www.calapitter.net

Thank goodness for:

• Antibiotics: This'll fix me up straight quick.
  
• Being able to give presents: I gave Olivia her gift and received a hug and just enough pity (which I adore when I am feeling less than A+.) I also have presents which I must remember to take home, and I have one for Matt. More things to do before I leave tomorrow.
  
• Being given presents: Olivia and her novio (boyfriend) Cristian have been giving me tons of music lately, mostly Bunbury. Olivia gave me "La Herida", which is from when he was still frontman for Héroes Del Silencio, but it drives me crazy and makes me want to go back to winterguard and write a show. Cristian gave me "Alfa" and several others that just grab your soul and tie it down and smack it around until your soul pleas for mercy.
  
• Stories to keep me occupied: Cristian told me a story that went something like this, "Yesterday, on my way home, there was a dog in the street--a young dog, with dirty black fur. It was obvious he was homeless: he didn't have anyone to feed him; maybe it was a hard day and they chased him from many places, or maybe they hit him to make him leave when they didn't want to see him. Anyway, the dog looked at me as I walked down the street toward him, but he got scared and jumped backwards. I petted him because I love animals, and he wagged his tail (movió su cola). I thought that would be the last I would see of that dog, but then my phone rang; I answered it in my mother's salon That place has a big window where you can see the street, and I was talking to Olivia when I noticed something. The dog was running from side to side; I thought maybe he was sick or something, but he didn't look hurt when I got closer to the window for a better look--his face was happy. He was just running like a crazy thing; then he disappeared into the alley, but a little while after I hung up, he returned and... he played with a treeeee!! He made friends with a tree, Good Lord, he was happy: he hopped and ran around the tree. I thought, 'In spite of everything, he is happy.' Maybe he has no food, maybe he isn't loved, but that dog was rejoicing from happiness. We should all be like that, if not more so, since we lack nothing. That dog stole my thoughts for the evening; he gave me something that no one can easily give: a smile."