Simple is affairs that touch the heart.
Simple are the ways of love.
Simple as the touch of another's hands…
Simple as the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky.
Simple are the way we say good-bye…. (Nine, the Musical)
And just like that, my time in El Salvador came to an end. Three months after they all made their way into my heart, I said good-bye to my ninos at Hogar this past Friday. We sat together (all 53 of us) and watched a movie (Home Alone 2- at the request of the kids, although I certainly couldn’t complain. We sat there on the floor, laughing hysterically as Kevin outsmarts the bad guys. Finally Deborah and I bought pizza for all of the kids as a special treat for dinner. They were so grateful. And just like that, we hugged good-bye. It hasn’t hit me yet that I’ve said goodbye. I’ve been told that Carlos has asked for me. Before I left I asked him if one day he wanted to visit NY like Kevin in the movie does. He said he couldn’t. When I asked why not, he replied “because I’m not allowed to leave this place”- well that just about broke my heart. Although Carlos does not know (and probably never will) I asked the head nun for his information and his brothers. She told me they are so poor and can use any help. Hopefully I can send some clothes when I get back to the U.S.
Anyway, I’ve gone off on a tangent…
What I will always remember is that leaving that night a few of the kids followed me to the gate and told me when I missed them to look up at the stars from New York, because they would look up at the stars here, and “we all have the same sky”. It was so simple and so beautiful.
I know I will return to the orphanage again- when I can’t say- but I found a part of me there, a love that I never knew existed in me, a part of my heart that just figuratively exploded there. Simply…I became a better person because of these children and will forever be so grateful to them for that.
P.S.- not to overshadow my immense love for the kids but I’m SOOO excited about the movie “Nine” opening Christmas Day in the US (amazing musical and Penelope Cruz is in it!)
Simple are the ways of love.
Simple as the touch of another's hands…
Simple as the sun and the moon and the stars in the sky.
Simple are the way we say good-bye…. (Nine, the Musical)
And just like that, my time in El Salvador came to an end. Three months after they all made their way into my heart, I said good-bye to my ninos at Hogar this past Friday. We sat together (all 53 of us) and watched a movie (Home Alone 2- at the request of the kids, although I certainly couldn’t complain. We sat there on the floor, laughing hysterically as Kevin outsmarts the bad guys. Finally Deborah and I bought pizza for all of the kids as a special treat for dinner. They were so grateful. And just like that, we hugged good-bye. It hasn’t hit me yet that I’ve said goodbye. I’ve been told that Carlos has asked for me. Before I left I asked him if one day he wanted to visit NY like Kevin in the movie does. He said he couldn’t. When I asked why not, he replied “because I’m not allowed to leave this place”- well that just about broke my heart. Although Carlos does not know (and probably never will) I asked the head nun for his information and his brothers. She told me they are so poor and can use any help. Hopefully I can send some clothes when I get back to the U.S.
Anyway, I’ve gone off on a tangent…
What I will always remember is that leaving that night a few of the kids followed me to the gate and told me when I missed them to look up at the stars from New York, because they would look up at the stars here, and “we all have the same sky”. It was so simple and so beautiful.I know I will return to the orphanage again- when I can’t say- but I found a part of me there, a love that I never knew existed in me, a part of my heart that just figuratively exploded there. Simply…I became a better person because of these children and will forever be so grateful to them for that.
P.S.- not to overshadow my immense love for the kids but I’m SOOO excited about the movie “Nine” opening Christmas Day in the US (amazing musical and Penelope Cruz is in it!)
No comments:
Post a Comment