It’s nice to take it slow in the morning, to get out of bed and do things on your own terms. Chula Vista is only 25 miles from Stephanie’s place, a little more than a 2 hour ride. I didn’t leave until 1:00ish when Steph had to go to work, and even then I didn’t rush to Rafaela’s place. I guess it’s her family’s place since she lives in Vermont now. I’ve never met her in person, we’ve just talked over the phone and via text, a good friend of a good friend, that pretty much means we’re good friends already. Someone that offers up her family’s house as a place to stay for the weekend is a very good friend, I’m very grateful and very excited to give her a hug when I see her in tomorrow night, she’s flying back for her mom’s surprise birthday party that she already knows about.
It’s funny to think I’ve met Rafaela’s whole family before meeting her in person. They’re good people, I can tell where she gets it from. Luis, her step dad let me in and gave me water and talked to me until David got home, Rafa’s younger brother. We talked about my trip, what he’s studying in school and life in general. He’s studying kinesiology, that might not be right but, he studies the way the body works and what a person needs to do to take care of themselves. He wants to help people be happy in their skin through diet and exercise, something I believe in as well. Nearly all personal problems, self esteem and self image issues can be alleviated through a little physical activity and eating some good food. A donut here and there can’t hurt either. When Connie, Rafa and David’s mother came home, the four of us went out for dinner, Mexican food. I had a burrito for lunch but, I could eat a burrito every meal of the day and not complain. Rafa and David have a younger sister but, she worked late and got home after I had already gone to sleep.
Getting absorbed into someone else’s family is a beautiful thing. Sharing what you have with someone who has nothing is a very human thing. I never thought I’d be so dependent on the company of others, the warm feeling of being in the bosom of a family even when it’s not yours. It’s truly the family that makes the holidays the holidays even if you have to borrow someone else’s. I’d like to think my presence has a positive effect on the family, makes the weekend a bit more distinct than others knowing they’re doing something very kind for me. Maybe years down the road the Rodriguez’s will remember having a smell biker for some added company around Connie’s birthday just a few weeks before Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment