Across the river there were tables lined along the Riverwalk. They had Texas flag umbrellas over them. The staff walked back and forth in cowboy hats. We were glad we were not over there.
It’s not that we have anything against flags or hats. It’s that it was chilly, and that side of the river was in the shade, while from our vantage point at Café Olé, we sat in a warm puddle of sun.
And as we sat there eating chips and queso and drinking our drinks and waiting for our fajita feast to arrive, three mariachis walked up and down the aisle, sometimes stopping at a table to play a song. Far better than Texas flags and cowboy hats, we were thinking but the mariachi music was just perfect. What could be better?
Better, indeed. After the mariachis had been strumming their guitars and singing for a while, they wandered by our table. One of them looked at me, and I nodded.
“We usually charge $20.00,” he said, “but today we’re just asking for tips.” And he asked if we had any particular requests.
“Well,” I said, “I don’t have a request, but it’s my wife’s birthday today.”
“So something festive?” he asked.
“Something festive!”
The three of them looked at each other briefly, and one of them said something briefly, and then they instantly erupted in song.
Para bailar La Bamba
Para bailar La Bamba
Se necessita una poca de gracia
Una poca de gracia
Para mi, para ti, ay arriba, ay arriba
Ay, arriba arriba
Por ti sere, por ti sere, por ti sere
The three of them sang loudly and joyfully, one of them sometimes leaning over to emphasize a lyric in Trudy’s ear. I laughed. She smiled. And the warm sun shined.