Pizza for 14

December 30, 2012

Dono collided with the sink, fell in the tile bathroom, badly scraped her back and hip. She was up far too late in the night with her new camel top and pants with the colorful beaded necklace I gave her, demanding plain cheese pizza cut into little squares and slurping freezer chilled Antartica beer. She is resting sheepishly in her dorm-sized room atop a pile of thin blankets after accepting the Rescue Remedy tincture I offered.

Today appears to be a far better day to head off to the beach with the crew. The New Years Eve party guest list is growing exponentially as the grocery store necessities breed.

The quick trip to the local market proved to be a reunion of sorts. Ran into Claudio, the son of a good friend who has a pale and lethargic infant daughter and a “new” distant drab woman with him. He appeared shocked to see me blinking rapidly in nervousness. I recognized him immediately and gave him a kiss on the cheek and a big hug hello. He had been living on his mother’s sitio outside a small town quite a distance from here and gave up the farm life recently. He was wild and uneducated, thin as a straw when adopted by my friend after spending his first eight years in one of the biggest favellas in Sao Paulo. I am uncertain as to what his life is like now yet I expect he is still nearly illiterate and lacks skills to support himself and his family (believe he has a son who is five with another woman.) Forever shy and skiddish he is a tall, handsome and tender young man who seems embarrassed by his own presence.

Joe’s colleague arrived from Calgary and will be here for ten days. She is taking pictures of everything including the maracuja drink (cashew fruit) Joao made for her. Poor thing will be drunk before the dinner is served. The custom is for everyone to share a big drink, pass it around or just grab the glass from across the table. She has no clue why people slurp from her drink as they stroll pass the table. I noticed her distress and explained the custom. Also encouraged her to hang out at the bbq since everyone gobbles the meat as it finishes cooking. If she waits, there won’t be any left!

Getting ready for the chorrasco…just now I realize tomorrow night everyone will be elegant in fancy dress and all I have will not be comfortable…unless of course I just start drinking early and forget to be embarrassed.

Happy New Year everyone!