a friend of mine died, leaving five young children behind
home ··> table of contents ··> article

Ramona was not yet thirty. She had five children, the eldest eleven and a baby two years old. Angelica was her second. I've known Ramona for years. She worked at restaurants I went to before she married.

Ramona, Angelica and
her two brothers.

She lived behind me next to the mountain, at the end of a convoluted path. I would often see her and her children as they walked to and from home. It is said her husband, Manuel, "tiene otra mujer" (has another woman). Many Mayan men do.

Angelica struck me as a bright child and when a church group in Kansas City offered to sponsor two Mayan children in our international school, I suggested her. She has done well. Her English is quite good.

The body was taken to the funeral
in an enormous Buick.

I knew Ramona was sick. She had uterine cancer, but she said she was getting better; that the treatment was working. It's so utterly sad. The children don't understand, for them the worst is yet to come.

Ramona's home.

I happened to be at the school when Manuel showed up looking for money for a kidney transplant. He eventually decided to take Ramona home. He realized that what little money there was, was best spent on morphine. A week later she died.

The service was held in an evangelical church. Many non-evangelicals sat outside.

Table of Contents·Hotels·Affiliate Sites·Links·Contact Us·About Us·Maps·Location·Home

Lake Atitlan Resort Association ~ Tropical Travel Association
Barrio Jucanya - Panajachel, Guatemala 01070 ~ Guatemala tel: ++502 5583 8328
U.S. tel: 347 273 9596 email me

© 2007 Duncan Aitken ...however, students and teachers
are encouraged to use anything that is mine on Atitlan.com. Please go to the copyright page to learn more.