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Thursday, May 06, 2010

Friday Shoot-out / things I like to touch.

I have been thinking about this topic all week.  What to do?  What do I like to touch?  I used to like to make bread – touching bread dough as you knead out the loaves of bread is right up there at the top of my list…. working in the flower beds touching the soil is a close second, but what would these have to do with Nova Friburgo.   Nothing.
Here, up here on the top of a hill; up here on top of the hill without a neighbor that speaks English; up here on top of the hill without a neighbor that speaks English what I like to touch is other peoples lives.  Almost daily I go to the gym.  I do the hug and the kiss cheeks twice in both greeting and when leaving.  I speak as much Portuguese as possible to touch their lives, if only briefly, superficially.  I try to touch the lives of those in this small group of people, this group that has become my only social outlet in Nova Friburgo. 
  One of these people is the young mother who keeps the gym clean.  When I first met her she was pregnant and now her daughter is 4 years old.  Every Christmas, every birthday and a few times in between, I have taken a small gift to her to take home to the little girl.  Last week I was invited and found myself free to go to little Mirella’s fourth birthday party.  Touching her life in a real way. 
It is so unusual to be invited to a Brazilian's home.  This home was simple and very clean.  The party was as fancy as any I have ever been to  – this single mother and probably most of the extended family, I am sure, contributed to give
this little girl her very best party ever.  And they allowed me in – to touch their life, if only for a few hours, in a very meaningful way, the sharing of a childhood memory. 



Mirella with her Mother
Happy mother’s day to you all and your Families   

12 comments:

  1. It sounds as though you have made quite an impact on this family's life.

    What a beautiful little girl and how fortunate she has you for a friend - for you both.

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  2. How wonderful for you that your lives have touched. She is absolutely beautiful and mom is a beauty too.
    QMM

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  3. The girl is so gorgeous! and her hair, I just want to touch that beautiful curly hair.

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  4. I like to touch people's lives! Wow! What a perfect interpretation. And the birthday party came across in both images and touching lives...Glad I took the time to come around this morning.

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  5. Lovely post Ginger. And what a very pretty little girl.

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  6. Ginger, I think that is one of your loveliest every posts! To brush against a stranger is one thing, to touch the live of another is something else. And you have obviously done that. What a delight it must have been to share that beautiful little girl's birthday!

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  7. What great eyes Mirella has! I bet those touch many a heart!

    Mr Linky is not cooperating for me, here is my post: My Shoot Out

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  8. I love this: the words, the sentiments, and the photos are all wonderful.

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  9. Oh oh oh that is just beautiful hon..beautiful!!

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  10. How wonderful and touching. I think the little girl's mother is beautiful. Her eys gleam with happiness but there is something also very sad about her.

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  11. Perfect post for Mother's Day weekend. What a beautiful child and so wonderful to be included in a little piece of their lives.

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