Wasn’t that the best Party Ever?
by Dorothy Bell
You still hear people talk about it to this day. The Party on Orange Tree Beach, Jaime’s Birthday Party. But it’s always that one.
For Bill and I it all started in late April. Bill and I drove down the Avenita and made a right on …geeze it’s been awhile…Bahia de Banderas. There, within the block on your right was a gated door and a sign that read Hinde y Jaime’s Restaurant. With two palm trees. Always with 2 palm trees. A cute enough stop for an afternoon beer.
The place was empty and Bill and I headed straight for two seats at the center of the bar. “Two Beers,” we said to the waitress. “Pacifico’s”
Well she didn’t have that flavour of beer but she had a smile that stretched clear across Mexico. We laughed and joked and Bill and I returned often to this little bar, with the swamp cooler, terrible washrooms few customers and the most delightful young woman with a gorgeous smile. “My name is Patty.”
A few weeks later in May she invited us. “It’s a very big party. Important. My dad’s birthday. My parent’s anniversary. You must “
We were invited every time we saw her at the little bar. How could we possibly not come?
The kids were a different matter. We were housesitting a beautiful home on the beach in Guayabitos with a pool. The kids were living the life. It was everything they knew they deserved…And their oldest sister Justine was visiting from Mexico City. They JUST WANTED TO HANG.
But Bill and I persisted and then insisted and they lost. “When a Mexican family invites you to a party you really should go. It’s an insult if you don’t.”
They reluctantly left the pool and the beautiful gardens that night and we drove north to the tiny town of Lima de Abajo.
The town is tiny and has the most ugly cartoonish statue in the center of the street, We drove around and towards the beach along a dirt road that wound its way up and down and around small plots and orchards for 20 minutes or so. We finally reached the water and were amazed to see the beach alive with cars and tents.
“We’re here.” Playa de Naranjo.
It was 5 pm and the sun was starting to cast that beautiful gold hue over the beach as it neared sunset. There were so many people milling around under typical beach palapas. This was Hinde y Jaime’s Beach restaurant and now in the summer they opened it occasionally for guests.
But now there were tents all over the place. One couple, Gary and Doris had a very large one. Plunk in the middle of the tent was a complete queen size bed including headboard and feet. Luxury camping. Ginger and Byron were car camping. Everyone had their own gear and ideas.
There were all kinds of people chatting everywhere. Maybe 100 celebrants, Maybe more. Someone was serving beer and harder stuff off a table. “It’s Free he said.” It’s Jaime’s Birthday.”
It was about this time our kids came to inform us that they were NOT coming back with us. “Patty’s found a place for us” said Adam. Dylan and I will sleep in there. Justine can take care of herself. She is staying too.” There was no arguing. It was not negotiable.
It was like a beach circus, so much was happening. There was a huge homemade BBQ with two couples managing it. “The Roadkill Grill” They called it. Harold and Carole. Kenny and No-me (the female name for Geronimo) Man oh man…..the food that was coming off that grill. Every hour they said…..Dorado, beef, pork, shrimp. Everything new, different, and delightful. Amazing food.
The lone RV was an ancient Class A, yellow and oh so dusty from traveling the road between the orchards to get here. Owned by a woman named Petra and her then partner Lise, the RV – called Herbie – provided for many of the sound that night. The built-in generator provided the power for the amplifiers.
Music the wonderful music. Lone guitarists, Mariachi, Jacqui. You name it. They played. And they played.
Mexicans who didn’t speak a word of English were dancing and playing with Americans and Canadians that didn’t speak a word of Spanish. Kids playing hide and seek and other games everywhere. Grandparents adopted a lawn chair and drank and ate all night watching the pure merriment around them
The party went on for three nights and the booze, food and music only stopped for short intervals throughout the days and nights ahead. At one point there was a presentation with a gift to Jaime on his birthday and a gift to Hinde recognizing her anniversary.
We met so many new people here that would become lifelong friends. So many crazy stories and dances and singing and loving each other.
Bill and I went back to ensure the home in Guayabitos that we were looking after was ok. It was. We returned every afternoon to celebrate with the rest of the town at the beach. Somewhere along the way, Patty introduced Bill and I to her parents and it became a beautiful friendship of families. We miss them.
We went on to meet their extended family, celebrate important life chapters such as Patty graduating from university, the closing of the beach restaurant, Christina’s “this is not a Quinceañera Party” Jaimicito and family, The Kidnapping, Patty saves the day, Kenny’s passing and the fundraising music festival for No-me, the first cancer walk and raising money for Jorge’s wife Marlena, all the Superbowls, all the cancer walks, all the Christmases and New Years. Darts and more darts. Bottle on your head dances. Birthday cakes in your face. Margarita by the best Margarita Team in Mexico. Tequila por la Amigas. We spent our time in La Penita, this little Mexican town celebrating together with this family all the delicious passages of life.
Jaime, Hinde and family made us feel so special. And thats the trick of it. They made everyone feel special. A laugh. A drink. Some food. Everyone.
And of course it is fitting that the best Party ever was the party on the beach for Jaime.
Good bye old friend. You were alwa
ys the best party ever. 
xxoo
