G for Guapo

I just had to tell this little story about G. I've mentioned before the facination that many people have over my children. G gets most of the attention. I think it's cute, complementry, intrusive and a little disturbing all at the same time. I mean, it is always nice to hear complements about your children - but here they are almost revered - and that bothers me. I don't want my sons to grow up thinking that blue eyes and fair skin is 'better' than any other color eyes or skin. It is certainly not what we teach them, and no one has so much as told them so, but there is this facination and attraction in them that they, and we can't help but recognize. All the kids around ask about them - especially the girls. In fact, I make a point to remind them that the color of someone's eyes is not what makes them beautiful - it is what is behind their eyes in their spirit that makes them beautiful or ugly. Still, the boys garner a great deal of attention.


To add to that, G is a curious child. He LOVES to be 'one of the guys'. If any man is working on anything, he HAS to be right in there learning, helping, being part of the action. C on the other hand would much rather be off in his own world imagining other worlds and stories in his mind. This curious and helpful nature of G's grants him even more attention. The men (and ladies for that matter) seem to love him. G is usually right in the middle of the action (unless it's especially dangerous) and sooner or later, he's picked up a tool or shovel and is pitching in.


Today's story is a perfect example of this. There are paving crews paving the road in front of our house. G was outside first thing watching them. I knew he was interested so I instructed him that he could watch from the grass and had to stay out of the way.

Time passes, and I decide to check on him. Now he's standing right beside the workers as the paver slowly moves along the fresh asphalt. The men don't seem to be bothered by him - in fact, they seem to enjoy his company. Still, I remind him to stay on the grass and he'll have to watch from a safe distance.


Time passes again, and I go out to look for him. The crews have moved down the road a bit, so I expect he is on the grass near where they are working. Hmmm..... I can't see him. I walk towards where they are working. I pass the boss on his motorcycle who motions that my son is there, but I don't see him still. Do you?
Then the nice guy in the red shirt points him out to me. True to his nature, there he is - right in the middle of the action.
The little rascal has worked his way into their hearts and onto their equipment. I check with the boss - no problem -they just want to be sure he stays off the road for his safety. G is grinning like a cheshire cat. G tells me that they offered that he could ride the machine when they are ready. I am unsure about this, so I stick around to watch what is happenning. When they need to move (whatever it's called - lets call it Rolly from Bob the builder), they tell him he has to get down - they don't want him to fall off. G complies without complaint and watches from the sidelines. G also informs me that he was 'helping' to shovel the asphalt. Hmmmm.
I made him come back to watch from in front of the house so I can keep an eye on him. As I am watching from the balcony window, one of the gravel truck drivers stop in front of our house to talk with G. I watch/listen to make sure everything is ok. Yep, they just wanted to chat with the cute little guapo (handsome) boy. In fact, I overhear G invite the driver to go out to the beach to go swimming - to which the driver responds, "Sorry, I have to work. See you later!" Sure enough, a while later I see him in the middle again- so he gets sequestered inside the house. That's the end of that adventure - or at least until they are back to pave the other side of the road.


So -in addition to the cute story about my impetuous son, it always amazes me just how kind and friendly the people are here. He was never in any danger - they made sure of that and I knew he would be safe- but there is no way he would have had this opportunity with unknown workers in Canada or US. He would simply be 'in the way'. Not only was he not in the way, but they were enjoying the experience almost as much as he was.


Machetis are another facinating tool for G. They are everywhere here, and people leave them lying around. We have threatened him with all kinds of punishments to keep him from wielding one. So far, the temptation has turned out to be too great for him- the punishment is worth the price apparently. Even explaining that the Machetis can cut off a limb does not seem to phase him. Habanero Sauce is the next level.......


Mexico is almost taylor made for G. There is so much to do around here. He gets the opportunity to see all kinds of trades and work and loves every minute of it.