I met this cañero while I was in Atencingo who was a true larger than life character. He was affectionately known by everyone as “La Garza”, which translates as The Heron, and also interestingly connects with the ancient Mexican legends of Aztlan as it means “the Place of the Heron” in the Nahuatl language. According to many ancient mythologies around the world, herons where thought to be messengers of God and were also known for their inquisitiveness, curiosity, determination and wisdom. I learned that La Garza has been working in these sugarcane fields for 22 years, and had a lot of wisdom to share. At the end of the harvest season in May he would make his pilgrimage to the basilica in Mexico City, which is about a 5 day journey on his bike in a true act of determination. In the first day I met him he had been showing off dancing around with his machete and he happened to cut his leg pretty badly. That didn’t slow him down though. He got bandaged up and was back in the fields the next day, still running circles around everyone there maintaining his status as one of the fastest cutters in the South! He also schooled me on the art of catching the conejo (rabbits) of the fields, and showed me how they would chop the stalk of the sugarcane to fashion it into a spear that took great patience and skill to get the job done. Capturing one was always big treat and a cause for celebration as it meant they would eat well that night and, of course, La Garza would do the honors.
