June 11, 2006

The riots are over.  Of course almost 200 died.  Sad deaths too.  Many wonderful policemen.  Mostly because of drugs.  Drugs are going to ruin this world.  We had a few problems in the city here but most of the deaths and problems were in Sao Paulo.  The gangs were mad because they moved 740 of the drug ring leaders to different jails.  How are they able to communicate if they are in jail ANYWAY!!!!!!!?????  Another kicker is they let CRIMINALS with satisfactory records OUT of jail to visit their mothers on Mother's Day.  GO FIGURE!!!

 

After spending the last couple weeks at my rug store (pictures attached) trying to finish Meredith's Birthday Rug I have decided that this is where all the problems of Brazil are solved.  These women come here every day to share their problems and most of all to have someone listen to their problems.  I rarely understand a word they say but I do hear the words filha/filho (daughter/son), marido (husband), and neta/neto (granddaughter/grandson) used a lot.  These precious women work on rugs or make sweaters or scarves.  Bea, we have discovered, is the Queen Bea of sweaters and scarves.  We could show her ANY sweater and she would help us make another just like it.  They are recreating a baby sweater as we speak. Walking into the store in the morning is like walking into your best friend's house.  You are usually kissed or greeted by everyone there.  The mornings are our favorite.  That is when Queen Bea is there.  If we go back after lunch there will be coffee (very strong) and a cake of some kind at 3:00 along with 12-15 women.  Since I am finishing rug #4 (and I have totally become addicted) I am sure I will totally understand what these women are saying by the end of our time here.  Or at least I hope so.

 

You would all be very proud of John.  He is speaking total Portuguese at work now.  He says he sometimes stillhas his moments of exhaustion but most of the time he speaks and understands.  That is such a big deal here.  They speak so fast sometimes you don't understand a single word they say.  Then they look at your face and they see this "deer in the headlights" look and they realize they need to repeat a little slower because you understood absolutely nothing. 

 

John and I have gotten involved with the World Cup Soccer STICKER Booklet.  Oh my goodness.  The trading for these stickers could go up against Las Vegas.  This is all they do here at recess. Out of 596 stickers we only lack 7.  I've had a lot of help.  I will not say how many packs of cards we have bought but I will say that we have had fun opening them and putting them in the book.  Everything in this city is green and yellow.  No business will be open during the Brazil games.  The banks will even close.  Everything shuts down except for the restaurants and bars because they have TV.  It will be something I am sure we will never forget.  I made the huge mistake of telling everyone that I hoped Brazil would still be playing when I returned from Mom's.  You would have thought I had slapped them in the face.  Of course Brazil will be playing when I get back.  BRAZIL is going to win the World Cup.  Like I said they take their soccer very seriously down here.

 

Carmo, our doorman that I love has gone.  We do not know what happened.  He was so wonderful. I hope he moved to a better job but I may never find out.  It hasn't been the same without him.  He was always so friendly and helpful.  It has been very sad for me.

 

We went to Joe & Mary Cavese's for pizza and to say goodbye to Jennifer and Jim Cande.  They have been here for 9 months from Memphis working on a project for International Paper.  It was sad for all of us "old women" to say goodbye to Jennifer.  She had been our substitute daughter for the last couple months.  She made a rug and a stocking with us at the rug store and ate lunch with us on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Joe serenaded us with two special songs: One Meatball (in honor of my love for the meatballs at La Pasta Gialla) and The Oreo Cookie Blues. 

 

John's TV has been returned to good health.  It has made him so happy.  I was very proud of him.  He took care of it all by himself.  We are grateful it was fixable. Well, I will sign off now and get back to Rug #5.  It is a beauty.  I'll write when I return to Brazil.  I'll have my computer at Mom's so stay in touch.