FIRST PARTY

What an exciting day this will be! The first party in our new house. Manuel, Javy, everything looks very clean. Please hose off the patio and then put out the chairs and table. David and Magie will be here soon. They are bringing Diana also. Her family foundation has been a good friend to us and to many in Tijuana. Three years ago, or more maybe, Diana herself, bought new beds for us when we were sleeping on old mattresses. Then she and her cousin, Gail, gave me my doll, Josefina, as a Christmas gift. Magie also invited Carlos, the man who made my braces, and Pablo Lopez and his wife and little girl, Yareli. They live quite close to us. Carlos is teaching Pablo how to make braces so he can do business in Tijuana. Pablo also makes and repairs shoes. Alicia, his wife, Pablo, and I have a very common bond; we all were crippled by polio when we were only babies. The three of us are carrying quite a bit of metal in leg braces. Thank God my boys and Yareli all had the polio medicine and will never be afflicted by this terrible disease.

We are ready, everything is in order. Magie told me that she was bringing all the food. My only job was to buy the ice. David always jokes about Americans loving their ice. It is true. We like it also but never seem to make it or buy it.

They’re here! Our first party is to begin. Adelante! Adelante! Magie and David compliment me on my dress. It is old but they have not seen it before. It seems like new since I take good care of my clothes. Magie gave me money to buy a new dress for today but I told her that I could not find anything in my size. Due to my shape, it is very difficult to find nice dresses. They still talk about the beautiful dress I found for $4.00. 234

Manuel, please help David with the packages in the car. Soon Magie was organizing things in the kitchen while Diana and the boys were looking at pictures of her new grandson.

As I was gazing out the front door I saw a car slow down and stop. It was too early for the others to arrive. It was Prisciliana with Nanci and her boyfriend, Ramses. David told me that he had just called Peche about the extra rugs and if she wanted them. I guess that she does. Magie has been trying to get the builder to give us the rugs since before I moved in. Even though we changed the floors in the TV room and the boys’ room to ceramic tile, Magie wanted those rugs. Finally, after many months they brought them to my house last week.

I could tell that Peche was very impressed with my beautiful “ American house.” I like Peche very much. She is a good friend and she has a wonderful family. Six children! One time Magie and David took me to her house for lunch. It was a special day for me. Since David and Magie have come into my life I have had many, many special days. Our lives, my boys and mine have changed so very much. I thank God for sending me these wonderful Americans. David keeps telling me that we are family now. I am so happy to have a family. Their friends in Matamoros are family. Meg and David are family. Those whom I have met in San Diego are family. It has been so many years since I have had family and friends. I want to invite Peche sometime to a party at my house. And, Christina and Mario and Lulu, and others. Magie told me that at our next party we will invite those three along with Meg and David.

Magie, please, can I help you? ‘’No, no, Maria, just sit on your throne and look like a queen.” Manuel, David, and Magie joke with me about my chair. “She is the queen and sits on her throne.” Manuel says. It is so very comfortable. Did I mention that they brought me another chair, the very same copy, on their last visit? This one for the tv room is $250! Can you believe that? They make 235

little of the cost of things in my house.” As long as the money is there, you will have the best,” they keep telling me. I love to invite people to see my house. Magie, you are a wonderful decorator.

Manuel has been very helpful, passing the snacks and being a gentleman. He loves to impress Magie and David and Diana with his English. David is very happy with his progress and the two keep exchanging English words and phrases. I tell them that I am a “burra,” and can not learn. David often tel1s me that I am as smart as many who have had years of school. I believe him, he would not say that if it were not true. Me, Maria Martinez, an “ Indian “ girl who never went to school.

The others have arrived. What fun, I love this day! The conversation is non-stop, both in Spanish and English. Magie served me a coke while the others were drinking wine and beer. Manuel passed the snacks. Yareli and Javier went out on the patio and were talking. Yareli is such a lovely girl. Younger than Javy but very friendly and not the least bit shy. Pablo talked about how he would like a house such as mine, but he cannot afford the mortgage payments. Thank God and Magie and David and all those wonderful people that my house is paid for and none of those high-interest payments!

Magie must have known that we were hungry. Soon she was preparing the food. Our oak kitchen table was the banquet table. A large platter of sliced ham, pasta salad, my very favorite cauliflower salad, David’s bread, and what else, I forget. I heard David telling my boys, “first, your mother is served, then the guests, then you two. Understood?” The three children ate on the patio and enjoyed each other’s company very much. Those two people have taught us so much. They do not talk down to us but rather as a loving teacher to their student. No wonder we have never lived in a real house and am ignorant of many customs and manners. We are learning, we are learning

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Oh, this food is so good! I love Magie’s American food and they love my cooking. What a family! I notice that I am eating more since we left Guillermo Prieto. I walk more about my ‘ large” house. I walk in front of my patio, and to the side of the house to do the wash. I think back to the years I used the galvanized tub for the laundry, dishes, and for my bath. I have never had a real shower until we moved here. Now I shower every day. My boys used a garden hose to shower. I thank God for the change in our lives. Every day I thank God. Every day!

During the meal, I tell Carlos and Pablo about how we love Magie and David. How they love us. They know. They saw us at several brace fittings in Tijuana. They may not understand why but they see the bond between the five of us.

Diana chats with Carlos about her leg problems. Diana uses a cane. My living room looks like a hospital room; my two canes, Alicia’s cane, and Diana’s. And, five-leg braces total!

David asked Carlos if he will write “la Migra” for permission for me to come to San Diego, on 2 October. We pretend that it will be an appointment at his office, but really, they have invited me to another birthday celebration at their home. My third birthday party was with Magie and David. Carlos agrees with much pleasure. Did David tell in his journal about all the specialists who promised to make my braces? Carlos did the work and I am so pleased with these braces. I only use my chair when we go to the border on Saturdays and Sundays.

It was dark when Pablo and his family and Carlos left. Magie was busy picking up the dishes while my boys were looking at the leftover ham. “No chance, you two have had enough today, “Magie told them. Diana was very impressed with my house and told Magie many times. Magie and David have been very busy since February with my house. I cannot do the shopping and I appreciate them very much for their work. They never seem to tire coming 237

here with food, furniture, lamps, everything! David tells me that I have won the lottery and he says that he and Magie have won the lottery also since we met. We argue back and forth about who is luckier. I believe I am.

While the others are busy I think about this day and the many gifts I have received. Diana gave me money for the boys’ school. Manuel’s costs are more this year because he is going to secundaria, (junior high school). Carlos gave me a beautiful, framed picture of me and Magie and David. He took it last year at one of the brace fittings. Diana’s cousin, Gail, sent me a living, flower plant. I will keep it on our table as a centerpiece. I would like to meet this lady who has been so good to our family. Perhaps, someday. Rita, Magie’s neighbor sent me a beautiful clock for our kitchen and stainless steel mixing bowls. My friends, Patricia, and Juan, who live in Hawaii, gave me chairs and a table for my patio. So many Americans have donated so much. I can only thank them through Magie and David. I am ashamed to say that I cannot write. David tells me that writing is important but reading is the very most important skill. Thank God the nuns taught me how to read! It is almost 9 pm and Diana is getting nervous about leaving. The Otay border closes at 10 pm. David knows that, and he is not nervous.

Soon they are ready to leave and this wonderful day will be completed. David told me that he and Magie will return to visit me on the 28 of September. Not too long but I miss them when we are apart. I should try to meet some new friends here. It is difficult since I can not get out too easily. Perhaps through Manuel and his school, I will meet someone.

After the 28 of September, there will be only a few days ‘til the 2 of October and my visit to Rancho Bernardo.

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