I do not typically give specific dates in my blogs, but in this case, it is relevant. It was Saturday, January 10th. The Pats were playing my old friends the Ravens. It was a late afternoon game, so we made a plan to explore our neighboring town during the day and find a satellite TV in the afternoon.


I could not have been more wrong.
Jon noticed cowboys on horses all heading in the same direction. Being Jon, he insisted we find out where they were going. We walked until we were surrounded by Mexican cowboys and a few cowgirls of various ages, the police, and a traveling Mariachi band. Sticking out like sore thumbs, a nice man who spoke English told us that there had already been a long ride, and now they were all going to head a little ways up the road to a ranch and drink and eat and hang out and that we should come along. Well, alrighty then!


I did my loop, and as I was heading towards Jon, and who we now know as Gill, they were yelling at me to "Get in the parade!! Keep riding!!" I confirmed that they actually wanted me to get in this parade, and off I went.
![]() |
This is David. Throughout the parade I rode my own horse. This pic was taken at the end. David still had to make his way home, and didn't want to get off his horse. |
Almost immediately, my guardian angel David pulled up along one side of me with his friend on my other side and began to adjust my stirrups. Let me give you the full picture: I have my jeans all cutie cuffed at the bottom with my barefoot running shoes and my Patriots baseball cap,. Yah - which one of these is not like the other?? Also, they knew something I didn't. The parade had not just ended, it had just begun. I would spend the next two hours riding this horse!


There were stops along the route for Tequila, which I refused the first couple of times and then David insisted it was part of the experience. We also stopped so the band could play, and horses could dance. Not mine, thankfully. I must take a moment to mention that my sweet boy took such good care of me. To this day I have no idea what the horse's name is (you'll learn why later), but we called him Amigo during the ride.
![]() |
Tina, Amigo, Gil, Jon |
After the ranches, the parade marches into town on the main street with everyone videotaping and photographing. As we pulled into the main square, David waited with me until Jon and Gill found me. At the start of the parade route, Jon and Gill had immediately jumped into the pick up of a police truck and rode the whole two hours right behind me.
And now for the background on Gill that will clear up all the confusion. Gil had just arrived in Jocotepec the night before. He spent the evening catching up with his family over one two many libations. His brother informed him in the morning that he had a horse for him and told him where to head. He really had no idea what was going on. He was thrilled to have me take the horse, because he was in recovery! He spent the entire time in the back of the pick up asleep. Lucky break for me.


OFFICIAL: Top Ten List of Lifetime Moments - That awesome day in Jocotepec.
![]() |
Jon gets a test run! |
“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure.
There is no end to the adventures we can have
if only we seek them with our eyes open.” – Jawaharial Nehru