Doña Chila

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Doña Chila is an old friend of the family’s, her family was one of the first families in Valparaiso to have a telephone back in the 80’s.  Doña Chila would let people use her phone to send and receive calls from loved ones back in the U.S. (for a small fee of course).  When I was a child I remember heading over to here house on Sunday’s after church to wait in line and use the telephone to talk to my father who was in the U.S.  It always seemed like we waited forever and that the call would never arrive but when it did I sat on my mother’s lap and talked to my father about how much I missed him and how I was doing in school.  Doña Chila was also grandma’s first neighbor when she moved from the ranch she was born and lived in “Las Viudas/ The Widows” to Valparaiso. 

Now Doña Chila is 90+ years old and her health is less than optimal these days.  She lives with one of her daughter’s who is single and they both take care of each other.  Her daughter must go to work every day and as a consequence Doña Chila must stay home alone most of the day.  A few weeks ago her health got so bad the priest had to be called in to give her communion in bed and prep her for the afterlife.  She didn’t die but her daughter is so afraid to leave her alone now that she has asked grandma to check up on her and stay with Doña Chila during the day while she is at work.  Not having much to do during the day herself grandma takes her bible and whatever she’s knitting that week to her friends house and she sits, prays and knits while her old friend rests.  Today I had to accompany grandma to her new day job and I was less than pleased.  If I ever felt that my days were long and boring I was understating until now.  I sit on a couch and look at the people who walk by the window, I count them (32) and I look at what they are wearing.  I didn’t know that my days were going to be like this and I may soon run back to Ojocaliente.  In the afternoon a near by internet café opens and I leap the chance of getting out of the house to go read spam mail rather than have to endure this much boredom.    

Grandma’s sitting duties are over by 3 pm and I couldn’t be hungrier.  She surprises me by telling me that she has been asking around and that she knows of a hamburger place in town that sell burgers like back home.  I am less than pleased at the thought, in Ojo one of my aunts took me to a burger joint there and let’s just say it left me not wanting a burger for a while.  But grandma seemed so happy to be taking me I agreed to go.  The place is called “Los Simpsons” and I have to say it is by far one of the best burgers and fries I have ever eaten.  With the exception of Mexican ketchup which is very sweet, the entire meal was delicious.  Grandma had the chicken burger while I had the beef burger both were amazing and we both agreed to come here again while I am visiting her.  I haven’t finished digesting the first burger and I am already thinking about when I am going to have the second one.  I know I am fat, sue me!