Last week, the Peace Corps celebrated its fiftieth anniversary at a thousand points of light around the world, including a sizable fête right here in Querétaro. Byron Battle, the former director for Peace Corps-México, and his his truly lovely wife, Margarita, hosted the event. The Battles know how to throw a Peace Corps party. First, their home has the elegance of an old style hacienda, displaying Margarita’s upbringing, blending in smartly with well-placed pieces of more contemporary art.
Then came the life-sized portrait of President John Kennedy with the current Peace Corps symbol suspended above his head – a thought-cloud in a comic book. President Kennedy´s cloud-sourcing worked since his initiative was a big dream brought to fruition by his brilliant – and under-appreciated brother-in-law – Ambassador R. Sargent Shriver. Their dream endures today.
Though banished too far out in the campo to attend the party, two friends and fellow volunteers – Arpan Dasgupta of (somewhere in) New Jersey and Steve Walker of Sarasota, Florida – helped set the tone by posting on FaceBook timely YouTube videos of President Kennedy announcing the formation of the Peace Corps.
Of course, there were tacos galore – and other things I can not name (¡even after six months!) – and the wine flowed freely. Best of all, for me at least, my wonderful novia braved the unknown and came to the party with me.
The Peace Corps has been in Mexico for only 15% of its half century. And México remains an outlier since it is already a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, qualifying her as a rich nation and not fitting in with the typical recipient country.
Of course, the festivities brushed such prosaic details aside until we each had to introduce ourselves as returning volunteers, former volunteers, seasoned current volunteers and newbs (‘twas I…yesirree). Now I work on debit and credits for a technology center – BORING material for a wine-drenched dinner.
What to do? Escape was one option. I had to nix that one quickly since, to walk out would have entailed:
a) being uncouth;
b) displaying cowardice;
c) acting unprofessionally; and, most important,
d) walking right through the peace-buzzed merriment.
Ah…to be gutless.
So, Charlie Goldsmith, an old pro as a current volunteer, was on the end of the line that had kicked off the previous groups. Safely standing at the opposite end was I until Charlie threw a curve ball and beckoned my end to start. By mistake, I thought that meant me as I did not realize Sonya Greegor – lovely woman and good sport – had joined the line but outside of my view and knowledge.
So, when Charlie motioned me to speak, I almost fainted.
¡Damn! I should have walked out in front of everybody when I had the chance.
Now, what do I do?
Talk about debits, credits and accounting harmonization in México?
Nope.
With a quick breath, I asked God for deliverance.
Then the calm of the 23rd Psalm (King James Version, if you please) descended upon me. Why not pull a J.F.K. maneuver? One of my favorite stories of President Kennedy was when he went to Paris with his glamorous wife of twenty-nine years at the time, the former Jacqueline Bouvier. Her cultivation, ancestry and fluent French made Jackie Kennedy an instant icon in Paris.
President Kennedy’s sense of humor and spontaneity shone through his grace as he said to a crowd something like, “Hello, I am John Kennedy, President of the United States of America. But, you know me as Jackie’s husband…” Of course, like Senator Bentsen would say, “You’re no Jack Kennedy.” But, hell, I can have fun, too, especially since the gracious Mexican beauty in my company was already a hit.
So I fitted the Presidential Patron of the Peace Corps to the situation and said spontaneously, “Hi, I’m Ned McDonnell and my project is my beautiful girl-friend. Yeah! On my free time I do work in administration at a local science center.”
People laughed and cheered, showing that President Kennedy still lives, transcending the ghastly images of the Zapruder film. Were he alive today, that president would be a very contented ninety-three year old, obviously not with my emulation, but with his and the saintly Ambassador Shriver's – and our – inimitable Peace Corps.
Then came the life-sized portrait of President John Kennedy with the current Peace Corps symbol suspended above his head – a thought-cloud in a comic book. President Kennedy´s cloud-sourcing worked since his initiative was a big dream brought to fruition by his brilliant – and under-appreciated brother-in-law – Ambassador R. Sargent Shriver. Their dream endures today.
Though banished too far out in the campo to attend the party, two friends and fellow volunteers – Arpan Dasgupta of (somewhere in) New Jersey and Steve Walker of Sarasota, Florida – helped set the tone by posting on FaceBook timely YouTube videos of President Kennedy announcing the formation of the Peace Corps.
Of course, there were tacos galore – and other things I can not name (¡even after six months!) – and the wine flowed freely. Best of all, for me at least, my wonderful novia braved the unknown and came to the party with me.
The Peace Corps has been in Mexico for only 15% of its half century. And México remains an outlier since it is already a member of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development, qualifying her as a rich nation and not fitting in with the typical recipient country.
Of course, the festivities brushed such prosaic details aside until we each had to introduce ourselves as returning volunteers, former volunteers, seasoned current volunteers and newbs (‘twas I…yesirree). Now I work on debit and credits for a technology center – BORING material for a wine-drenched dinner.
a) being uncouth;
b) displaying cowardice;
c) acting unprofessionally; and, most important,
d) walking right through the peace-buzzed merriment.
Ah…to be gutless.
So, Charlie Goldsmith, an old pro as a current volunteer, was on the end of the line that had kicked off the previous groups. Safely standing at the opposite end was I until Charlie threw a curve ball and beckoned my end to start. By mistake, I thought that meant me as I did not realize Sonya Greegor – lovely woman and good sport – had joined the line but outside of my view and knowledge.
So, when Charlie motioned me to speak, I almost fainted.
¡Damn! I should have walked out in front of everybody when I had the chance.
Now, what do I do?
Talk about debits, credits and accounting harmonization in México?
Nope.
With a quick breath, I asked God for deliverance.
Then the calm of the 23rd Psalm (King James Version, if you please) descended upon me. Why not pull a J.F.K. maneuver? One of my favorite stories of President Kennedy was when he went to Paris with his glamorous wife of twenty-nine years at the time, the former Jacqueline Bouvier. Her cultivation, ancestry and fluent French made Jackie Kennedy an instant icon in Paris.
President Kennedy’s sense of humor and spontaneity shone through his grace as he said to a crowd something like, “Hello, I am John Kennedy, President of the United States of America. But, you know me as Jackie’s husband…” Of course, like Senator Bentsen would say, “You’re no Jack Kennedy.” But, hell, I can have fun, too, especially since the gracious Mexican beauty in my company was already a hit.
So I fitted the Presidential Patron of the Peace Corps to the situation and said spontaneously, “Hi, I’m Ned McDonnell and my project is my beautiful girl-friend. Yeah! On my free time I do work in administration at a local science center.”
People laughed and cheered, showing that President Kennedy still lives, transcending the ghastly images of the Zapruder film. Were he alive today, that president would be a very contented ninety-three year old, obviously not with my emulation, but with his and the saintly Ambassador Shriver's – and our – inimitable Peace Corps.
Nicely done Ned.
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