How do I know that summer is here?
1. David, who lives with me and has cerebral palsy, starts to bemoan his beloved San Diego Padres who by the 4th of July are always 15 games out.
2. The kids of Canoa and the chapel are immersed in the Verano Feliz, (Joyful Summer) activities including arts, crafts, exercise, group participation, trips.
3. The flowers of Canoa, especially the succulents, have reached full bloom creating a multicolored oasis in the barren back hills (cerros pelones) of Tijuana.
Summer also enhances a somewhat more relaxed attitude as to what needs to be done. It gets too hot to follow a routine schedule. One of my uncle's favorite stories was about being an altar server. The priest started the mass singing, “The Lord be with you.” He sang back, “And with your spirit.” The priest than chanted, “Harold, what did you do with the incense pot?” To which he replied in perfect pitch, “I left it on the altar because it was too God damn hot.”
Our project for the special kids of Carita de Dios is winding down. The children are using the buildings: three classrooms and a day care center which is a converted double wide trailer. It has not been the easiest of tasks. The center is about twenty five minutes by car or 55 minutes walking from CANOA. The road is not exactly the Camino Real, winding over hills, rivers of eroding dust, and pot holes comparable to craters. We have run the length of three plus soccer fields of wire underground in ditches through hard pan soil notable by the resistant zing of a non penetrating pick. We replaced all the plumbing and built a perimeter fence which had an estimate of $3,500 (U.S. dollars) just for materials. We changed most doors. We built ramps and guard rails, a stair case, repaired roofs, built cabinets, etc. The check list for finishing has almost been erased clean. However, we are still waiting for the federal power company and state water connections.
We have begun to organize a major event in Rosarito for all children of different capabilities which will be on or around the 20th of November. We are inviting all special children of Tijuana and Rosarito to participate especially the most severe. This will be our version of the London Olympics. We will have events and medals for inclusion not winning one of the first three places. Even Special Olympics favors the higher category youngsters and rewards victory. An athletic director will do limited or applicable calisthenics. We will fly kites and let the children hold them. We hope to have a sponsor for each child so that they can push those in wheel chairs through an obstacle course and help them pass a ball from one chair to the next. If we get permission, we will have a demonstration of equine therapy and a chance for each child to go horse back riding. Some kids in wheelchairs can move their legs but not stand. They can kick a ball from one to the next. Indeed, if anyone has more suggestions for events, let me know. We also plan a final parade of all sponsors and participants to promote friendship and not competition.
Each year I go to San Francisco to meet with friends. We will have a gathering for mass at 10:00 on Sat. Sept 15th at St. Peter's Church, 24th and Alabama Streets and share a pot luck meal afterwards. Everyone is invited. The wonderful spirit of goodwill from people involved in myriad volunteer works of varied and great worth lifts up all hearts. Isaiah extends the invitation: “a message from the high God, the great God, whose habitation is eternity, whose name is hallowed! God, dwelling in that high and holy place, dwells also among chastened and humbled souls, bidding the humble spirit, the chastened soul, rise and live.”
