Christmas Day 2008 is tomorrow. Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, is a very BIG night for most people in Latin America TONIGHT...at our house we will have guests for a early dinner and then off to the ¨Gallo¨ latenight Christmas Mass at a ancient Spanish Colonial Church.
Today I received a lovely ¨Annual Christmas Letter¨ (her first ¨annual¨ Christmas letter) from my beloved niece who lives at the San Francisco Bay Area in California. It was a very nifty and brief letter, loaded with gratitude, love, shared happiness, family news (she´s a gorgeous Grandma three times) so, I decided to write one to ALL of you too...I´m a Great Great Uncle, yikes!
The year 2008 has been loaded with beautiful experiences here at the ¨The Foot of the Volcano¨ and beyond...firstly the ¨Rainy Season¨ from last May through November was very intense and the crops and the resulting abundance of prime fruits, corn and vegetables has been amazing...as we read about dangerous products being ¨recalled¨ abroad, we are especially glad to live so close to the source of good health inducing veggies and fruits. Every week Juan Carlos and I go to the big market in a nearby town and bargain, select and haul home bags full of prime produce to use in our cooking and often to share with others too.
We have been thankful this year to have the pleasure of getting to know NEW friends as well as continuing to enjoy the hospitality and goodwill of our ongoing loved ones and amigos/amigas...as you can see at the sidebar their was a huge Piñata Party held at our home on December 21st...a annual event that becomes more joyful every year.
Fortunately, we were assisted by many of our friends in making this childrens extravaganza a even more spectacular party better than ever before...
...everyone took home wrapped gifts at the end and there was a drawing for 24 Parakeets (Juan Carlos raises them) all in individual Christmas Decorated cages (with wreaths above their doors)...adorable gifting...chirp, chirp, chirp!
There is so much more to tell. There are so many things I would like share with all of you...all the small and large experiences of being a fortunate Americano living abroad (I was able to send my absentee ballot/vote for Obama that arrived by way of local Post Office...another miracle for Obama)...I have always felt ¨welcomed¨and ¨part of¨ the culture that surrounds and often embraces me with feelings of wellbeing. I invite you to come visit in 2009!
I wish you and yours GREAT HAPPINESS, Good Health and Peace of Mind at Christmastime 2008!
More will be revealed, and less concealed as LIFE continues to unfold around us...ALL of us...remember, as my friend Dorothy Johnson from Scotland says ¨It´s the way that we see things that makes the World ´be´ things.¨
May the wars end soon.
Lord, hear my prayer
Leonardo Ricardo
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