A Night In The Life

In Grateful Appreciation To The Friends We Made and a Special "Mil Gracias" to Those We Missed When we programmed this issue into our schedule our first contact was Senor Ignacio Soto who had worked with Raymond Carlson on several previous Mexico editions.

From his Mexico City office "Nacho" telephoned, telegraphed and dispatched special delivery letters to civic leaders, presidents of Chambers of Commerce and welcoming committees involved in tourism. From Nogales to Los Mochis we were led by the hand, given the "keys to the city" and wined and dined on a scale which was almost embarrassing to our plebeian backgrounds. We became intoxicated with their expressions of love and we were overwhelmed by their hospitality. The sound of "Noche de Ronde," exquisitely played by host Roberto Balderrama's ten piece mariachi band oozed through the doors of our apartment, so, instead of sleeping we talked.

We agreed that this was not our way of life as we had planned it before leaving Tucson. From the morrow on we would see Mexico as visiting work-a-day Americans. If we were to tell about Mexico we were going to tell it as it is, and we would put ourselves in the position of the everyday traveller who would have to learn of Mexico and the people on a person-to-person basis and not on a level known only by visiting dignitaries, movie stars and millionaires. We shook hands from across our respective beds on that decision as the mariachis went into the brassiest chords of "La Cucaracha."

Our subsequent people-to-people odyssey turned out to be an adventure that would fill a five volume book. We lived Mexican, we spoke Mexican, ate Mexican, drank Mexican and loved Mexico and every one we met.

It was not until we crossed the border and were treated as wetbacks by a former All-American plowboy in the uniform of an immigration officer that we realized our days of wine and roses were over.

Back at the ranch in Arizona we telephoned our friend Senor Soto to tell him how close to heaven we had been in his country. We also informed him that we had altered our schedule so that we did not meet all the beautiful people he had contacted for our reception and guidance.

Yes, he knew, because all those beautiful people were disappointed and chagrined because we had not partaken of their hospitality. We know how "Nacho" feels because we learned that in Mexico the intent is as meaningful as the deed.

We apologized to him for having "put himself on the spot" for us, and we realized our action was not the recommended procedure. I promised "Nacho" that if he would trust me I would unfog the atmosphere of what might be mistaken as a case of selfish ingratitude.

That is what this statement is all about.

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

VOL. XLVIII No. 10 OCTOBER 1972 RAYMOND CARLSON, Editor Emeritus JAMES E. STEVENS, Director of Publications JOSEPH STACEY, Editor GEORGE M. AVEY, Senior Associate Editor WESLEY HOLDEN, Associate Editor WILLIAM C. ANGIUS, Circulation Manager

THIS ISSUE

MEXICO

THE INCOMPARABLE JACK WILLIAMS, Governor of Arizona ARIZONA HIGHWAY COMMISSION

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is published monthly by the Arizona Highway Department. Address: ARIZONA HIGHWAYS, 2039 W. Lewis Ave., Phoenix, Arizona 85009. $5.00 per year in U.S. and possessions; $6.00 elsewhere; 60 cents each. Second Class Postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona, under Act of March 3, 1879. Copyrighted 1972, by the Arizona Highway Dept.

ALLOW FIVE WEEKS FOR A CHANGE OF ADDRESS. SEND IN THE OLD AS WELL AS THE NEW ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE.

This issue of ARIZONA HIGHWAYS is produced by W. A. Krueger Co., Phoenix Division, 2802 W. Palm Lane, Phoenix, Arizona 85009 Typography by Morneau Typographers 330 North Third Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85003 Distributed nationally and internationally on newsstands by Independent News Company, Inc. 909 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10022 (212) 758-6100 That is what this statement is all about. For ARIZONA HIGHWAYS Magazine, for our companero Ted De Grazia and for all Americans who feel as we do and do not have the time or the place to express their thoughts . . . Our deepest gratitude for some of the happiest days of our years. In our hearts we are all richer for having been so close to your hearts. JOSEPH STACEY