dagosd2000 wrote:THE GIFT GIVER
I told you about the orphanages in Tijuana. Maybe you'd think they're in need. In a practical way ,they're not. I go to a few of them. They're off the old road going to Rosarito. The kids go to the local school. A bus picks them up and brings them back. The milk man delivers milk for free every morning. There's a big stainless steel kitchen. Lots of clothes and toys. The local business organizations like Rotary and Lions make sure everything is in order.
The thing that's not provided is parents. The orphens always approach every visitor as someone who's going to take them home and be their new Mommy or Daddy. That's why I don't go to the orphanages much anymore. I'd go back to my van and there's 20 kids piled inside. Telling them I couldn't take them with me was awful . I'd cry all the way back.
What I do now is load up the van with gift donations and drive to TJ and go to a poor barrio. I pick out a house with a lot of little kids outside. That's where I deliver the gifts. It usually goes like this.
I'll see someone near by. I'll ask if the family inside has a lot of kids. When I get the nod,I go to the door. A mother or grandmother in tatters will open the door. I point to my van. Its doors open.
"Los regalos. Para ti."
I'll get a pause. A look. I wave them on. Then everyone inside emerges and takes the the lawn bags full of clothes and toys inside the house.
Not a word is spoken . They're trying,probably, to understand what this meant. As I watch the last of the bags go inside,I only say one thing.
"Vaya con Dios."
I then get in the van and cry all the way back.
Roger, this message is from my wife Monica, who is most touched by what you write. Often, she is in tears, as she is now, after reading your words. As I sit at the comptor I'll often ask if she wants to hear Roger's latest story and she always drops what she's doing for a moment to read what you have written. Here is what she wanted me to write to you:
I often read your stories, Roger. They are very touching and beautiful. Often I am reminded of my life in Brazil. I would one day love to go to Tijuana with you and Maria and join in when you give gifts. In Brazil, I was a cosmetologist, and would often donate my time and services cutting hair for those who could not afford it. Ricky and I collect clothing during the year from friends who have beautiful wardrobes that they no longer use. We send it to Brazil, where my family distributes it to those in need. My father was the mayor of a small town in Bahia called Terra Nova, my mother was a school principal. My two older brothers are a dentist, and chemical engineer and I have a sister who is an architect. We were lucky to receieve a good education, but even so, things were tough. We moved to Salvador (the capitol of the state of Bahia) when I was young. Salvador, unlike Terra Nova, is a big city and despite it's beachside beauty, things are very challenging. Life can be dangerous, there is a great deal of desperation. Intelligent tourists do not wear fancy watches, etc. on the streets. As I reached my teens, my mother passed away and my new step mother put us all out on the street. I learned to survive but I did not follow the path of others put in such a situation. I was able to get by without stealing or selling myself. Eventually I found my way to Portugal where I found work, then Europe and then here. People in this country take so much for granted. I know what it is like to be hungry, not to have a doll to play with, to be bullied. The police in Brazil are corrupt, as in most third world countries. However, I love people and I love life. Like Maria, I've worked cleaning houses, taking care of children as a nanny, I worked as an interpreter, a hair stylist/make-up artist, I've built and reconditioned furniture, as a kid would make popsicles and sell them on the beach to tourists, whatever it took to survive. I always had a passion for dancing and did so in stage plays and also in shows during Carnival season. In Brazil, we do the Samba and I was dancing from the time I could walk, later being paid for it while involved with a Brazilian dance company. Despite the poverty and danger of Brazil, the culture of those in the North east is very relaxed and mellow. In Rio and Sao Paulo things are a lot more hectic. By the way, Sao Paolo's mayor is a former boxer, Eder Jofre, Ricky tells me. When we go to Brazil this year, Ricky will interview Jofre and, if necessary, I will translate. Ricky is learning to speak Portugese, but wants me to help him.
Reading your stories reveals a tremendous heart, a very special person. Please excuse me for interfering here, I know this forum is not my place, it's for you, Ricky and rest of your friends. However, your words and actions bring tears of happiness to my eyes. You have heart. God Bless you!
-Monica Farris
D 
