"a picture of you holding a picture of me"

Just wanted to jot down some pretty great things today:

--- Ray LaMontagne makes me wish my name was Jolene...good Lord that's a beautiful song, mostly in the way it's sung <3

--- I got to speak to her recently on Skype!
It's usually hard to get my niece Sabrina to tell me she loves me (imagine that!) However, as I settled for the thought of just getting random children's song belted out at me with sheer happiness and pride, she surprised me. I requested a song and all she said was, "not today Ebet. I just want to tell you I love you." There are no more words.

--- As I was walking along the street in the midst of the music video-like setting I depicted in my last entry, the sound of confused English speaking tourists (familiar with that sound haha) interrupted my Switchfoot playlist on that old iPod of mine. Without a second thought, I stopped my perfectly-timed-brisk-walk-near-workout-routine to drop an earbud and help. After explaining my expat situation and lack of sense of direction as it is, we were able to figure out the street they were looking for. Then I spoke with a local Spanish couple sitting nearby on a bench and they offered to walk with the woman. A plan was made, coffee invites as a thank you were made, and I carried on. Well it's moments like this that remind me to make the most of what I've got. If I can try to make the world a better place by building a communication bridge wherever I am, and that's the most that I can do or offer, then that's good enough. For me. I dunno, just thought of the day that went full circle with doing a tutoring lesson with a trauma surgeon tonight that had a better grasp of a new study he found in English because we read it together. All the while, his 3 year old daughter kept asking me how to say colors in English as well. I love this.

--- This text from one of my "brothers" back in Texas :)

--- My dad might come visit in May. Once again, someone I love in my life that DESERVES an experience like this and I can only hope for the best.

--- I got a BASKET of fresh fruits and veggies, including the fact that mangos are now in season, for about 4 euro. Yay!

 --- Flamenco "season" has also started in Chiclana and we live across from the performance area so here's hoping for a great show this Friday. Other than this, I think it's safe to say everything is going really well and REALLY fast.