Letter from Atitlan

From G: "I NEED AN ELENA TOO. LOVED THE PICS... love your art work on the wall."
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Dear G, You wrote: "I need an Elena too!" Yes, we ALL need an Elena! Another reason I live here. I pay her $1.00 an hour; that is TWICE the going rate. I got paid $1.05 an hour (minimum wage) when I was 16 years old in 1966. So they are 40 years behind the times here, pay wise, but since it's double what most get, she is very happy; so am I. It's much cheaper to live here. Wages are cheap, but some products are expensive, so it's not a "consumer culture" yet; handmade arts & crafts are high on the list.

Elena's daughter is 5 years old and as sweet as can be; there's nothing like a child's hug who is still "in love with the whole wide world" and all that is in it. Including me! She's started first grade this year and loves it because she can "play with her friends" and has learned her numbers in English and Spanish!

It's not my art work; I should have mentioned that. It's a gorgeous "primitive" style of overhead painting, in this case the coffee pickers. My computer table is in the top right hand corner where I am working right now.

No one needs to answer unless they have time or the inclination; I just don't want to leave anyone out. Send photos if you like! I think I'll set this up on an interactive blog when I have time so people can peruse and comment "at their leisure." I'll let you know when I get it done. Pam, you could send us some of your poetry / writing as well. I know you have it somewhere!

Your friend, Catherine

Catherine Todd
3007 Bent Tree Dr. Oxford NC 27565
H 919.693.0853 U.S. cell 919.605.0727,
Panajachel, Lake Atitlan, Guatemala cell (dial 011 from the U.S.) 502.5013.6300 or 4198.7184 (new 6-08)

For 2008:

"You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." — R. Buckminster Fuller, *Critical Path*

Words to live by: "Best of all is to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song." ~ Konrad von Gesner