Ecuador 7: Abuelita y Abuelito

I haven't talked much about the grandparents. Berta and Gil. Both missing many a tooth and shining with joy. Berta cooks for about 10-12 people for every meal, and does it with more love than anyone I've ever met. She very carefully selects which person will get which part of the chicken, more cucumber salad or the biggest glass of cola. She is so meticulous and careful and very calming. Gil tends the farm, even at his old age, and watching him swear at the pigs and dogs in Spanish was endlessly entertaining. After a long days work, you can usually find him in the hammock napping with his dog "Espot" (like Spot, get it?) by his side. Both of them love to just sit in front of the house, watching the shoeless man and other local characters pass by. The shoeless man is in his 80s and has never worn shoes in his entire life. He thinks he'll live longer...so far, he's right. I would sit on the porch with them for hours, and it was one of my favorite parts of the day. We would chat, sit in silence, whatever. But the best was when Grandma patted me on the knee and said "Ah, Sarita" with a sigh.