My parents left this morning, back to the States after a lovely two-week visit. Our goodbyes last night were surprisingly mellow and low-key--or, perhaps not so surprising, since we'll be moving back in less than three months.
What was perhaps more surprising was how tearful and wrenching it was when they said goodbye to Dete.
Since their Portuguese consists mostly of broken Spanish (plus a few zingers like Vixe Maria! and show de bola!), I had to translate.
Thank you for taking care of my children, my mother said, hugging Dete, and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Você e show de bola.
Bom amiga, my dad, said, and she nodded, and patted his shoulder affectionately.
By the time they headed out to their hotel, Dete, my mom and I were all crying.
We still have three more months together, Dete and I reminded each other. But, of course, it's just a preview of how difficult it will be for us to leave her, and for her to see us go--especially the boys.
And it does make me reconsider trying to find a way to help her go to the States, which I know she'd do in a heartbeat, given the opportunity.
It probably isn't too realistic, given the difficulty getting visas, the fact that she has three kids, and also that much as we'd like to, on one teacher's salary, we won't have the money to sponsor and hire her.
But perhaps we'll at least look into it further.
And if you're reading this, and thinking about opening a Bahian restaurant, I have just the chef for you.
Or maybe we'll just do what Dete keeps suggesting, and pack her up in our biggest suitcase.
4 comments:
The makings of a poem.
After I read your post, I looked over to the window sill and saw a favorite necklace of mine, caught up in a piece of fishing line. Some words came into my head about these two objects, and about the mystery of how your amazing connection to Dete will unfold: "the patience to untangle."
Really sweet post :)
that was a good one El...maybe I'll open a restaurant.
I can't wait to see you guys again!
Is it just me? Or is Ju getting really really big? Grandma Stanford looks as if she can barely hold Ju on her lap! And Ju himself has an uncanny body structure resemblance to Papa Stanford! They say that littlest child always ends up being the biggest of the kids!
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