After more than four decades residing hereabouts, I’m fully aware that life in Mexico is always full of surprises.

I don’t think about that on a daily basis, but it was brought to mind last week by an extraordinary incident of pure happenstance.

It was the last day of Ajijic’s month-long observances honoring La Virgen del Rosario, which traditionally close with a colorful village fiesta. With the day’s tasks finished, I joined my daughter and granddaughter for a jaunt to the center of town. As we trotted down towards the plaza in sync with the conclusion of the evening’s celebration of Mass, we felt sporadic light rain drops fall from the sky.

We took a quick spin around the square in search of a good spot to belly up for a platter of tacos. A sudden bolt of thunder and lightning sent us scrambling to the nearby “dollar” store where we purchased a substitute for the umbrellas left at home. Once outside, the heavens open, leaving us exposed to a torrential downpour. Just after we took cover under a large tree, we heard popping sounds and caught an unmistakable whiff of gunpowder.

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