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A few more pix from my adoptive moms’ trip to Guatemala, from Antigua during Lent, in the weeks leading up to Good Friday and SemanaSanta. The beautiful La Merced, Hermano Pedro and Cathedral churches; the el Viejo Cafe man decked in purple; the vendor extraordinaire Ruth with her wares; blooming bougainvillea and the fountain in the Square. No trip for me is complete without a few hikes up the Hill of the Cross; and a visit to a new discovery, the National Museum.
Hermano Pedro Church, named for Guatemala’s first saint The faithful praying outside La MercedView from the Hill of the Cross over AntiguaWindow with purple bunting and motorcycle Antigua’s most famous vendor, the multi-lingual RuthThe Cathedral at the Square decked in Lenten purpleA carved stone jaguar on view at the National Museum on the SquareEl Viejo in his purple chef’s hat. El Viejo Cafe is one of our favorites; fabulous breakfast and lunchFlowers!And fountain in the Square, decorated with flowers to celebrate Antigua’s 480 years
My 20-year-old daughter Olivia often says the reason she likes hanging out with other kids adopted from Guatemala is they share similar backstories and don’t need to explain anything. I feel the same way about my Guatmamas: We understand one another in a deep, intuitive way that feels instant and without judgement.
Which is why when one of the people I admire most in the world, Leceta Chisholm Guibault, announced an adoptive moms’ trip to Guatemala—Team Women with Purpose–I signed right up. Leceta and her son Alexander founded “OUR Guatemala: Travel with Purpose” homecoming and service trips as a way for families to connect with birth country and give back. I’m told kids and teens who meet through OUR Guatemala continue to text and communicate ever after; living proof of one of my favorite quotes by an adoptee: “Our homeland is each other.”
Our group visited sponsored students and projects at The Backyard School in San Bartolome; shared stories about meeting our babies in the lobby of the Westin Camino Real Hotel; lounged at a spa in Santa Teresita; sang karaoke in Monterrico; basked in the grandeur of Lake Atitlan; learned about weaving and medicinal plants and herbs in San Juan la Laguna; and did our part for Antigua’s retail economy. All hotels, transportation and most meals were included.
We bonded over love for our children and desire to engage more fully with the beautiful and complex country of Guatemala. Some of us speak Spanish fluently; others (like me) continue to develop skills. We are nurses, teachers, administrators, therapists, writers, physicians, lawyers, IT workers, entrepreneurs, and retirees. For some, this was a first trip back; others hold passports crowded with Guatemalan stamps.
We laughed and we cried, listened and were heard. We’d met only six days earlier, but by the end of the week, hugged goodbye like trusted, old friends. These smart, funny, creative, and dedicated Guatmamas will forever hold a place in my heart.
Hotel lobby where we met OliviaLogged many hours walking up and down this hallwayMany scenes in my memoir Mamalita take place at this swimming pool. (!!!!)Welcome from The Backyard School in San Bartolome GuatemalaIrish girl / dermatologist’s wife at Oceana resort in MonterricoHotel Atitlan with volcanoes in PanajachelInterior of Hotel Atitlan. Note the rug in foreground from MomostenangoSan Juan la Laguna weaving demonstration at Casa Flor IxcacoWeaving on a backstrap loom, named for the belt across hips to support the weaverSan Juan Bautista church; structure in foreground is old; new construction behind itSan Juan la Laguna midwife and healerEating our favorite snack, Tortix LimonEntrance to the world’s best indie bookstore, Antigua BooksView of Antigua cathedral and Guatemalan flag from rooftopDinner with Team Women with PurposeA thrill to find Mamalita and Mother Mother on the shelf at Antigua Books
The four of us headed to San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre to see the musical SIX, by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss.
The story is told from the point of view of six women–Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr–better known collectively as the “six wives of Henry the Eighth.”
But after watching the show, I no longer think of these women as anonymous members of a collective, but as unique, talented, powerful individuals, each deserving of her own story.
Olivia and Mateo joined us–no photos of them, unfortunately–and loved it as much as Tim and I did. Captivated might be a better word. The show runs 80 minutes without an intermission and almost without taking a breath. The singing and dancing are spectacular, plus we all learned a lot we didn’t know. I call that a tough act to pull off.
SIX plays at the Orpheum through March 19, 2023. See it if you can!
Adoptees with Guatemalan Roots is hosting its 4th annual conference in Washington DC from Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7. Open to Guatemalan adoptees 18 years and older, this event is a fantastic way to connect and bond with others who share a similar story.
A conference fee of $50 includes a ticket to attend; conference t-shirt and lanyard; breakfast on Saturday; and snacks and beverages throughout the weekend. Dinner on Friday night and brunch on Sunday will be at a restaurant reserved for the group; those meals are not covered with the conference fee.
The Residence Inn by Marriott Arlington Capital View offers a special discounted room rate of $159 and $179, but you don’t have to stay in the hotel to participate. If interested, book your room here.
On Saturday, I attended my first-ever meeting with the California Writers’ Club Mt. Diablo branch, to hear guest speaker Kevin Fisher-Paulson. Kevin is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist and author of “How We Keep Spinning” and “A Song for Lost Angels,” two memoirs read and cherished by our adoption book group; as well as father of two and commander of the honor guard for the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department. Fun fact I know from reading Kevin’s work: Kevin’s husband Brian, also in attendance, is a former Broadway dancer and dance teacher. Did I happen to let it slip my mother was a Radio City Music Hall Rockette? Only within the first two minutes of conversation. 😉
The afternoon was a delight, and the CWC a welcoming and supportive group. I asked Kevin to sign his books and he graciously obliged; here I am with Brian and Kevin at the signing table.
