SECOND BIRTHDAY

October 10

Thanks to our good friend Carlos, the orthotist, Maria was able to celebrate her birthday at our home again this year. Carlos wrote the appointment letter so Maria could obtain a one-day entry pass. It was to be another memorable birthday for the little Indian girl who never had any party her whole life until last year.

Since Marge was preparing for the two-day festival, I went down to # 35 alone to pick up Maria. She was ready and waiting as I drove up, dressed in a pretty blue dress that was donated by one of our friends. Marge knew that it would be a good dress for her, color and size.” I have two more dresses packed in my bag, one for each night at your house. I wish to look my best for the guests.” Quite an understatement for her. She dresses very well even when going to the border. We sailed through INS without incident.” What is this colonia called?” Chul a Vista. Next, we will come to La Mesa, University, and on and on. That mind does not wish to miss one little event or experience. Her conversation has increased dramatically in this past year. I will speak to that subject later on in this entry. Welcome home, Maria, welcome home.” Magie, Magie, Magie, here I am. “ The two embraced for a long time. The bond grows stronger with each visit.”Your house is so beautiful, Magie, like a palace.” As yours will be someday, Maria. Maria decided to walk inside the house; her new braces have made walking much easier for her. She does very well and has great confidence in those wonderfully constructed braces. Thanks again, Carlos and Pablo. 184

We took a light lunch on the patio and Maria took in the greenery, quietness, and chirping birds.” Are Jaime and Juanita coming also today?” Yes, they will join us for cake and coffee later today. Maria and Jim celebrate the same birthday. Marge had a beautiful chocolate, icecream cake resting in the freezer. Her work of art from yesterday

Maria was quite content to sit and absorb the whole scene about her.

As the afternoon progressed, Maria asked Marge if she could go to her room and prepare for Jim and Jane’s visit. Thus began Maria’s long ritual of preparing herself. Who could ever begrudge her this luxury? Alone, complete privacy, your own bedroom, and bath. Take as much time as you wish, dear friend. And, she does! Usually, we have to call her out. Jane and Jim were seated and conversing before Maria walked down the hall. She was wearing a beautiful print dress. Very proud of her acquisition as we heard later. All three hugged and renewed their friendship. It had been one year. J&J have grown very close to Maria. Through Marge and I have talked about every visit to Maria’s room, Jim has been there, he knows firsthand how this amazing lady is surviving and raising two fine boys. Words cannot describe her daily struggles.

“I must tell you about my dress. Every Thursday there is a bazaar close to my street. This week Manuel took me there very early. I found this dress and bought it quickly. I was so excited and love the colors. How much do you think I paid for it? ‘’ We had no idea and everyone guessed different prices.” No, no, you all are wrong. I paid 15 pesos for this dress. Do you like it?” 15 pesos, $1.50! What an amazing buy! “This was a good bargain, right Magie? I know you always are looking for bargains.” The buy of the year. Everyone was amazed at her good fortune. She tried to describe to us that the pattern was slightly different at the shoulders. No one will ever notice the difference.

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Maria knows how fussy Marge is and how she takes care of her things.”I take good care of my things, right Magie?” Yes, yes, yes, we know you do. Marge sets examples for Maria and she is quick to learn and never forgets. That mind! More about that later.

After Jim and Jane left and while Marge was picking up the dishes, I asked Maria if she would like to take a stroll around the neighborhood. I gave her the flashlight, as she likes to play with it as we roll through the quiet, dark streets. On this clear night, the sky was full of stars. “Look, David, over there. That is Ursus and there is the North star. How beautiful the stars are.” I was quite taken back; I scarcely know where the moon is and this semi-literate girl is lecturing me about the heavens. Television is a great teacher but I think she has gone far beyond that medium in obtaining her vast store of knowledge.

On our last visit to #35, Maria talked about the planets and how her boys were teaching her their names. After we arrived back from our “ walk “, I drew out the nine little circles and named them for her. Then we discussed their nearness to the sun and how long their orbits take and their sizes. This just about exhausted my knowledge on the subject, but it gave Maria more info to store away in that steel-like mind. Our son, Mark, is like that. Everything enters and is filed away, never to be forgotten. Mark, like Maria, has obtained much of his knowledge from the self-teaching method.

As the evening wore on, Maria was still chatting and bringing up a variety of subjects. What a difference this past year has made in her personality and approach to life. Somehow the subject of her house came up and I mentioned that she will have two skylights in the house. I used the word, “domo”. “No, no, David, that is not correct. You look in the dictionary for the word, ‘tragaluz’, (literally meaning, to swallow the light). The word is there, look it up.” I did and it was. Am I missing something here? The so-called student turns the tables on the teacher. “There are many words 186

in the dictionary that people no longer use.’ parir ‘, meaning, to give birth is seldom used now. Most people use the phrase, ‘dar a luz’, (meaning to give light). “ Maria is a daily reader of the Bible. Perhaps much of her knowledge comes from that ancient book. I would never challenge her on the subject of the Bible.

As our friendship has grown. Maria will correct me on my Spanish and sometimes will get impatient with my lack of the language. The other day after trying to get her point across, she quietly said, “he doesn’t know what I am talking about.” I understand that my friend and we had a good laugh. We, in turn, will correct her. The napkin goes here; use the fork when eating cake. Overall, Maria lacks little in the social graces. She says otherwise but we know better.

Finally, at eleven, Maria tired and announced she was going to bed. Usually, she retires at 8 pm, but tonight was exciting. She was celebrating her birthday with good friends and she was enjoying the nonstop chatting. Sleep well, friend, tomorrow we will have another fun day of celebration.

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