RAIN! RAIN

September 25

The first rain of the season forced the cancellation of our luncheon date at Maria’s house. It was a very bad day and we decided not to make the trip down. At the same time, something was happening at # 35. Marge received 4 calls from Maria’s kids. I was at work and so she had to cope with the language problem. They were trying to tell her why their mother had to cancel and Marge was trying to tell them why we canceled. Finally, she received a call from a lady who spoke English. Luz Maria, a neighbor of Maria’s, who helped straighten our thinks. She readily gave Merge her phone number. “Call any time, I will help.” What a break! Rest assured we will meet this lady on our next trip to Guillermo Prieto.

The best part of this rainy day was that Joe Guth has scheduled Maria for an appointment to measure her leg. That second leg brace Felix was working on had to be discarded. Joe knows about her birthday and scheduled her accordingly. Maria will stay for two days and Marge is going to entertain Jane and Jim also. Jim and the Umbrella Lady celebrate the same day.

In her whole life has Maria Martinez ever had her very own birthday party? We will find out and let you know next time.

Saturday, 27 September

Lots of preparations going on. Silver polishing, china cleaning, menu doings. “Maria is going to have a birthday to remember. No 85

patio dinner, this. Centerstage dining room table, all the trimmings. It’s exciting.

An eventful week coming up. We hope to see Monsignor Lloyd and talk over a big deal with him. Already he will allow all donations to go through the church. That will make our organization [of two] look authentic I will explain in more detail after we see him.

5 days and counting.

Monday. We met with Monsignor Lloyd and he readily agreed to receive the donations this year. Maria’s share will go directly into the Mexican Mission fund. I will write a note in her birthday card telling her of the donations. Hallmark has some nice Spanish cards. In addition, I am struggling with the translation of the first three pages of her story. We would like her to know how we are introducing Maria to the outside world. I think there will be some tears of joy shed this Saturday evening.

4 days to the Joe Guth

St. Vincent de Paul has written the letter and Binational will fax it to us on Wednesday. I have managed to translate 2 pages and ½ of the third. It will be ready for Maria.

3 days to Sombrilla.

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