IN THE REGION of Mexico where I live, late August through early October is the season of thunderstorms and floods. A variety of serious illnesses, and sometimes epidemics, are attributed to this weather. It's not easy seeing people suffer and submit to expensive and sometimes harsh medical treatments for these ailments.
During one of our rainy seasons years ago, I woke up one morning with a headache, fever, and nausea—all the symptoms of certain virulent diseases I'd heard warnings about on recent news broadcasts. I thought, "Maybe I have an intestinal fever or typhoid." I couldn't get out of bed. What's more, I was really afraid.
I had planned to meet my mother at her home that morning. We usually got together once a week, and we'd always have a wonderful time just running simple errands, such as going to the bank. At first I thought maybe I should cancel our date, but I didn't. Recently we had been sharing a joy in being together that we hadn't experienced before.
