Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Nicaragua 2006: Where was I a week ago?

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 1 comments link this post

::This is the first of a short series that features photos from Nicaragua and commentary about them. Links to the other photo essays are at the bottom of this post. You can learn more about the trip to Nicaragua here.::

An email sent out to the group freshly back from Nicaragua asked where we were a week ago. I try not to think about it, because it is always easier to live in the past or in the future where everything's rosy. It's my way of avoiding the trauma of turning into a pillar of salt.

On the other hand, what about those stone markers of remembrance?

A week ago, I was with Teresa. She's the girl I sponsor and she fondly refers to our relationship as she being my Nicaraguan daughter. I just think she's beautiful, in all ways. I'm happy to be in her life in any way I can be.

I know what's going on in my mind in this photo; I remember it clearly. We're on the bus to the market, and Teresa and Claudia, our interpreter, are singing softly so that not everyone can hear. I'm thinking how lucky I am to be sitting right there at that moment, hearing two beautiful women singing impeccable music. I wanted everything about them to rub off on me.

Where was I a week ago? Getting a double blessing I may not have deserved but got anyway. A week later, my cat is meowing at me for food. Live the moment when you're in it and then set about remembering it. The moments don't last long.

Continue with the photo essays: 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |