Open Circle
At the Open Circle meeting at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 20, Patricia Hemingway will share her experience of living two and a half years in an ashram in a small village an hour outside Mumbai (called Bombay in 1986 when she arrived there).
She had never been a seeker of spiritual experience, didn’t believe in it or trust anything related to God.
Find out what got her there, what made her return two more times, and how the experience affects her now, 25 years later.
Hemingway has been retired in Ajijic for five years. She spent her adult life in California, primarily in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a long-time quilter and writes short stories. She is also one of the editors of/contributors to All Our Words Needed Saying: An Anthology of Women’s Writing. More information at opencircleajijic.org.
LCS Bus Trip
The next Lake Chapala (LCS) bus trip is on Thursday, March 24 to Plaza Galerias in Guadalajara. This popular trip leaves from the sculpture in La Floresta at 9:30 a.m.
The mall features anchor stores Liverpool, Sears, Best Buy and Sanborns, There are also many specialty stores such as Gap, C&A, Tommy Hilfiger, The Body Shop, Radio Shack, Mac Store, H&M and more. Shoppers can visit nearby Costco, Sam’s Club and Super Mega. Restaurants include P.F. Chang’s, Cheesecake Factory, Applebee’s, Chili’s, McCarthy’s Irish Pub and more. Sign up early at the LCS office, as this trip fills up fast. Cost is 300 pesos for members, and 350 for non-members.
All Things Tech
LCS provides a discussion group on All Things Tech, every Friday, 11:30 a.m. in their Sala. This class is great for beginners using current electronic devices and services. Drop in any time with your devices, questions and curiosity.
LCS Seminar
LCS members are invited to attend the Tuesday, March 22 learning seminar from noon to 1:15 p.m. featuring a Ted Talk by Dr. B.J. Miller on “What really matters at the end of life.” Ron Mullenaux is the moderator.
At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? B.J. Miller is a palliative care physician at Zen Hospice Project who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients.
Neill James lecture
Haifa Dalal presents “The tragedy of the Middle East: revolutions, terrorism and refugees” on Tuesday, March 22, 2 p.m. in the LCS Sala.
His talk will briefly review the rise of ISIS, the current political state of Iraq and the broader Middle East, and relate some stories of the refugee crisis. An extended Q&A session will come after the presentation.
Dalal has a degree in translation studies from McGill University. She was born in Iraq and is a naturalized U.S. citizen. She spent 2004 to 2009 working for the U.S. Army and the CIA in Iraq. Since returning to the United States she has worked as a medical interpreter for the State of Washington, helping refugees from Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Sudan with their medical issues.
Memorial Services
A memorial for Laurel Kelly, who died February 18, will be held Saturday, March 26, 2:30 to 4 p.m. on the Neill James Patio at the Lake Chapala Society, where she was a volunteer for many years.
A memorial service for Dale (Butch) Harbin, who died August 15, 2015, and his wife Marley Jane (Janie) Harbin, who died February 15, will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2 p.m. at American Legion Post Seven in Chapala, Morelos 114. The service is open to all their many friends.
Janie Harbin was the Auxiliary’s 1st vice for at least ten years and a Legion member for many years before that. She was involved in many Legion events and the “kitchen” portion of the Legion’s Christmas arts and crafts fair.
Butch Harbin was a Legion social member for many years, and helped cook for their events. He won the Legion chili contest on his first try. He also worked as a realtor for Caldwell Banker at lakeside.
Buddhists
The Heart of Awareness Community meets on Wednesdays. Noble Silence begins at 4 p.m., followed by a formal meditation, dharma teachings and discussion at 4:30 p.m. March 23, there will be the fourth of five audio presentations: “Waking Up — What Does It Really Mean?”
Monday, March 21, 3 p.m., is the Dharma Movie Matinee showing of “Milarepa,” the story of an 11th Century Tibetan poet and mystic.
Drop-in meditation is on every Sunday (except first Sundays) and every Monday from 9 to 10 a.m. and every Thursday from 11 a.m. to noon. A Drop-In Practice/Study group meets every Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. All are welcome.
The sangha’s location is at Guadalupe Victoria 101, Suites A&B, in Ajijic. The Heart of Awareness is a non-sectarian community grounded in the teachings of the Buddha as preserved in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition. Prior experience or affiliation is not required. For more information, visit www.heartofawareness.org, or call Janet Reichert at (376)766-6069.
Genealogy Forum
The Genealogy Forum will meet Monday, March 28 in the Lake Chapala Society Sala. This will be the group’s last meeting held at LCS.
Say organizers: “We want to thank LCS for their generous use of their space for our monthly meetings. In April, our meetings will move to a room near the Family History Center in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The March meeting will be a work party to sort and move our genealogy library. There will be no presentation. Please bring your laptop to the meeting.”
LCS Singles
The LCS Singles group is hosting a get-together Tuesday, March 29 at El BarCo Bar & Restaurant between 4 and 6 p.m.
This is an opportunity to make new friends in a relaxed environment. You can enjoy drinks (2x1 on margaritas and wines), free appetizers and great views from the upstairs Sky Bar.
Several interactive activities have been planned from 4:30 p.m. Join in the competition and win a prize on the new roof-top putting green and/or the blind draws.
Those who stay for the barbecue dinner can enjoy the TrainWreck band from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Also check out BarCo’s popular wine cellar during your visit.
El BarCo is located at Carretera Oriente 33A, just west of Pemex in Ajijic. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to reserve a space.
British Society
Tony Burton, a British-born author who has specialized in exploring and writing about Mexico for over 30 years, will be the guest speaker at the Lakeside British Society luncheon, Saturday, April 2, 1 p.m., at Manix Restaurant, Ocampo 57 in Ajijic.
Lunch choices include pork chop stuffed with a cranberry sauce, spinach stuffed fish with an almond dressing or spinach salad with goat cheese. All choices are served with pea soup and raspberries and ice cream.
Call Sue at 766-0847 or Arlene at 766-1742 to reserve your seat.