Life.....

Peaceful, quiet, tranquil, calm, serene …. ah,h,h,h that is just what our apartment was on Sunday the 2nd of May. No children, no radio, television, no phone calls, no visitors. It was just the two of us. The quietness was very noticeable because both Friday and Saturday of this weekend there were parties in the neighborhood and we experienced lots of traditional music, loud voices, and more than the normal amount of noise!

This is probably an accurate assessment of some of your weekends as well. Nice quiet days. Others are not so quiet. Maybe there are days where you are not quite as busy and days when there are not enough hours to go where you need to go and to get everything done.

Sunday, 7:30 p.m. Note the time; almost the end of the weekend. Hold that thought! I think I just heard the intercom buzz. Yep, the Hope House girls were here for their usual Sunday visit although earlier this week we were told not to expect them. Up the stairs they clamor; ready to eat their packed lunch. The chatter sure changed the atmosphere of the quiet house. After all there were 11 of them! The living/dining room was filled with excited, hungry visitors. They know they have about an hour to eat, chat, visit and of course, look at our bulletin board of friends’ photos, and weigh themselves on the bathroom scales to see if they’ve gained or lost any kilos. But their favorite thing is to practice words from our Children’s Pictorial English/Spanish Dictionary! We are forever being asked the name of an animal, or vegetable and they try to pronounce it in English, look at each other and giggle.

Don stepped out on the balcony to chat with a couple of the girls who are not involved with the group. They are enjoying the fall fresh air. As he does, I join him, and our neighbors across the street are yelling, “hola” and waving their hands excitedly. Sondros is 6 years old and his sister Natalie is 4 years old. No doubt they wonder if we’re having a party. Below in the street, we hear our names being called again, and it’s Laura, one of the mothers from Pat’s Place. She’s heading out to make a phone call at the corner telephone booth. I can’t help but wonder what the other neighbors within hearing distance are thinking.

We were watching the clock, as we knew when the girls were ready to leave for Hope House, we also needed to get ready to leave to go to Heather’s and Blanca’s where they are hosting a 15th birthday party for Katty. The party is scheduled to begin at 9:00 p.m., but knowing Peruvian time, it will be much later than that! The bus ride and walk takes about 45 minutes. I have wondered today how late it will get over, and the fact that busses will not be operating that late. However, can’t miss this special celebration. We will certainly get home somehow and some time!

Our peaceful, quiet, tranquil, calm serene weekend had come to a quick end. To be honest with you, we wouldn’t have it any other way. When our home can be a resting place for others, or our neighbors want to greet us loudly, and when a 15 year old girl invites us to her special party, we feel honored. Even at our age, we are thankful for the hustle and bustle others bring into our lives. This is the third night in a row that sleep has come later than anticipated because someone’s been partying! The first two nights we “heard” the noise, tonight we are going to “be” the noise!