Citizenship

Yesterday Steve and I went to Saguaro National Park West to see our Aussie friend Chris become a U.S. citizen. It was a very moving ceremony, and the setting among the saguaros was perfect. Chris said when he saw the saguaros during his first visit to Tucson in 1982, he knew that living in the Sonoran Desert would compensate for leaving his home in Tasmania.

Of course, a slide show of our country's astounding beauty was accompanied by "I'm Proud to Be an American". I knew I should have brought some tissues.

Chris and the other new citizens registered to vote and posed for pictures in front of the national park they now co-own with those of us lucky enough to be born here.
He was also interviewed by Fox News, and was quoted in the Arizona Daily Star.
Chris then made the brilliant suggestion that we go out for some American food. We had a great meal and tasty local beer at Barrio Brewing Co.

Papel o Plastico?

Picante's got both! This charming store in Arizona's oldest and most Mexican shopping plaza, Broadway Village, has papel picado for your Day of the Dead celebration, or any other festivities.

Papel picado means cut paper. Strings of papel picado flags are used to announce special events in Mexico.

As residents of a former Mexican outpost, Tucsonans can and should brighten their celebrations with papel picado.

Picante is a delightful store with decorative items, jewelry and clothing from Mexico. It's a great place to buy a Southwestern flavored gift.