M! opens its pages this month to the animals and pets of Mazatlán: whether brought from afar, rescued from the streets or adopted from our friends and neighbors, they are dear to our hearts. There are many – too many, sometimes - for us to help, and so organizations like Amigos de los Animales, PAC and others have sprung up to fill the gap and provide care and referrals. Our special pull-out-and-save center section gives you information about some of these groups and contact info, too, should you want to donate time or money, adopt a pet, or assist in some other way.

My kitten came into my life suddenly – as they all do – and unexpectedly; again, so typical. Of course she’s adorable, and I’ve become very attached in the short time she’s been a part of my previously quiet life. I attribute all kinds of intelligence to her and am charmed, constantly, by her antics. Yes, it took me a long time to get a pet, but I am finally, unequivocally, a happy and contented pet-owner.

In this issue you’ll also find two new columns: NoMa (North Mazatlán), short takes on what’s going on in Cerritos; and Dentro del Centro, covering the Centro Historico/Olas Altas area. We’re still looking for some eyes and ears in the Gold Zone, so if you know anyone, send them our way!

Just recently I met a couple traveling through Mexico who decided to stay in Mazatlán for the final months of their trip. They’re considering making this their retirement home in the near future. Why Mazatlán, I asked? Their answer was clear: of all the places they’d visited – and there were many – the people here are the most friendly and welcoming. Assuming they meant the Mazatlecos, I nodded in agreement. They went on to explain they’d found the ex-pat community here to be so welcoming, so friendly and so warm – like nowhere else they’d been. And that, they said, was the deciding factor. There are beaches, lovely weather and historic buildings and plazas everywhere – but our community of extranjeros is the icing on the cake, they said, and what sets Mazatlán apart from all the rest.

And therein lies the beauty of our human hearts – we do care, sometimes even against our better judgment, logic or desires. I believe that’s a good thing, and something to strive for – an open, compassionate and loving heart. Whether we apply this principle to our fellow human beings or to our four-legged, finned and feathered friends, it can only be a good thing to care about others. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Que te vaya bien!

Janet