Day Five

It was warm last night, a little cooler outside, but very warm in the house. The first day I was here I spent a long sweaty five minutes struggling to open the window in my room because for some reason the other windows are almost never open. Once I asked about it and I think I was told it was to keep the house cleaner, from the dust that would blow in. It makes sense in a way, but I'd rather have a slightly dusty home than suffocate. In fact last night I had propped up the fan in my window and put a damp cloth over my forehead because I was so warm. I woke up at 2am almost sweating.

For a half an hour I listened to the thunder, when the torrential downpour finally came, along with the winds, it helped to cool my room and I soon fell asleep. I had decided that I wanted to walk to the river alone after breakfast. I was hesitant to ask/tell Sra because I was afraid she'd try to talk me out of it because it was so wet and maybe that brings the snakes out or something. But she just suggested maybe I change my dress, or hold it up while walking the cow trails, and to be careful. Of course I was and I had the most marvelous morning. I took my time taking nature pictures of anything that would be photogenic, unfortunately the beautiful yellow and black birds insisted on swooping about so I couldn't capture them. But I did get lots of mountain views, plants and some of the newly muddied river. I made friends with a calf who was lunching with his mom and he even kindly posed for a picture with me. But only after he licked my hand and dress to make sure I was safe.

I lost a sandal not once, but twice, in the river.  The second time I had to splash down the river 20 meters to retrieve it. I am so thankful it wasn't swept too far away. It would not have been pleasant to walk all the way back with one flip flop, trying to not step in the massive cow pies while carrying a bag of dirt on one shoulder and a large bunch of some poignant herb called papalos in my opposite hand. Sra had found it yesterday, but we forgot to pick some on the way back. It made me happy to actually be able to do something useful for her since she does so much for everyone else.

Something else mysterious and interesting happened on my river trip. I wanted to see the other part of the river that I hadn't been to yet this visit. While walking along the bank I saw what I think was a girl, though it could have been a woman. She was watching me from afar on the other side of the river and around the bend. When I waved to her she waved back and then started to do all kinds of hand signals.
Because she was so far away I could not tell if she was trying to ask me something or perhaps was talking to another person. I turned back up the river and came out to an area where I thought I'd be able to see her better, but I couldn't see her at all anymore. The few houses that are scattered back in the mountains are usually uninhabited. The older people have died and the younger have moved into town generally. But some families still live there, without electricity or phones and I've seen women washing clothes in the river before. If I did live here, or if I stayed for an extended time, I'd make it my business to know all the mountainous families. I'd bring them homemade cookies or something else unusual and delicious, like rice crispy squares and I think I'd endear them to me eventually.  I bet I could learn a lot from them.

I finished hand stitching the two pillows with a pretty design of grape clusters and stuffed them to give to Feliz. I wanted to give her something that she thinks is pretty to show her that I appreciate her and she did like them. She insisted on putting them on the couch right away. Her mom had tons of fun taking photos of us. If I hadn't had to teach her how to use the camera initially, I'd have thought she was a professional trying to move the plants to make a prettier photo. All the photos with me in it show me happily holding a little chick. I asked to pet one and ended up holding it for a hour, until it began to relieve itself in my lap.

Feliz told me how happy she was that I was there and that she doesn't have many friends to chat with. I didn't want to leave but I felt bad that I was leaving Sra alone on my last evening here. When I returned to the house Sra. Eva invited me over to show me some old wedding photos she thought I had asked to see. I might have, but I can tell by her eyes that she doesn't understand 80% of what I say. Thankfully the store closed early tonight, the last few nights the men have been hanging around later. Because their party lost the election on Sunday, they’ve spent hours complaining about the system. Sra mentioned something I had forgotten about, that she wanted me to help her cut Capullo's hair.  Around 9pm we started and we finished by 9:30.

What a little beastie he is, following me all around the town, and ecstatically wagging his tail every time he sees me. I feel bad that he likes me so much and has to always go where I go, I swear that he really does remember me. He sat still very well for his haircut. If only he didn't yip-yip all the time and race to attack bicycles, motorcycles, men carrying anything and other dogs four times his size. I'm very tired tonight. Sr is going with me to catch the bus in the morning, I hope we don't have to wait long. I am really looking forward to being on the plane headed home.

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