Absurd

Well, it’s time to get off the island. While the rest of the world is worried about the conflict between Israel and Gaza, we have our minds elsewhere.

Wanna see?

Here’s the plaza in front of city hall last year at this time!

Beautiful, right?

Always looks pretty at Christmas, and why shouldn’t it? Nobody else is putting up lights—but little things like sky-high light bills are petty affairs to the politicos!

Hey, what about a Christmas tree?

OK—not especially heavy on the subtlety, but hey, the kids love it.

Right, so shouldn’t we do something festive with the city hall? It is just a bit sober for Christmas.

Right—no one’s gonna miss that!

And here, dear Reader, is the square today, two days after Thanksgiving….

Yup, not one decoration! Here we are, right smack in the Christmas season, and there isn’t a single light bulb, neon angel, or artificial Christmas tree. What!

What gives?

The mayor lost the election. And is nowhere to be seen. And has decided—no Christmas for us!

Well, that’s news. That’s dish. And the entire island is talking about it and laughing about it and spewing snakes and toads, as we say down here. This is gonna go down in history.

Doña Fela bringing snow? Nothing—the Grinch Santini stealing Christmas is how this is playing.

Puerto Rico, I’ve discovered, is an absolutely excellent place to live. Only two things: you must have absolutely nothing to do, no work to get to or business to start or anything but relax, have another beer, enjoy.

Second thing?

You really should cultivate a sense of the absurd.

Which is why I just love the clip below…..