Thursday, January 29, 2026
Update 8
I'll start with a funny story:
We were talking to Jake on the phone when we heard a loud clanging. I immediately jumped up & ran to the door which we had forgotten to lock. I got there just in time to pull the gate shut and kindly wave Jesu away. Then I went back to talk to Jake who asked what was happening. We explained it was just Jesu, one of the residence who's about 6 foot tall shaking the gate to our front door. He wanders about often & the nuns tell us he is looking for food & will eat up any he finds. He is truly a gentle giant. As I told Jake, "We aren't kidding when we say we are living in a loony bin!"
There's also been quite a racket in the fig tree in our front yard. The figs are starting to ripen and parrots have invaded the tree. Rog counted about 30 today. Sister Anita tries to knock the figs down to save them with little success…so I was surprised to see her show up in the kitchen tenderly holding a parrot! It had been attacked by the resident dog. She put it in a box…it didn't live long but she'd tried. So I guess she can't even let the fig attackers die without some TLC. She probably prayed for it too.
These nuns are wonderful. Sister Joan, the cook creates such nutritional meals every day in a sweltering kitchen. She's a hoot scurrying about making humongous bowls of a mixture of multiple ingredients. Things I'd never think to combine. All chopped up in small pieces because most the men are missing most their teeth…and then she pours it & spreads it into pans that are 3'x2'x1" and pops it in the oven. Each is a unique casserole ready to feed the residents & nuns. Today she was going to the market so lunch had to be prepared ahead & served cold. She prepared what I'd call a Pasta Salad on Steroids: pasta, potatoes, carrots, chicken, beets, peas, onions, peppers, oil, salt & mayonnaise. I've been the designated onion chopper and I can honestly say that I've chopped over 100 onions! Rog gets to do the peppers. I'm glad he keeps our knives sharp.
With lunch made, we headed to town. We picked up chicken a man was donating & since the bank was close & we needed pesos, we went in only to be turned away because we were not customers. Luckily, the chicken donator knew where we could get dollars exchanged for pesos. It helps to have connections! Next stop was groceries & then to the bus station to get ticket for Ana because she is leaving tomorrow. Helena is leaving also but she has a car & lives just 1 hour away. We will truly miss them as they have helped so much in the kitchen & Helena speaks English.
We got back to our villa around 1 & had our usual ham & cheese sandwich then down for a rest & out of the heat. Around 3 we headed back to visit Atilio & do activities with the men. About half now participate with a little encouragement . Today Helena took time to play UNO with about 5 players…including Rog. She was so patient explaining how to play. Rog needed a few explanations too! Several nuns & us got a big laugh when one of the older & less active residents told Sister Avo that he'll be glad when we leave so he can watch more TV. (Large TV in activity room usually has a movie playing unless we're there.) Judging from all the smiles & laughs we get from many of the other residents, I think & hope he's in the minority!!
We were talking to Jake on the phone when we heard a loud clanging. I immediately jumped up & ran to the door which we had forgotten to lock. I got there just in time to pull the gate shut and kindly wave Jesu away. Then I went back to talk to Jake who asked what was happening. We explained it was just Jesu, one of the residence who's about 6 foot tall shaking the gate to our front door. He wanders about often & the nuns tell us he is looking for food & will eat up any he finds. He is truly a gentle giant. As I told Jake, "We aren't kidding when we say we are living in a loony bin!"
There's also been quite a racket in the fig tree in our front yard. The figs are starting to ripen and parrots have invaded the tree. Rog counted about 30 today. Sister Anita tries to knock the figs down to save them with little success…so I was surprised to see her show up in the kitchen tenderly holding a parrot! It had been attacked by the resident dog. She put it in a box…it didn't live long but she'd tried. So I guess she can't even let the fig attackers die without some TLC. She probably prayed for it too.
These nuns are wonderful. Sister Joan, the cook creates such nutritional meals every day in a sweltering kitchen. She's a hoot scurrying about making humongous bowls of a mixture of multiple ingredients. Things I'd never think to combine. All chopped up in small pieces because most the men are missing most their teeth…and then she pours it & spreads it into pans that are 3'x2'x1" and pops it in the oven. Each is a unique casserole ready to feed the residents & nuns. Today she was going to the market so lunch had to be prepared ahead & served cold. She prepared what I'd call a Pasta Salad on Steroids: pasta, potatoes, carrots, chicken, beets, peas, onions, peppers, oil, salt & mayonnaise. I've been the designated onion chopper and I can honestly say that I've chopped over 100 onions! Rog gets to do the peppers. I'm glad he keeps our knives sharp.
With lunch made, we headed to town. We picked up chicken a man was donating & since the bank was close & we needed pesos, we went in only to be turned away because we were not customers. Luckily, the chicken donator knew where we could get dollars exchanged for pesos. It helps to have connections! Next stop was groceries & then to the bus station to get ticket for Ana because she is leaving tomorrow. Helena is leaving also but she has a car & lives just 1 hour away. We will truly miss them as they have helped so much in the kitchen & Helena speaks English.
We got back to our villa around 1 & had our usual ham & cheese sandwich then down for a rest & out of the heat. Around 3 we headed back to visit Atilio & do activities with the men. About half now participate with a little encouragement . Today Helena took time to play UNO with about 5 players…including Rog. She was so patient explaining how to play. Rog needed a few explanations too! Several nuns & us got a big laugh when one of the older & less active residents told Sister Avo that he'll be glad when we leave so he can watch more TV. (Large TV in activity room usually has a movie playing unless we're there.) Judging from all the smiles & laughs we get from many of the other residents, I think & hope he's in the minority!!
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