I am unapologetically a Grinch. No...correction, I am THE Grinch. Most people find this character flaw in me surprising, even reprehensible. It's a long story for another post...maybe. Oddly, I have found that God in His infinite wisdom seems to balance out all our faults by giving others an excess of whatever we lack. For this very reason, I am certain, He brought Eric Bowman into my life.
Eric exudes Christmas joy and good cheer. If I didn't like Eric so much, I might even find this excess annoying. (Grinches are just that way, we can't help it.). Eric loves to decorate and string Christmas lights....by the thousands. I HATE hanging lights, even just one strand. However, even this excessive exuberance of Christmas spirit has it's side benefits. Eric spent three days patently and joyfully, as difficult as I found this to believe, stringing Christmas lights around the Spanish Institute of Honduras. He risked his neck on shaky non OSHA approved ladders, (rumor has it he actually fell) battled wasps, receiving several wounds in the process, patiently looked for blown bulbs and daily ran functionality checks on the system with his ever present, handy dandy, all-in-one Christmas light repair tool. The results where outstanding! Not only did we have a beautifully lit Institute and home for Christmas but when Sindy was married here two weeks ago, the place looked wonderful.
Here in Latin America, Christmas Eve is celebrated in a wild and joyous way. Firecrackers! For three weeks leading up to Christmas, Siguatepeque has been under siege. It's as though we are living in a city embroiled in guerrilla warfare. The rattle of small arms fire (aka firecrackers and cebollas) are a constant in the street and throughout the night. On Christmas Eve the intensity increases...the city is now under attack from a much larger force. The battle is all around us. The air begins to fill with the smoke from the explosions and from the fires lit in the streets. Mortar rounds add to the overall noise as do the screech of incoming missiles (bottle rockets). As the the clock reaches midnight a full force, D-Day invasion is underway. Ten minutes of roaring, ear shattering noise envelopes the city, slowly dying away to sporadic burst from Barrios near and far. In the morning the streets are littered with paper from a million firecrackers. Still there is no peace. As I write, I hear a continual smattering of explosions. This will continue all week culminating on New Year's Eve in one final night of wild celebration.
On a personal note, the Wolfe house has been pretty quite (apart from the above exceptions). Highly unusual and honestly, much needed. Typically our house is full...constantly... with teachers, students, house guest and passerbys. And we love it, and tomorrow life will return to normal busyness once again. We have an all day teachers workshop on Friday. Our friends from Maine, the Keim family, will be arriving, friends from Teguc and La Paz may be dropping in and we have at least two new families arriving at the Institute who we are looking forward to welcoming. Oh yes, and the New Years Eve party we will be hosting. Complete with our very own fireworks show.
But for today it is only the four of us and Carlos. Luis went to Valle de Angeles with Tita, one of the ladies who raised him, and Nolvia is spending the week with her family. The presents under the Christmas tree were pretty sparse. My new Kindle Fire HDX 7 came down with the Cadmuses on Saturday and of course there was no way I was wrapping it and placing it under the tree and waiting. (Grinches are also impatient and despise wrapping presents.) The Keims will be bringing some of the boy's gifts on Sunday as well as special things like Jif peanut butter and Nutella.
Of course we miss Mark tremendously, but he is being well cared for in Seattle by Barbe's family. We Skyped with Mom this morning and will do the same later with Grammy. I also took time to call and wish a special friend in Maine Merry Christmas. He is 95 and still going strong, plowing snow and staying busy. (Grinches do have their good side).
Eric exudes Christmas joy and good cheer. If I didn't like Eric so much, I might even find this excess annoying. (Grinches are just that way, we can't help it.). Eric loves to decorate and string Christmas lights....by the thousands. I HATE hanging lights, even just one strand. However, even this excessive exuberance of Christmas spirit has it's side benefits. Eric spent three days patently and joyfully, as difficult as I found this to believe, stringing Christmas lights around the Spanish Institute of Honduras. He risked his neck on shaky non OSHA approved ladders, (rumor has it he actually fell) battled wasps, receiving several wounds in the process, patiently looked for blown bulbs and daily ran functionality checks on the system with his ever present, handy dandy, all-in-one Christmas light repair tool. The results where outstanding! Not only did we have a beautifully lit Institute and home for Christmas but when Sindy was married here two weeks ago, the place looked wonderful.
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| The Spanish Institute of Honduras and our home, tastefully decorated by Eric |
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| Eric's home in Kentucky...see what I mean by excessive spirit? (photo used WITHOUT permission) I was just now, after publishing, informed that this is not actually the Bowman's Old Kentucky Home, but rather National Lampoon's. I, however, submit to my audience that Eric wishes it were his and therefore it shall remain. (lawsuits are uncommon here in Honduras) |
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| Our teacher/daughter Sindy and Rhoamedhy's wedding. |
Here in Latin America, Christmas Eve is celebrated in a wild and joyous way. Firecrackers! For three weeks leading up to Christmas, Siguatepeque has been under siege. It's as though we are living in a city embroiled in guerrilla warfare. The rattle of small arms fire (aka firecrackers and cebollas) are a constant in the street and throughout the night. On Christmas Eve the intensity increases...the city is now under attack from a much larger force. The battle is all around us. The air begins to fill with the smoke from the explosions and from the fires lit in the streets. Mortar rounds add to the overall noise as do the screech of incoming missiles (bottle rockets). As the the clock reaches midnight a full force, D-Day invasion is underway. Ten minutes of roaring, ear shattering noise envelopes the city, slowly dying away to sporadic burst from Barrios near and far. In the morning the streets are littered with paper from a million firecrackers. Still there is no peace. As I write, I hear a continual smattering of explosions. This will continue all week culminating on New Year's Eve in one final night of wild celebration.
Out side of our house as I write.
But for today it is only the four of us and Carlos. Luis went to Valle de Angeles with Tita, one of the ladies who raised him, and Nolvia is spending the week with her family. The presents under the Christmas tree were pretty sparse. My new Kindle Fire HDX 7 came down with the Cadmuses on Saturday and of course there was no way I was wrapping it and placing it under the tree and waiting. (Grinches are also impatient and despise wrapping presents.) The Keims will be bringing some of the boy's gifts on Sunday as well as special things like Jif peanut butter and Nutella.
Of course we miss Mark tremendously, but he is being well cared for in Seattle by Barbe's family. We Skyped with Mom this morning and will do the same later with Grammy. I also took time to call and wish a special friend in Maine Merry Christmas. He is 95 and still going strong, plowing snow and staying busy. (Grinches do have their good side).
So to all of you, my friends, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.
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