El sábado- New Paths

Carlos rode off into the sunset with his princess. Their car was decorated with white cloth tied on the door handles, a little bit of sparkling fireworks, handfuls of corn or something thrown at them, and lots of noise from the strings of cans tied on the bumper dragging across the cobble stones. Yuliana was glowing and radiant and almost shy of all the attention just like a bride should be. She wore light pink, a lot of covered buttons in the back and on the sleeve cuffs. Her skirt was flared and bodice was plain. Her bridesmaids, a sister and a friend, both wore warm green, a lighter shade of olive green but not the lightest.

I sat between cousin Derek and niece Hannah, right behind Julio and Vilma, the parents of the bride. I don't know why I was up there. Maybe because folks and Wesley's were seated there and Dad is uncle to Eddie. The brides grandparents were seated to the side of Julios where Cassie sat and on the other side of Eddies was Michelles family. Her mom and Dad , Melvin and Glenda, and then Bryan and Lajune.

And I cried. Mostly especially when Julio talked. You can tell he loves his little girl so much. I told Ferdnanda later we have to keep our girls close to home so they don't meet boys far away. I also cried when they walked out. Derek did too. I told him after that I bet he never thought he'd cry. "That's what made it so much worse," he said. "It surprised me."

I got up at 6 in the morning on Saturday because the roosters crowed and the birds sounded so Guatemalan that I felt like walking in the town. I wasn't the only one up early. I counted about twelve ladies sweeping the streets. Others walking to their houses with the days masa for tortillas or something covered in a basket on their head. We talked and laughed about all of us up and on the street when I walked by one group of ladies. "And the men at home sleeping..." one lady said and everyone laughed. I asked if there was coffee anywhere that early but only at 7.

By 7 Eddies and my folks were up and we were in the parking lot of the hotel here waiting for this little restaurant by the pool to open. About 7:15 we gave up. Lee and Charlotte and Wesley had come out by then too so we drove to Pollo Campero a couple blocks down and had breakfast there. It was really good. Their burrito with avocado and beans and eggs would have sent you over the moon, Frannie. I actually just shared a bit of Michelle's. Wes and Dad left to be back at hotel by 8 and they caught a ride to Ronal's coffee farm with him. I ordered Melanie's food and brought it back here with Mom cuz her girls were still sleeping when we left hotel.

After getting a load of laundry arranged between us and paying for it and leaving it at the washer place, we ladies caught a tuk tuk to the church where the choir was practicing. Andrew and Jessi had gone with a group of boys to a taco place for breakfast and were at the church already.

We came back and were really feeling the midday heat. Mel and I went swimming with her girls. The pool here must be about ten feet deep and the shallow end isn't very long. It makes it fun because a person can dive without fear. Nea, you would have been on a swimming high diving over and over .

The little restaurant here had told Eddie they really wanted all our business so we figured it was simple to eat here. It took a long time though and they got our orders and our bill all mixed up with Clarks. We ordered tostadas, you know those round crispy things I buy sometimes and we put beans and salsa on top. They do it prettier with beans, a tomato slice and then sprinkle cheese over it. We got a few with chicken and some with only guacamole too. We also ordered a plate of dobladas. I've made those before but it's been awhile. It's pulled pork, sliced cooked cabbage, and little onion shreds folded up in a tortilla and fried crispy. Flor used to make the best ones I've ever had in my life. When they added up our bill we had to get quite a few things of Brenda's sorted off and taken off. Still when we got back to the house after the wedding they said someone owed them 70 quetzales who didn't talk Spanish and his family didn't. I don't know who it was but I just paid it. It must be confusing to have so many of us here and quite a few of us are family and cousins and then all of a sudden there's some who aren't. He'd said he was gonna bother Eddie with it but I know Eddie was ready to crash after this day if he can get his mind to stop working. He's gonna be leaving Carlos here in country for quite awhile during all the paperwork time.

The whole wedding was beautiful and special. Chris Dyck, missionary in Palencia, led the choir. It looked like he loves to sing as much as you girls' dad. Maelser's Teresa sang in the choir. I always admire her alto voice. Andrew looked pretty sleepy. Well, almost all the boys did. The girls managed to look fresh and alert. I know they've been just as busy with youth activities.

The reception was held at an outdoor sport club with nice arrangement of building for food service. Round tables were set out on grass with white tablecloths in place and there was a three tier fountain splashing and flowing . Lights were strung overhead and it felt festive. The bridal party sat at a long table under a long arbour type thing and right behind them was the sports areas.

Julio did an amazing job cooking marinated pork loin that was sliced and served with the meat juice beside rice and some variegated colour cabbage salad (the one with vinagre sauce , glazed pecans and ramen noodles) and tortillas. They made the plates indoors and servers literally ran them out. Well, some ran, I never saw Jessi or Andrew running. Andrew served the table Hermano Felipe sat at. That was special to me.

The seating arrangements were pinned in an arbour we walked through to get in. There was ivy and lights around it. I sat with folks at our friends table. Ronal y Sheny(aunt) , Isaias and Clara, (grandparents of bride) and relatives that live in Quebec I can't remember his name, Jose i think. Her name is Gladis. I love how it sounds in Spanish.

I got the bag of dresses from our van (Sheny walked with me and Dad to the parking lot cuz he had something to get) and little gifts for Jamie's family, I wanted to give them there cuz it seemed they were back in a discreet spot on the edge for that. I caught up with Jaime and Corina just like I'd been looking forward to. She's my age. She's really sweet. Then I got to give Hermano Felipe a hug, he seemed in really good health. He remembered me, made conversation easily and talked about the blessing of being able to see each other again. It really is. He's 91.( Ferdnanda said she thinks he's in better health than her which was a joke because she's absolutely glowing and gorgeous, ) then around the table to Hermano Felix. He's an older son of Felipes. When I was here, Felixs wife, Basilia, would serve us stew and tortillas when we visited them in the city. Stew that even you kids would love because it doesn't have barley or quinoa in it. (I have her recipe in my old cookbook, we'll have to try it again) Felix left the church for awhile to try work in the states illegally, he's a member again, another son of Felipe's is attending services, I wish you all could see Felipe but the chances aren't good if it takes us 11 years to get back to Guate.

Then I met Ferdnanda and her mom. Ferdnanda worked in Flors house helping out when I lived here, we'd chat as we met or saw each other often. Flor used to always tell me she felt like her sister. And now she married Flor's brother, Carlos and they became Christians. They have two darling girls. Ferdnanda makes quick jokes and has a hearty laugh. I doubt she has an enemy in the world. I'd never met her mom before but she's really nice,

I got to visit a couple times in passing with Hermana Dalilah. She lives out of town in Santa Rita. Her daughter Kristi is the one that went to Paraguay I think. Not sure tho, I know Kristi is a nurse and now is married to a man from Nicaragua.

I still haven't fit in a good visit with Maelsers. They're always busy or I am. I really would love to sit and catch up with them and their boys.

Karin, Vilmas oldest girl is the one who has a baby that I drew and painted that picture of her little red shoes and chubby legs. She is still adorable. She sat right behind her parents, on the other side of Derek and Cassie. Her girl made a little noise towards end of church and her grandpa Don Santos took her and I saw him holding and carrying her often all evening. She wore an olive green dress with tie belt that came untied and she always bit on the belt or had it in her mouth.

Oh, on the tables they had tin buckets of enormous succulents. They said the Chus and Denise's children from Palencia planted and grew them. Aunt Heidi would have been in succulent glory because these were huge. Like the cabbage flower one at one table was almost the size of a volleyball. Afterwards they let whoever wanted take one home. One lady said she hated them or they were her pet peeve or something so Ferdnanda reminded her as she left to grab the succulent off the table.

The youth changed clothes if they felt like it and then they were going to play ball of sone sort there at the club. Flor made arrangements for them all. She's been really busy. They all have been busy to pull off this amazing wedding and all the good food.

I'm just about talked out. I'll remember more details at home to tell you girls.

I'd love to sit and draw and paint so many things and people here but it's more important to paint them into the corners of my heart where they can live eternally.

I didnt have the courage to type this last night because I felt like going to bed but now it was fun,

I love you girls and Tony and Dad heaps and heaps. I'm so glad you're getting to spend time with all the aunties . I forgot to ask if the girls managed to surprise Nana or if she knew that they were all coming home to visit. The singing Dad sent me that they were doing was beautiful. I've listened a few times already to hear all their voices.