few last things

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The gym is in a transitional neighborhood.  There are some very poor people and very wealthy who are fixing up the old houses and moving into the area.  One of the things that the gym is doing is teaching some of the neighborhood youth to box.  these three are three of the younger and most fun to watch.  You know who is one of their favorite teachers.  He is a little loud - they like that- a little energetic- they like that - very large - they like that- seems to genuinely like them - they like that- and when he boxes himself, works hard and hits the punching bag very hard -- and they like that too. 

The effort is there, just the concept of following instructions I think a little new- as is right and left hand- notice below- , and so it is a hoot to watch them try oh so  hard.- and the little boys do want to get it right.--

the guy who has been coaching me also coaches these boys and I have worked with these kids some too.  One afternoon,  I saw one of them (the small one top left) on the street as he was coming home from school, we fist bumped, as boxers do, upon passing, and you should have seen him smile.-- me too.

And now for a quick random subject change -- see this four flat tire abandoned van.  it is parked on our street just down from the apartment building.  Patt and I noticed it looking kind of forlorn and wondered how long it would stay.

Well actually it is a food preparation station.  This woman serves meals from it all day long.  Another van comes by with refills for food during the day.-- things are not necessarily what they seem.  Construction workers from all around come in droves.

Continuing the not what they seem theme, -- Take for instance this group of women with me below.  They look a little wild, and crazy.  They are not.   It is actually a book club.  Serious book club.  Yes indeedy this very day was their first meeting and Stephen and I happened by towards the end of the meeting, well they insisted and so I was in a picture with them.

As the book club meeting was to continue, Stephen, another husband and I went down the street to the " Cuban Bar"  - right behind me - - inviting looking place, huh, -- and so who did I get to take the picture.

This guy did.  One of the Presidents honor guards for the presidential palace which is just a couple of blocks away.  (This is absolutely the shortest soldier I saw while here.)  But a serious one.  One more for the I'll talk to just about anyone category.  Spanish is not my second language yet, but we are working on it.

And the inside of the place, -- real interesting too.  not your every day kind of place you would find in a mall or outparcel or some uptown place, but it would do really really well in any of those places.

Family photo of my hosts much of the time I was here

And my goodness but this has been so nice.

I look forward to a quick return