La colada

Let me tell you about two fascinating ladies in Asturias. Chari on the left is the wife of Miguel's best friend Fernando. She is a French teacher and dance instructor. (Andalusian dance I think) Chari has traveled the world, she lets me play dress up in her gorgeous dance costume's, she always smells good and when she says "claro" and "si si" I want to speak just like her! Chari is so kind and responsible that she will always designate herself the driver, thus drinking chamomile tea and non alcoholic beers all night.

Carmen is a high school math teacher, she is quiet and lovely. When I speak my version of Spanglish she never corrects me and always seems to know what I am trying to say! We walk through the streets at night window shopping cosmetics, home furnishings and shoes. I smile at her and she smiles at me.

How I met my husband

No this is not my husband. This is the best friend of my husband, and the man that introduced us. Meet Fernando! In 2001 I was very blue over the fact that I still had not traveled to Ireland. It had been at the top of my to do list for many years.( I need to add that I hadn't traveled anywhere!) I found a lovely chat room Gallway Chat and visited with locals about everyday things, what they had eaten for lunch that day, the weather etc... During my visits I chatted and became friendly with a Spaniard that had better English than me! Over the months we exchanged photos via e-mail of our homelands, as Id never been to Spain nor he to the United States. He had sent me pictures of him and his friends in front of various castles and climbing Roman gold mines and drinking wine in outdoor bars... I sent him pics of main street USA etc. Anyway, one day we were chatting and he said "my best friend is online , would you like to meet him?" Miguel and I talked for maybe 8 hours that 1st time and everyday after that for several months. Eventually it was agreed upon that Miguel and I couldn't live without each other and it would be easiest for him to come to Kansas. He came with one suitcase. Within 90 days his visa was up and September 11th happened. (huge story here but no room.) Miguel and I would have gotten married anyway but the events of 9-11 and the panic it caused over people that looked different from Americans led to our marriage after only 3 months. Hey Fernando if you read this blog THANK YOU! MEETING YOU CHANGED MY LIFE. te echo de menos mi amigo.

Tudela Veguin Asturias

Echamos de menos a nuestros amigos y amigas de Veguín. Saludos para Carlos el químicu, Berto el Chispu, Chus, Minerva, Luis, Angelines, José, Pepín, Ana Belén, Ceci, Rafa, Ovi, Yoli, Nini, Eva, Blás, Gelín, Claudio y a todos los niños que hicieron que Tanner se sintiera en casa. Sentimos si se nos olvida algún nombre. Desde Kansas, mandamos un saludo para todos los veguinenses.

¡PUXA Asturias! ¡PUXA Veguin!