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| Zanunga (mine) and Mole Negro (Fran's) at Biznaga Restaurant |
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| September 13 is Fran's Birthday, September 15 is Independence Day |
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| Cuautemoc poses with Fran on her birthday |
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| A friendly policeman (he was smiling until I raised the camera) and his dog helping Fran celebrate |
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| Tehanas helping Fran celebrate her birthday (we were walking to Biznaga up the Alcala) |
But wait! There are more photos! A few days ago her father and elder sister and nephew visited. I wanted to take portraits, going for a more focused view, rather than being distracted by color. Here are some of those:
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| My favorite picture of the bunch -- and I caught Fran's dad cracking a smile. This is her dad, her sister, and nephew. I will add their names as soon as Fran gets home and reminds me! My worst disability is remembering names. |
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| He looks very solemn, but that's just the way many men behave in front of a camera! Fran is not wearing glasses because she was just gifted with contact lenses for her birthday by her friend Luis Rene, El Dentista |
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| Fran, her father, and Lara Medina, our new friend and supporter from Los Angeles. |
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| Fran, her father, and me. |
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| Father and Daughter |
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| Fran's family, minus her mother (who has never ventured beyond Cuicatlan, the closest city to her remote pueblo) and her two brothers. |
Now for the progress report! Fran is not regretting that she changed her major. She is more engaged with the material and seems to have more in common with her fellow students. As usual she is learning as much, and probably more (life skills), outside of class. Lara Medina is staying with us for six weeks through Airbnb, and she has been a wonderful influence. A professor of Chicana/Chicano studies at CSU Northridge, she has exposed Fran to many new ideas and taken her to many places during her stay. They also paint watercolor pictures together in the evening. Their growing friendship is a beautiful thing to see, and I can see the effect it is having on Fran. I bought her the book written by Malala and she is reading it and discussing with Lara. Fran will be reading one book every couple of months to get her started, and hopefully to develop her own pleasure in reading. Lara will be Skyping her every so often to discuss the books, and to check in.
Lara also started a campaign for Fran because her expenses are rising, and there are 4 ½ more years to go. Donations are falling off a little, so I am reaching out again to make sure Fran is covered until the day of her graduation! Here is the website Lara started, and here is the Weebly website where you can also contribute. If each of you could reach out to a friend or two with this information, we would appreciate it so much. We are hoping to expand our network. And please don't forget to subscribe to this blog, and comment. It helps to know who is out there watching!
I'll be checking in a couple of times at least before the holidays. Days of the Dead are coming up fast, this weekend! Peace and Seasonal Greetings to you all!
