Juan, wrinkled by sun and physical labor, shows a quiet and gentle dignity. His face is shaded by the wide brim of his straw hat but for his beaming smile. He welcomes the Casita Linda volunteers with affection and warmth, and clearly the feeling is mutual.
Juanita comes out of the water reed shack that serves as a kitchen. She is shy, but gains confidence as she speaks. Juanita is a changed woman as a result of the new casita - relaxed, happier and showing greater dignity.
Their Casita Linda home immediately catches the eye. It is painted in soft earth tones, with sky-blue interior walls and a ceiling lined with water reeds. Inside the room is nearly filled by the king-size bed, the base made of wood by Juan, the mattress thin foam. There is a shower and a small hand basin. Tubing on the roof means the couple can have hot showers in the afternoon. To one side of the new home stands a structure of about the same size that was shared by the entire family of six.
In the kitchen, the daughters are busy cooking on an open fire on the floor, with a huge ceramic bowl filled to the brim with red-colored rice bubbling away. The Casita Linda volunteers recall when Juanita fell into the open fire upon suffering an epileptic seiaure and walked dazed, with her back on fire toward the house under construction. Fortunately, the burns were not too serious.
Soon the lunch is ready, a delicious meal of chicken soup follwed by mole and rice. As the day draws to an end, the official inauguration is finally completed as "Casita Linda" is painted above the threshold.
Returning to San Miguel, someone wonders aloud, "Who really receives the greatest gift? Those who receive or those who give?" And is there really any difference?
-Story by Suzanne Ludekens |
