Vaya Con Dios

In the past year I have started a habit. When I decide to do something I pause and ask myself, “Is this stupid?” I have been surprised how often the answer has been “Yes”, and I am appreciative of having asked myself.

If I were planning to take a taxi, leaving Zihuatanejo at about 3:00 a.m. to get to Acapulco by 7:30 a.m., I would ask myself that question. I’m pretty sure my answer for myself would be “Yes”.

That would be the case at any time of year, but during the rainy season? My answer would be “YES! What were you thinking?”

I would also be questioning to judgement of a taxi driver who agreed to drive me.

Set aside the aspects of crime. Set aside the aspects of flooding. (But come back to these later.)

Several years ago an acquaintance convinced a taxi driver to take them on a nighttime trip on Ruta 200. My acquaintance survived, but the taxi driver was killed by the head of the horse that he hit coming through the windshield.

Several months ago another acquaintance was nighttime driving from north of Lázaro Cárdenas to a morning flight out of ZIH. Five, count ‘em five, tractor-trailer trucks in a row were coming toward my acquaintance when the fifth truck decided pass the other four. Once again my acquaintance escaped with their life, but they will never do that nighttime drive again.

As the saying goes, “Your mileage may vary.” I

n Guerrero I often hear “Vaya con bueno”, but in this situation “Vaya con dios” might be more appropriate.