Well this weekend marked the one year anniversary of my parents visit to my site as well as the anniversary of the saint (Maria Auxiliadora) of my communities church, which means lots of food, music, and parties. Unfortunatly, this weekend, we also lost a very special person, my Paraguayan grandma, and next door neighbor, Bernadina. She died on Saturday, at the age of 82. These last couple of days have probably been some of the saddest and hardest that I have dealt with since arriving to Paraguay almost 2 years ago. Last week I was walking with Grandma back to her house from the other end of the community as she carried a large bundle of sticks on her head, that she refused to let me help her with. I asked her when her birthday was and she told me that she would be turning 83 in June. She also told me that numerous people have told her that she was going to live to past 100 because she was so healthy and still worked every day. I agreed.
A couple days later she fell and apparently broke her hip. She was taken to the hospital in Buena Vista, then to another in Villarica, and Saturday morning at 7am, while I was drinking maté on my porch with my buddy Antonio, watching the people decorate the church across the street and listening to the loud music and fireworks that had been going off since 3am, the news came that Abuela had passed. Out of respect and custom, the music at the church and throughout the community was shut off. Grandma was brought back home from the hospital in her coffin where she stayed over night until she was brought to be buried yesterday afternoon. All day saturday and throughout the night there were visitors and prayers. The immediate family members , and others very close to the family stay awake all night the first night after the death at the house of the deceased. I attempted to stay all night, but only made it until 2:00am, and after being harrassed by the town drunk(s), for most of the night, I decided that 7 hours of listening to them was enough. I am not German, but they can believe what ever they want. And no, I will not marry you. So I went home to get some rest, but after 6 hours of drinking caffiene filled maté it wasn´t easy.
This weekend I saw the toughest most intimidating members of my community show emotion and vulnerability. One of the hardest things I saw was my neighbor; the man who built my house, the man who never shows an ounce of emotion other than laughter or anger; with his body draped over his dead mother, sobbing, calling out her name, kissing her face, for hours. Her children and family members came from as far as Argentina to mourn her loss. Ña Bernadina was such an important member of our village. She was loved by all, and I found out this weekend that she was practically related to everyone as well, either as an aunt, mother, grandma, or inlaw.
I was unable to bring myself to go up to the casket to see her, which I regret now and I knew that I would. Apparently I have to much pride, and did not want to fall apart in front of my whole community. There will be a prayer service everyday for 9 days in a row at her house, and I will be attending them all. If you pray, please make space for her. R.I.P. Love you Aguela.

Proud Grandma

Here are some pictures of the new addition to my family. The puppies are preety big now, and I've given away four so far. I am down to three pups at my house, and although it was hard to give the others away, it sure saves on dog food.