavily Latino. In Mexico the orange marigold is an essential element of the Day of the Dead celebrations. The strong aroma and bright/bright color will guide the spirit of the deceased back to their loved ones. Yes, I have them on our front porch and they are working.

El Concierto

 

Yesterday Mr. and Ms. Blogmaid and Howard and I went to the fabulous Dia de los Muertos concert at the SF Symphony. Oh, what a fine time we had.  All the colors and costumes and then the glorious music, including an amazing trumpeter, Arturo Marquez. The enthusiastic conductor, Carlos Miguel Prieto, was born in Mexico and he was a total delight. A wonderful experience and I am reliving it now with a smile.

marigolds and memories

 Neti and I went to the Dia del Muerto celebration late yesterday afternoon to admire the wonderful altars and to hang photos of our loved ones on the clothes lines provided for this. (I took the five photos here on the bottom.) This was a new location very close to my home ~ San Bruno Park, aka Potrero del Sol. I love looking at all the mementos and pictures, listening to the music and poetry of the speeches and just imagining how much those who have left us would love this scene. 

Noche de Los Muertos

Monique's impressive altar

tee shirt weather!

Joe and I attended Dia de Los Muertos last night at SOMArts ~ my third or
fourth year, as I recall. Not quite as crowded or noisy this time, thank
goodness. Ran into a few people I know from the museum and from grief
group and I enjoyed a taco out in the warm Frisco night air on the patio.
Good to be out, good to get home ~ as per usual.

Dia de los Muertos Concert

Music, color, costumes, dancing ~ what a delight. Dancing Jen and I had
such a fine time at the sold-out SF Symphony yesterday. Jacomo Barios
conducted and spoke mostly in Spanish. He was so enthusiastic and so
was the audience, lots of families and small children who behaved perfectly.
After the intermission the Villalobos Brothers joined the symphony
and what a show they put on! This was just what I needed yesterday,
thank you DJ.

My hordes of faithful readers will remember that last year I went to the
Dia del Muerto gathering and parade near our home. I didn't go last Friday
night because I just couldn't, but next year I will attend and present
Husbando to the Land of the Remembered.

back to Garfield Park

I took my three departed friends to hang their photos on the Day of the
Dead clotheslines ~ they (Michael, Jane and Irving) would love being
there, that much I know for sure. Sometimes I think other cultures
"do" death better than we do. I left them some marigolds and thanked
them for adding so much to my life, each one changed me for the
better. Marsha and I decided that the homemade altars are better than
some of the artistically beautiful ones we have seen in museums.

altars, candles, marigolds

Now this is the way to mourn! I finally made it to the Day of the Dead event
which is only a few blocks from our home. Marsha picked me up at 5pm and
we easily found GREAT parking on 24th Street. Walked down to Garfield
Park and enjoyed all the altars, then had a bite to eat and walked up to 22nd
and Bryant for the procession and by 7:30pm the streets were packed and
it was all so colorful and delightful. I will show you more tomorrow...