Unfortunately fate has dealt us the ugly housing/horrible location/insect infested, card. We live back in the corner of housing, way off a dead end street. Where as other units surround small parks, ours is nestled against a "jungle". If it weren't for my wonderful neighbor Dacia, I would've probably found a desperate way a long time ago to get moved to another unit.
Abby's friend Karissa lives in an area that has a park. This is just a little bit down the block, and seems to be a "Mecca" for kids. There is constantly kids playing, and neighbors chatting. I am constantly jealous about the little community they've formed back there. Luckily they have made us honorary members, and were nice enough to include us in the gift exchange they planned for the neighborhood kids. The kids drew names a week ago, and we congregated at the park on Friday to have a little party. Some of the moms brought cookies and other snacks, while others brought the fixings to make hot chocolate (my favorite fixings were the ones that included peppermint schnapps and cool whip).
Both of the kids loved their gifts. Mateo got an action figure that came with a car, and Abby got a Hannah Montana purse that she could decorate herself.
As it grew darker, and colder one of the moms brought out a fire pit, and we huddled around roasting marshmallows. Mateo was having an overly independent moment and wouldn't let me help him with his Marshmallow. I was paranoid that he was going to swing his flaming confection at one of his friends sardined next to him, but luckily we avoided that nightmare.
It's easy to feel a little sad and complacent when away from your family and friends back home during the holiday season. But I've come to realize that everyone here is in the same situation, and we can fill that void by doing little things like this. I've been having a hard time with Christmas cheer this year, but I'm starting to feel the tingling of it.
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