What’s going on?

Great song, by Marvin Gaye – had 39 hit singles when he was with Motown – Detroit, when it actually had something going for it.

Good question – what’s going on. Lots of people dying, all around the world.

Wars in Afghanistan, Iraq. “Drug wars” in Central America, where I just spent 17 months. Got back to the USSA about 4 months ago. Lots of things occupying my mind.

Too many people dying – but that’s always been the case with us humans.

That’s one of the funny things about Central America – the ‘drug wars’, the drug cartels.

One thing missing is they do not have a drug problem in any of the countries I visited.

Like the produce and coffee that is grown here – drugs are not consumed here, it’s mostly headed to the USSA. (Yeah – United States Socialist America – it ain’t democracy anymore!)

Even the leaders would like to see it legalized so the can concentrate on more important social issues – like mass poverty. But, Biden comes barreling into the countries offering boatloads of money to “combat” drugs. He forgets that after a 40 year drug war, drugs are more prevalent than ever in the USSA.

Leave it to our government of the USSA to think money sent to more corrupt politicians in Central America is going to solve the drug problem in the USSA.

(SIde note – I think I’d rather deal with the Central American government and their officials. At least I know and they know that they are corrupt. Money will solve most problems. They do not hide behind a façade of “We’re here to help you.’ I know and they know that money will overcome most problems – straight into their pockets. No “campaign contributions” or envelopes of money passed underneath a table like the USSA)

Anywho, the question really is – what’s going on with The Big Mozey?

Well, in my travels, I found that it’s a wonderful world in which we live.

17 months in Central America, with only minor problems – looking back on them, of course.

Wonderful people (I only had problems with the army and the police – bribes, of course, in Mexico. Other than interesting border crossings, no serious stuff happened)

Poor – dirt poor – most of the people in Central America – but good people. And do they work hard!

Most o the fuel used for cooking is wood – gotten from the forests or any place where a tree grows that can be chopped up. And then they haul it – on their backs! Some do it with motorcycles, some with bicycles – but they haul wood. Boys, girls, men and women.

No wood, no fuel for cooking, which means some pretty poor grub. So, they work – sometimes most of the day to get their fuel for cooking.

Here’s a picture of a Rosquella oven in Somoto, Nicaragua where wood is the fuel used to cook these tasty cookies. Wood piles at every single Rosquella store in town.

Rosqella oven in Somoto, Nicaragua

A wedding reception that I attended in Totogalpa, Nicaragua. Caterer in the background is doing all his cooking for the guest with wood.

Totogalpa, Nicaragua reception

These guys come into Somoto, Nicaragua early in the morning to supply the towns people with wood for fuel. Cows and donkeys are most common. But, do not be surprised to see a man or boy pulling a cart loaded with wood.

Wood cart supply fuel for citizens of Somoto, Nicaragua

In spite of the hard work and hard life, there still seems a lot of joy in most of Central America.

Kids just enjoy life!

Kids are still kids

Cooks still go to work to cook in restaurants – with whatever fuel they have.

One of the cooks at a local restaurant

Girls still try to look pretty.

Girls will be girls!

The sexy pose!

Youida who lives just outside of Somoto, Nigeria

A maid - 13 yrs. old

Guys get together to talk about the weather, business and, of course, women!

Guys enjoy their buddies

Families serenade the town of Somoto, Nicaragua on Christmas Eve.

Serenade with the families of Somoto, Nicaragua

On Christmas, the locals set up pinate’s in the streets. The kids really take some hard whacks at the them strung across the street. They’re filled with lots of candy.

Swinging at a pinata

A mother, who could not have been more than 17, was afraid that her children – yeah, at 17, children – might get hurt. She went into the foray and left her children waiting for her on the curb.

The children waiting for the mother to return with candy

People get married.

A wedding procession in the street of a small town

Clowns clown around.

Clowns playing

Indeed, as Satchmo stated, from watching the people of Central America, it is a Wonderful World in which we live.

The problem was, I developed a circulation problem in my leg and had a severe pain in my side.

With enough money to get back to the states and get situated, I had a green light – but it was not going to last forever.

Soooooo —–

Since I had the green light, baby, I had to move along.

Back to the states…….