Sail - Sunday - August 24th

We asked Nelly, Martha and Mike to join us for a sail. Marcia's mother Nelly, is a wonderful gal.

To appreciate her more, here is a brief description of her life.

Born and raised in Bolivia under the strict watch of her mother, she fell in love with Hugo, a man from Bolivia, of German descent. Her mother did not approve. (Do any?) Nelly defied her mother, married Hugo, and went far off the to woods to start a lumber milling company. Martha came along, and then four years later, Marcia. -All- were extremely happy and Hugo was very successful.

He had an accident and was rushed to town and the doctor did not treat his ripped up leg properly, he contracted gangrene and died. Nelly had no choice but, Hat In Hand, go back to her mother, with a four year old and a baby, and moved back in. No where else to go.

She baked wonderful breads and pies and sold them from across her kitchen door. And mind you, this was from a wood stoked brick oven from the back yard! In time, she learned to be a bookkeeper which provided a better income.

A Catholic school was founded down the street and Martha and Marcia received a first rate education. Somehow, Nelly made it happen that Martha could attend an all girls Academy in Sinsinawa near quad cities. Which is now a home for retired nuns. We have made several trips there to visit those who actually taught the two girls. They are still alive and still there. Sr Madeline, Sr Guadalupe, Sr Mary Helen who are wonderful individuals. Marcia too, was sent to Minneapolis to attend Regina High School, an all girl Catholic School in Minneapolis and then attend the University of Minnesota.

Now ask yourself, "How would -you- do if this was your spot in life? Run off and marry a man your mother disapproved of, return as a widow with two small children, bake pastries from a backyard oven, learn to be a bookkeeper and also send two girls to school in America?" And in the poorest of countries within a strict Catholic family? Not easy. Not at all.

Later, Martha returned from school, started working for Gulf Oil, Nelly stopped working for the nuns, Martha married and Nelly has lived with them since then.

In the early 80's, all moved to Los Angeles. Then to Dallas and in 1992 to Woodbury, Minnesota. Here, mama still bakes and along the way decided to learn English and to pass her Naturalization test to become a US Citizen.

She studied hard and when the Judge asked her "In Spanish?". Mama answered, "No Sir, in English". She passed with flying colors answering questions I would have failed.

And, in the past ten years, she also has discovered Spanish TV and the Internet. Each day she goes to websites in Bolivia and surrounding countries to keep tabs on her native country. eMails and calls back home are frequent as well.

Marcia and Jon have sent cut flowers twice a month to honor her for over fifteen years. The Delivery is indeed a highlight and she does not answer the door unless she is properly dressed and with makeup etc.

Her health is good and she naps alot at 86.

She is one remarkable woman. Btw, we had a great sail as well ... Nelly really enjoyed her time on the lake.

Here are the images.

 

Mama. All set for wind, deck spray, sun and FUN!

 

Martha and Mike. Martha have never been on a boat before. Much less a tipping, bouncy sailboat.

 

We sailed most of the day between 10 and 20 degrees when we were into the wind.

A great sail it was.

Later ...