What's Not To Love About Mexico? Nobody Try's To Tell Anybody Else How They Must Live. To Each His Own

Champion cocks can be had for as little as $15,000.00!!!!


On move out day, I enjoy one of life's simple pleasure's. I get a cab and tell him the name of the next city, and we negotiate the cost, with me instructing him not to go on the freeway, instead taking backroad's through the real world. It's my day off and I don't want to see a mall, a Starbuck's or a McDonalds. I need to fill my lungs with reality. Last Wednesday traveling from Ixtapaluca to Ojo De Aqua we passed through a beautiful little farming town and in the city square I noted all these roosters tethered under the tree's and car's gathered around. I asked the taxi to stop so I could take a picture, above and talk with the men gathered there. I found out that as I assumed these were fighting cocks, and they were for sale. Each afternoon for 12:00 to 3:00 these folks take a break from their field work, and gather here to sell, swap or just talk birds. It is a passion for rural folks that is beyond a normal "passion." The breeding and bloodlines of these fighting cocks has been an interest of mine for years and these gentlemen were quite impressed that "gringo" was able to point to the birds and tell them what breed they were( I personally hope to one day have a breeding line of Kelso's and Giro Regular Grey's.) They invited me back on Sunday when folks meet back in the city square to fight their birds, as well as staging horse races, with each farmer/rancher bringing their best and swiftest to compete.


What a wonderful day it was, being around "just folk's." No air's, no pretense, no "your shit stinks, but mine doesn't" real folk's. Shortly after arriving, I met these two remarkable brothers, above who had brought their pride and joy's to try to win a few peso's, 15 year old Carlos on the left and his 11 year old brother Phillipe on the right. Carlos I was amazed to find out spoke almost perfect English. He has dreams of being a veterinarian someday. Do you know how he learned English? He taught himself with a 1969 edition of the Merck Veterinary Manual which he had in his backpack!!!!!!! Can you imagine the hopes and dreams this young man has? He said he try's to teach Phillipe, but he doesn't want to learn. You can see by the picture that Phillipe has a "chip on his shoulder." :) Their father died 6 years ago from cancer, and they, their mother and an older sister work the farm that was their great grandfathers raising sheep, chickens, a few cow's, corn, avocado's and the boy's "hobby" fighting cocks." They work with their family 7 day's a week, but come into town on Sunday's until 5:00 to try to earn a few peso betting their cocks, finishing up chore's when they go back home. Carlos save's everything he earns on Sunday in the hope's of being able to afford to go to college at Cornell University someday. This Sunday he and his cock went 3 for 3 and he earned 210 pesos. That's less then $20.00, but a step closer to his dream.........Phillipe with the "chip on his shoulder" and his cock went 2 for 3 and he earned 125 peso and he just wanted candy. :) They have done well in the breeding of their fighting stock. I earned 200 peso betting on the boy's and offered to give it to them, but Carlos politely refused, as "it's yours, not mine" which didn't make Phillipe happy. :)

They did let me buy them a coke before they headed home, and as were were sitting on the curb drinking them, I told Carlos he should take his birds to the United States. "Why" he asked, "do you think I could make a lot of money"? I replied, "you can make a lot more money, and you won't have to work 7 day's on the farm anymore. In fact, you won't have to ever work again." "How is that possible?" he asked. "Because" I told him, "in the United States the people who live in Private Idaho will take your birds away from you, and tell you you can't fight them anymore, because they don't like it." He asked, "but how will I have something to eat and extra money for college?" I told him, "you won't need any money. They will give you food stamps and put you on welfare. Everything will be free, including your school." From the mouth of babe's, he raised his eye lid's in surprise and said, "isn't it better to work for what you need........" Before the boy's left to go back home, I asked for their address. Yesterday, I ordered The Merck Veterinary Manual 19th edition 2011. Carlos should receive it in 4 weeks. I hope his dreams come true......