Feliz Navidad

I had no plans for Christmas this year, which actually isn´t very unusual considering I was raised Muslim and never celebrated the holiday. No one seems to understand that. In fact when I started telling my friends I was going to South America in December they all said "but you´re going home for Christmas right?" Sigh, then I´d have to go through the same tired explanation again...nope, not going home, nope my parents aren´t mad, nope never got any Christmas presents. But when Ramadan did come around I did get to fast for 30 days, so I guess it all evens out in the long run.

But this year Martha invited me to spend Christmas day with her family at their finca (basically a family farm). I´d heard stories about Colombians and their fincas and they all sounded amazing, so I jumped at the chance. But none of the stories I had heard prepared me for the day that followed.

We started out by taking the bus from Medellin to some random crossroads about an hour outside of the city. I spent the entire time gazing out the window in amazement. Martha always seems to think that´s weird, what´s the big deal? It´s just the outdoors. I guess when you live in paradise you tend to forget that some people live in Chicago.

We found Martha´s brother and his family at the predetermined meeting spot and piled into his 4-wheel drive jeep. 4 adults, 2 kids, not too bad. After about another hour we turned down what one might generously describe as a dirt road, and now I understood why that 4-wheel drive jeep was necessary. Another 1/2 hour and we were at the finca, among the most beautiful vistas I have ever seen.

What followed was the most amazing day of cooking and eating and drinking and eating and dancing and eating and laughing and eating. Martha has a large family. One mother who runs the show, 6 brothers, 2 of which are married with families of their own and a sister. In total, there were 11 adults, and 5 kids and one gringo.

Almost immediately the kids broke into their presents, the salsa music started playing and the empanadas starting frying. Then came the tamales, the maize pudding, the potatoes, the beef cutlets, the pork chops and of course brandy, brandy and more brandy! Everyone took part in the preparations, the cooking, the cleaning. I even got to lend a couple of hands.

As the day drew to a close the goodbyes and warm wishes went around. I was amazed by not only how close this entire family was, but how warmly and openly they welcomed me into their celebration. Then everyone who needed a ride piled into the jeep (count them, 6 adults and 4 kids, yes it was an exciting ride back) and headed home.

Throughout the day I kept thinking to myself this seems like a pretty good life. I suppose in order to enjoy something like this one would have to stop running long enough to put down some roots. Stranger things have happened.