i.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that comIt was 5:00 a.m. in the morning and our dogs were outside barking like crazy. We discovered they were barking at a group of people standing in the street in front of our neighbor’s wide-open door.

It wasn’t entirely unusual...in our village groups will gather early for birthdays, special occasions, etc…sometimes light firerockets, and possibly a band will play…so we didn’t think much of it at the time. It’s a typical, wonderful Mexican family living across the street…many generations sharing the same house…and we’re used to a lot of activity going on. We called the dogs in and closed the door so they could have their celebration in peace.

However, as the morning wore on, we noticed the door remained open and people were coming and going from the house. We ultimately came to the correct conclusion that someone had passed away, but we didn’t know who.

We finally decided to ask a young man who was preparing to go into the house. I called to him in my minimal Spanish, “Se?or, habla Ingl?s? He said, “no.” So I simply said, “muerta?,” hoping I was getting the point across, “has someone died?” He said, “si.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that come

ys, special occasions, etc…sometimes light firerockets, and possibly a band will play…so we didn’t think much of it at the time. It’s a typical, wonderful Mexican family living across the street…many generations sharing the same house…and we’re used to a lot of activity going on. We called the dogs in and closed the door so they could have their celebration in peace.

However, as the morning wore on, we noticed the door remained open and people were coming and going from the house. We ultimately came to the correct conclusion that someone had passed away, but we didn’t know who.

We finally decided to ask a young man who was preparing to go into the house. I called to him in my minimal Spanish, “Se?or, habla Ingl?s? He said, “no.” So I simply said, “muerta?,” hoping I was getting the point across, “has someone died?” He said, “si.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that com

called the dogs in and closed the door so they could have their celebration in peace.

However, as the morning wore on, we noticed the door remained open and people were coming and going from the house. We ultimately came to the correct conclusion that someone had passed away, but we didn’t know who.

We finally decided to ask a young man who was preparing to go into the house. I called to him in my minimal Spanish, “Se?or, habla Ingl?s? He said, “no.” So I simply said, “muerta?,” hoping I was getting the point across, “has someone died?” He said, “si.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that com

but we didn’t know who.

We finally decided to ask a young man who was preparing to go into the house. I called to him in my minimal Spanish, “Se?or, habla Ingl?s? He said, “no.” So I simply said, “muerta?,” hoping I was getting the point across, “has someone died?” He said, “si.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that com

i.” I said, “quien?” (who). He said, “la mama.” I felt very emotional at that moment and took his hand and held it and said, “lo siento, se?or” (I’m sorry). He thanked me and somehow with our limited knowledge of each other’s language we communicated the feeling and emotion that comes with having lost a loved one so suddenly.

Bill and I decided to bring the family some tamales for all their unexpected visitors. When we arrived back at the house, I got out of the car, and walked toward a woman I hadn’t seen before. I said, “se?ora, con su permiso, esto es para la familia.” (“Ma’am, with your permission, this is for the family.”). She took the bag, thanked me and embraced me with tears in her eyes. El papa was sitting outside the house, so I went over to him and said, “se?or, lo siento.” He thanked me, and said something else to me, but I couldn’t understand. I feel so inadequate at times…not being able to express myself…I wanted so badly to let them know how very sorry we were to learn of the great loss in their family. I am so grateful that sometimes what the lips cannot express, the heart can. The daughter came up at that time, and, after expressing my sympathy, I asked her if she would like some lemons from our trees. We share some with them often. She smiled wearily and said “si, por favor.”

Bill got a plastic bag from the car, and as 10-12 children “helped,” we picked a full bag