For the first time since we came to Honduras almost six months ago, our family all piled in the mission van and took a little excursion on a recent Sunday. The destination was the San Pedro Sula airport; the occasion was the arrival of three very special girls who were coming from Mexico to spend Christmas with us. The midday sun beat down on us from a gorgeous cloudless sky as we bounced our way to the city. Mandie, who never goes anywhere except to church, hung her head toward the window and simply gaped at the sights the entire trip! I’m sure she had no idea there was so much to see in the wide, wide world. My enthusiasm nearly matched the children’s, who were positively sparkling at the prospect of seeing their beloved Aunt Joy. As usual, the atmosphere in the waiting area of the airport was charged with emotion as scores of people pressed against the security barriers, craning their necks toward the arrival gates and chattering in high excitement. I am always amazed how many Latinos it takes to pick someone up at the airport! We found a space behind the crowd and waited… and waited… and waited. At long last I spied a lone familiar figure moving our way: Cousin Linda pushing a cumbersome cart piled with a generous amount of luggage. Rather a lot, I thought, for one who is just coming for a two week visit. I pressed through the multitude and finally caught up with her just as she headed outdoors into the blazing sunshine. As I grabbed her, she turned to me with the funniest, apologetic expression on her face. “I am so sorry,” she began, “But I am by myself! The other girls are stuck in Mexico City!” Stuck? As in, they’re lost, they’ve been nabbed, or they’re having passport problems? My mind raced through the possibilities. It turned out that Aero Mexico had overbooked by a long shot and apparently Joy and Lauren looked like good candidates to be chosen for standby status. While Linda received her boarding pass with no questions asked, Joy and Lauren were told, “Um, we’re not sure you two can fly today… maybe on the 24th (three days later!)… maybe we can get you a flight to Miami and a connection from there…” Someone goofed, however, and Linda wound up in Honduras with the other girls’ suitcases, while Joy stayed in Mexico with all the baggage claim tickets! Fortunately, the lady at the customs desk in San Pedro believed Linda’s story and allowed her to collect all of the luggage. We had no choice but to leave the airport, since there is only one flight a day from Mexico. While we soothed our hunger pangs and our disappointment at a quiet Pizza Hut, Joy and Lauren were having a blast touring Mexico City, riding the metro, and maxing out the accommodations offered them by Aero Mexico! When the girls showed up at the airport the next day, they still were not promised any seats until they mentioned the fact that their bags had been shipped the day before. This caused some consternation behind the check-in counter, and within a short time they were confirmed to fly! Needless to say, our reunion on Monday evening was quite a bit more dramatic than it would have been if they had come the previous day, and we had a PARTY, as Derek would say.
Christmas in Honduras is mostly celebrated on the 24th, and it means eating tamales and shooting firecrackers, so that’s what we did. We had our traditional celebration on Thursday with some very special treats from “home”, and very special people to share it with. All the Troyers from Erandique were here and we enjoyed a blessed time together, concluding with an “open house” at the guesthouse for the rest of the gringos. Large quantities of coffee, cookies, and other equally ruinous fare were enjoyed by young and old, but especially by young, of which there are plenty around here!
This week brings on the New Year’s celebrations, which on a local level mean more firecrackers and lots of drinking, but in this house we have one thing on our minds and that is another trip to the airport! My parents are coming to spend a month or more, and with them--- well, who knows what surprises are in store for us!!!
Christmas in Honduras is mostly celebrated on the 24th, and it means eating tamales and shooting firecrackers, so that’s what we did. We had our traditional celebration on Thursday with some very special treats from “home”, and very special people to share it with. All the Troyers from Erandique were here and we enjoyed a blessed time together, concluding with an “open house” at the guesthouse for the rest of the gringos. Large quantities of coffee, cookies, and other equally ruinous fare were enjoyed by young and old, but especially by young, of which there are plenty around here!
This week brings on the New Year’s celebrations, which on a local level mean more firecrackers and lots of drinking, but in this house we have one thing on our minds and that is another trip to the airport! My parents are coming to spend a month or more, and with them--- well, who knows what surprises are in store for us!!!
Derek's Picturesque Speech:
"Mom, I can talk Spanish now!"
(Mom:) "Really? What can you say?"
"We-e-ell... I can talk it, but I don't really know it."
(Bright smile) "But when I get bigger, I will talk it AND know it!"
I think I know what you mean, Derek.
