Rice, Beans and Tortillas: Happy Holidays 2019!

Clearly I have fallen behind in keeping this blog udated. I am working on the book, however. The good news is that nothing dramatic has happened in 2019. The father/grandfather of all except Diego. Alex, remains incarcerated and gladly we have no news. He is in year nine of a sixty-eight year sentence. No one misses him.

Jackie, 23, continues working at the Antigua Green School where I am now a part owner. Late last year we hired a new, Guatemalan director and the school has really taken off since then. In January with the start of the new school year enrollment is up some sixty percent and the school will be launching a new curriculum designed by an American women with credentials from Columbia University. Jackie, in addition to working full time and raising six-year old Liam will graduate from university a year from now as a professional teacher.

Liam, 6, enjoyed his first ever visit to the ocean.

In June Astrid, 20, graduated from the Antigua International School and she is still in recovery from no longer having massive amounts of homework. As a graduation gift I took her to London where she attended a future doctor internship at the University College of London medical school. She stitched up a banana beautifully. She is taking a gap year and working to save money so that she can apply to medical school in Guatemala for January, 2021. Currently, she is working in a call center taking calls from irate, or confused Lyft customers. In January she will start working for our dentist running his front office. Less money but more time with Beyker, her three old son.

Astrid at the top of the Shard in London

Denis is working part-time doing office work, is the estate manager for Casa Broccoli and is a devoted uncle to both Liam and Beyker. Beyer loves school, books, swimming and blueberries.

We had to make an emergency run for blueberries.

Diego, who turned seventeen in November, is currently in Colombia with the family of his best friend from school. He left mid-November and flew on his own to Cuenca, Ecuador where he met up with his pal and his pal's mother, who was working there. At the end of the month the two flew to Bogota where they met up with the friend's father. They will go to Cútuca, Colombia (on the border with Venezuela) for Christmas with grandparents and back to Bogota for New Year's returning to Guatemala for the start of school in January.

Sebastian (l) and Diego (r) in Cuenca, Ecuador

Cris and Mishell, now twelve and eleven respectively, say that they sort of miss their brother but are enjoying the run-up to Christmas. They particularly like making cookies. I took them to the annual Christmas concert "under the stars" in the ruins of the San José Cathedral. Gladly, they enjoyed it especially the candles and fireworks during the Hallelujah Chorus. Cristofer even had a favorite soloist.

We also made the annual trek up the hills to cut a Christmas tree. Gladly, Mundo Posible has a truck which makes the twelve kilometers off road an easier journey.