Happy Birthday Jesus
24 December 2012 | Colimilla/Barra De Navidad
Gabriellas G-Pa
The mixed blessings of this Christmas season. I really miss my Princess this time of year...it is so difficult to be here and I often think about throwing in the towel and just hang out in Rancho Cordova with my sweet granddaughter. But then I slowly snap out of it and continue on with my struggle down here in mananaland. What makes it a little better this year is the goodwill I get to spread on behalf of Gabriella and her classmates. For those of you that don't know, my granddaughter gave up her Birthday gifts so her friends would bring unused clothes to give her for me to bring to Mexico. I so wished she was here to see the faces of genuine GRACIAS and the wonderful greetings I get as I walk the streets of Colimilla. It puts the meat on the meaning of Christmas spirit....Muchas Gracias my dear Gabriella and to your friends. I don't know if I did a good thing or bad thing today, but in my heart I know it was good. I borrowed my friend Enriques' car and drove a young girl over to Melaque to do some food shopping. She is a classmate of Yoanas and has moved here from Manzanillo to live with her aunt and to help care for her grandmother. Her aunt runs a small lavanderia(laundry) and there family struggles to get by. The 2 little girls and baby boy were recipients of some of the clothes and I had a feeling of wanting to do more around this Christmas time. When the aunt was asked if it was OK to go buy food for them, I could see the look of....we really need it but should I say OK. When we got back, you could see it on their faces...the look of gratitude. The not knowing if it is a good thing or bad is the looks we got driving through this small burg.....an old gringo with a 13 or 14 year old local. Small towns are so wierd that way...the talk, the rumors. I was mentioning this to the girl on our drive over to Melaque and I was quite happy with her response, which was, they talk, but I don't let it bother me. She has quite a good outlook on things. She is like Yoana, as they both lived in the states until 4 years ago and then came back to Mexico. She spoke good english and was a pleasant shopping partner because she knows the foods to buy as opposed to this peanut butter/jelly gringo. Tomorrow is our traditional Christmas potluck feast at the Sand's hotel in Barra. I get to Skype with my fantastic granddaughter and a lot of family will be at the house.