The Curtain Closes

On the stage of life, Casa de Esperanza has been quite a production.  What kind of production, you ask.  At times it has been a comedy or a comedy of errors.  Other times a drama.  A mystery.  A horror show.  A documentary.  Reality show.  Probably a few more if I thought about it.

The last couple of weeks, thousands of memories have flooded my mind.  Beach trips and the looks on the faces of the children the very first time they saw the beach and the water.  How much fun we had on those trips.  And how much work they were.  It usually took me 3 years to want to do it again.  Thanksgivings.  Christmases.  Graduations.  Mother's day programs.  Late night trips to the emergency room.  Emergency surgeries.  Broken bones.  One child drowning and being alive to tell about it today.  Tears over parents not coming to visitation.  Holding their hands and praying.  Lost keys.  Stolen mangos.  Sitting in the counselor's office and holding hands with one them as they sobbed out their story.  Zip lines in the trees.  And more broken bones.  Villa Navidena and hot chocolate.  Burning the old man.  How scared and confused each child was as they entered Casa de Esperanza for the first time.  How they eventually learned to love and trust us.  Birthday parties.  When Santa Claus came a couple of years ago.  The carnival and the clown and popcorn and cotton candy.  Lost homework.  Bicycles for Christmas.  How one child was hurt really badly and the others sat with tears streaming down their faces.  Taking three little guys into the hospital at the same time for appointments.  I have been here ten years.  I could list memories for hours.


There have been tears and hugs for weeks.  Today there were more tears and more hugs.

I had to leave to go to DINAF.  I left people cleaning and emptying my house.  I got back at 5:00.  Five people( employees that have become friends) were waiting outside the gate.   We cried.

As I drove away from Casa for the very last time, I heard the music fade, I saw the lights dim and the curtains close on a great production.  I cried.

A piece of my heart will always be with these children that I have loved so much.  Through the good times, the bad times, anger and tears, love and forgiveness, what a production this has been.