SAVORING SIMPLE THINGS

SAVORING SIMPLE THINGSS

People start pouring in - coming to our electricity-less rescue.  Michaelina brings help in the persons of a delightful Venezuelan woman, Mauri, and her two daughters, Genesea, 12, and Miangela, 14.  I was thrilled to speak some Spanish to these gifts from God (and Michaelina) who traveled from a village about an hour away, Castlenova, where they live above a bank with their husband/father and a dog.  The girls tell me they miss Venezuela, but know they can have a better life and education here.  Their mother agrees.

Michaelina "wringing"

The all-girl team rolls up sleeves, fills buckets, grabs rags and mops, and begins the scrubbing.  Floors, windows, shutters, walls, furniture, and bathrooms are tackled with gusto.  There is a lot of laughter and yelling going on, the high-ceilinged hallways echoing with commands, responses, and ideas.

Giovanni follows Jujop, the Sengalese gardening help, with a whip - figuratively speaking.  Gabriele brought the young strapping black man over to hack his way through a year’s overgrowth in the beautiful garden.  Giovans garden - thus, his “hands on” supervision. 

His aging body is stubbornly refusing to cooperate with his ever-determined will.  Oh, the spoils of growing old.  With time against us, our bodies produce less physical fruit - not so with the trees.

Jujop hides his gleaming smile!

Giovanni follows Jujop, the Sengalese gardening help, with a whip - figuratively speaking.  Gabriele brought the young strapping black man over to hack his way through a year’s overgrowth in the beautiful garden.  Giovanni’s garden - thus, his “hands on” supervision. 

His aging body is stubbornly refusing to cooperate with his ever-determined will.  Oh, the spoils of growing old.  With time against us, our bodies produce less physical fruit - not so with the trees.

Cherries Abound

There are big old fruit trees; cherry, pear, apple, orange, lemon, and fig.  There are all the things we have in both Santa Barbara and Puerto Vallarta; oleanders, magnolias, ferns, vines, and geraniums galore.  Jujop’s work is cut out for him.

Mario arrives with his three-wheel truck to haul off garbage bags.  He brings lava beans from his land, and fresh eggs from his chickens.  Michaelina brings enough bread, pastries, limoncello, and sausage spread for an army. The pinkish "spread" reminds me of a much tastier version of the deviled ham we used to eat as kids.  

Eventually, we sit at the table to share food, drink, and laughter, as the generations, young and old, new friends and family forever, fill each other in on the past year.  

Carolina works steadily, her hands seeing more than her weakening eyes, as she peels away the fava shells, revealing the pale green centers that will later be cooked slowly with onion, garlic, and bouillon.

I share in little of the repartee, catching only bits and pieces, laughing along, despite my ignorance.  It’s all so lovely, and simple.  

Hard physical labor, good fresh food, homemade limoncello, local red wine - and people.  No television blaring, no cell phones in hands, and no barriers rising from age.  We are all the same somehow, wanting to love and be loved, to savor, to laugh, and to be at home in the moment.

Serving...LOVE