Friends Forever!

November 23, 2012

College friends rock! In my experience, the most deep rich and long-lasting hearty relationships have been with my post college friends, the few years after I left University of MN and ventured out on my own. Today Lava Pe (Wash Your Feet is Daniel’s nickname) one of Ana’s closest college friends dropped by to uncharacteristically hang out have a hot lunch (I made dried eggplant and a cabbage salad) and buy a number of veggies. Very handsome blue eyed wonder, tall and on the husky side with flappy non-descript striped button down shirt and baggy jeans dragging along suede shoes, a startling contrast to the typical Havanas everyone dons. His hair is nearly buzz cut short which consequently causes his stark eyes to pop out even more dramatically. Lava is cheerful teaser, helpfully attentive listener and a great supporter of the farmers. Each and every week he insistently buys a boxful of fresh organic produce and dutifully pays crisp cash on the spot. His wife just as darling and they are expecting their first child next year. Their current brood one giant male Visla and a short-haired male dapple grey Dashund puppy take up most of their energy.

Ana became animated and affable giggly like a school-girl at her first science fair. In his animated mood, Dario also wore a shit-eating grin that made me lighten up a bit. I was not pleased to hear he had forgotten to go to the Post Office to collect my long-awaited boxes. Lava Pe had offered to pick up the packages. We could swing by his house on our way to Sao Paulo this weekend to get them. Plan “B” was discounted immediately since Dario failed to locate the PO Box key he had been given this morning. Sigh. Nothing seems easy at this point. I become easily disenchanted perpetually at their mercy.

I discovered Paulo, the inconsistent painter is 47 and has three children….wishing he could have one more little girl in his life before it is too late! His eldest is a young man at 23 and lives in Sao Paulo, second oldest is a daughter who’s 17 and the youngest is 14 who both live here with him. Brasilians adore big families. I can’t think of one incident where someone didn’t make a comment that I have “only one” they might as well add “Poor thing” since their expression seems to mimic the sentiment.

No sign of Solange today. She popped by yesterday to ask me what number my underwear is. She was going into town today to buy me a souvenir…such a benevolent woman! I hated to point out that my panties could be recycled into three pair for a Brasilian girl. We’ll see what she comes up with…gimminy!

A few days left on the farm. Packed and ready to go save my toothbrush! Not certain of my plans at this point. My girlfriend in Florianopolis has informed me the reformation of her spare room has been delayed and she cannot house me unless I want to stay on the couch in the living room. Hm. So I am putting other feelers out. An endless adventure standing on my own…one foot!