My Friend, Fernando

SEEING THE SUN

BY PAUL KLEIN

All my life I prayed for a miracle: to have a voice. My thoughts were mine alone, and that is the loneliest thing on earth. The first day I met Judy was like the first day I saw the sun. Within minutes I was talking to her on the laminate. I could talk! My world opened up, like a flower unfolding. Now all those thoughts that were trapped inside are bubbling out, like a soda can that’s been shaken. What is more precious than talking? What is more precious than friends? What is more precious than sharing who we are with each other?

2/6/2025 0 Comments

My Friend, Fernando

Fernando is a bartender at our little bar at the polo fields. Visitors come to watch polo tournaments and order drinks or coffee. He is the coolest guy I ever met. He makes me the best drinks! I certainly love the maracudja [passion fruit] he makes! He is an expert in making the Brazilian drink, caipirinha. [This is a Brazilian cocktail, with cachaca (which is a hard liquor made from sugarcane), sugar, lime and ice.]

Fernando has a girlfriend named Sheila, who is also Brazilian. They are the perfect couple. They are always happy and very nice to me. It is always great to be around them. They are only here until March and then they go back to Baia - and I go back to America.

Fernando tells me great stories about his country. He loves fishing and his mom comes along with him. I asked him a little more about himself:

P: How many brothers and sisters do you have?
F: I have 5 sisters and 2 brothers.So there are 8 of us in total.
P: What do you miss from Brazil?
F: I miss my 3 dogs and the beach. The water at the beaches are warmer than here where I’m from in Brazil. What do you miss most from America?
P: Going to Mouth to Hand! What is your dream city?
F: Singapore. What is your dream city?
P: I don’t have one special city, but I want to see kangaroos in Australia.