I sit here this Sunday morning, enjoying a tasty cup of roasted coffee sent to me by my children. Listening to my morning music via a set of red speakers that make the music feel like surround-sound, I look through my Book of Common Prayer for the pages I’ve always loved to read. Bess tucked it into the box for me to have. This list goes on and on of how I’m enjoying all the items packed into that little box.

Last week I received word that I had a package waiting at the [tooltip text=”Villarrica” gravity=”nw”]”Villarrica” said with an audible L, Y, and rolling R’s — really fun to try to say fast, like everyone else around here. [/tooltip] Post Office.  I got up early, got dressed and walked through the cobblestone streets to board the old shuttle bus [tooltip text=”colectivito” gravity=”nw”]tiny shuttle bus[/tooltip], our rattletrap van that runs every half hour to Villarrica. A beautiful experience, in my view, that takes us back and forth on the short trip to the nearby town.  Windows open on that hot day, hair pinned back, sunglasses to shield from the sun and also from the wind as it blew hard throughout to cool us off.  Folks climb in, crawling to the back, “A Dios,” “Que Tal,” “Buen Dia,” I hear as each one enters.  Guarani mostly spoken on the way and I hear bits and pieces I understand.

Finally winding my way through the streets of Villarrica, finding the shade as I went, I speak to each vendor, all those who are now my friends.  And at the Post Office, yes, there it was, a 12 x 12 x 5″ box taped round and round ’til it was glossy.  The nice woman who has gotten to know me from the numerous days I’ve stopped by to check for the box’s arrival, asked me to sign a paper, we said our “Chau Chau” and I rested it on my hip, getting a whiff of some interesting indian spice wafting from the inside.  Nope, won’t open it yet, I said to myself as I walked back to the colectivito; it might be too difficult to close it up for the trip back home.  My young, friendly friend, the colectivito driver who loves to say in English to me “Hallo” and “Let’s Go!,” dropped me off right in front of my house and I came in, got comfortable, put on some music, prepared a cold drink to cool off from the sweltering heat, and made a celebration of opening this long-awaited package Bess had sent before Christmas.

The package had been opened for inspection, but everything was intact.  Blue bow, boston terrier gift sack, red tissue paper, green tissue paper, and scents of home.

I lift out the tiny packets of gum and candy and spices.  I see a large book.  Thank you to Carol-Winter for this collection of images from our special experience in San Miguel de Allende at Bess & Lee’s wedding. I will cherish that book. It so completely shows the fabulous time we spent together as we celebrated those moments.

Thank you to Sue and Debbie for your kind gifts and cards! I love the gorgeous ornament and the great green ballcap “Trouble” and cashmere scarf.  Funny spunky card of girl playing the piano, and another great one that talks about dreams of finding a man who can dance.  jejeje. right on!

Thank you to my precious children for coming up with so many great items, and for packing them up, hauling them to the post office and sending them way down here. So savvy are you to know just exactly what would bring a smile each day.

Run through this list below and see if you can think of a dadgum thing they left out!  I can’t.

Emergen-C packets – we live on these

Cashmere scarf – will be used all winter long

Santa Christmas ornament – reminder of home

Trident cinnamon gum – many packets, yesyesyes, the flavor doesn’t disappear.

Beautiful big hardbound book filled with images of our wonderful experience at Bess & Lee’s wedding

A bag of candy corn – most of us volunteers seem to crave this item

L’Oreal Black & White Double-Extend mascara – of course, what what.

Black Cami and beige yoga bra – perfect items, Bess knows

Breton Violin Strings – woohoooo! Quality at my fingertips

6 large packets of special spices – Texas bbq rub, Indian super hot stuff

Silver earrings, gold & leather earrings, amber jumbled-stone bracelet, yellow & blue enameled cuff bracelet– muy, muy coolio

3-ring binder and large 3-hole punch – Gracias a Dios. Por fin! Why do I love these so much! (I breathe a sigh of relief)

Arizona Tea packets – pomegranate, yummy. Oh how I missed these

Red cool dude Bluetooth speakers, powerful and now a daily part of my life, thank you David for that brilliant idea!

My old, cherished Oxford Book of Common Prayer and Holy Bible, including Apocrypha, New RSV, leather-bound with gilt blocking, onion-skin pages, tabs, the works. Yes.

I love all of you and thank you for this special package that crossed oh so many miles to get here.  Your thoughtfulness adds so much to this experience.  So much.  Kisses from Paraguay.

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