THE FALL

27 March

We were to meet Maria in her room at 4:00 today. Due to the rains, detours, and Friday traffic, it was 5:00 when we arrived at #35. As usual, she was nonpulsed and welcomed us enthusiastically. There would be no chatting outside today. It was raining and her lot was a sea of mud. While we settled ourselves Manuel ran to get Antonio, “El Indio’’, as he is called. He is the contractor who is figuring another price on the house. He has had the plans for two weeks and today will have information for us.

Look who came to visit you, Maria. “Oh, my doll Josefina. Why did you bring her, it is much safer for her at your house? “ Josefina told us that she misses you very much and I wanted to visit you. “ She is so pretty, I love my doll. Thank you for her visit. “ Would you like her to stay here for the next visit? “No, no, she is better with you. My birds might chew on her. Look at the box and how “Peri” has already eaten away at it.” Those birds of hers are certainly mischievous. Peri the hen is sitting on two eggs. She started with four but two were broken by Jose Luis, her large parrot. While we were talking, he has been swinging from his cage like a mad man, (mad bird)? He is jealous of us and always acts crazy when we visit. Look? Jose fell out of his cage! Maria quickly picked him up and kissed him. That silly Jose does not want to fly. “That is true. He hardly ever flies. “ What a family.

“El Indio” arrived shortly and Marge and I went outside to greet him. He impresses us as being a nice man. Maria and her boys’ 132

father have great confidence in him. He is a doer, a worker, not just a talker like others we have met. We talked or rather I struggled over our conversation for several minutes attempting to understand just what he had included in his estimates. He did not include the doors and windows, the painting, and the countertops and cabinets. We need these also, Antonio.” Because the peso changes so often, the cost of wood will change day today. I can have a more or less figure for you next time. Ok?” Certainly. What price do you have today? “$15,000, and that includes all the concrete, the house, roof, and all except what we talked about.’’

Marge remained in the doorway as we talked. It was not a very nice night out. There was a commotion behind Marge and as she turned she saw Maria falling. Antonio and I rushed in to help her get up. As she struggled to her feet she called for her canes. Even with good braces, she cannot stand without their support. She was not hurt. Marge and I were more upset and worried than she.”I heard Jose Luis behind me and as I turned I lost my balance. I am so embarrassed.” This is the third fall that we know of. Several months ago she fell and cut her hand; next, she fell in the back while washing and banged her head and blackened her eye; now, this fall. Her left brace is broken in two places and is useless. You orthotists who promised your help. Where are you today while this girl lies on wet concrete, helpless? Do you ever wonder how she cooks and cleans and cares for her boys? Do you even care? I think not. She has been waiting without a word of complaint for 11 months and 4 days for her braces.

Antonio, do you know that her room will have to come down first? “ Yes, and so I plan to pour concrete in the back first and build her a temporary room until the house is ready. “What, a great idea! You have to include that in your cost also. “Yes, it is part of the $15k.” Smart man. He sounds like Maria’s kind of builder. We

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felt assured and desperate. Maria’s kind of builder. We felt assured as he departed.

I asked Maria if she would like company on Holy Thursday. Some of the youth from San Rafael are going to prepare Easter baskets and an Easter dinner for the family. Marie, the youth group leader, likes the kids to take part in civic and charitable projects. I did not mention the baskets and food. “Yes, I would like to meet more of the group again and the boys will be on vacation that week. “Do you remember what happened last year on that day? “ Oh yes, that was the day we received our new beds. It was such a happy day for my boys and me. Our first new beds. “ For Marge and me it was a wonderful day to remember.

“Thank you Magie for the chicken and the flowers you brought today. Please do not worry, I will be ok. “Do not go to the border tomorrow if it rains; she already has a cough due in large part to sitting in that damp room. That room is so demoralizing for Marge and me, yet, Maria and the boys accept it as their home. I was so happy to get in our car and turn on the heater. A heated room is an unknown experience for this family.

29 March

The rain let up for a few hours today and so we decided to take the photos and a letter up to Meg and Dave. The sooner the design class received them the better. The rain continued IN San Diego, but in Orange, it was a beautiful sunny day. We also welcomed the chance to see the kids again. After looking for several months for a house, their efforts were rewarded and will be moving to another neighborhood in April. Everyone is very excited. Even Eunice and Boris, their two cats. With Dave and Meg and their peers, there is never a lapse of conversation and we are never out of the loop. Our visits are always enjoyable.

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Dave was a big help before when we needed the letter condensed to one page. Today, he came up with some good ideas for the brochure. That old adage, “two heads are better than none’’, is certainly true. Meg added that she will work on the letter to add a logo or some type of artwork. Our group of two struggling with this idea and the braces for almost one year is most grateful for these reinforcements. I’ll not forget Mark and his contribution to the effort. During a recent conversation, he gave us some good advice regarding the printing of the brochure. Mark had spent many years in that business and he knows it well. Fortunately for Mark, he outgrew his former employers who resisted his every attempt to modernize and computerize their operations. Now he works for himself and is able to grow without the former restriction.

We feel confident that a good product will come out of the design department. Denise, the dept. head has a vast amount of experience with fundraisers and knows her way around this complicated field.

8 April

We are very excited about tomorrow, Holy Thursday. I am taking some of the youth group to visit Maria. One of the girls called me to let me know they have been shopping for a new cage for Jose Luis. And, $240 was collected from the group! This organization has always come through and has always been reliable. Since my first trip to Tijuana in 1989, they have continually amazed Marge and me with their giving spirit. No small thanks to Marie C., their leader.

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