Ring the bell . . .

. . . and a Mother will attend to you. Or, at least, that's how it works with the Madres. Visit very successful yesterday, very interesting. Didn't have to go through all the bureaucratic hoops I've had to go through with so many organizations. With the Madres, there's a very welcoming cafe and bookstore surrounding an inner area called the "casa de las madres" and, if you ask, people will simply tell you, ring the bell and a Mother will attend to you. Sure enough, that's the way it works. Have an open invitation to go back and meet with the others on a one-to-one basis later this week and following. Also have meetings set up with the Abuelas and one of their lawyers next week (Monday and Wednesday). Plan executing nicely.

I was having such an interesting conversation with the Madre before me (Nadia), that I had to keep reminding myself, "this woman is here because she lost a child and very possibly a grandchild and she's been at this every single day for about 30 years or so". It's a strange feeling to finally meet people in the flesh you've only ever read about; can't really imagine what they've been through. Anyways, I'm invited to their weekly march around the Plaza de Mayo this Thursday, so there's that too.

Just got back from my first walk/run in ages. Maid just left. All in all everything fine on this end. Everyone's going ga-ga over the World Cup/El Mundial and I've decided to plunge head first into the spirit myself. Games start Thursday. Can't decide b/w Brasil (my old home country) and Argentina (my new home country); and, of course, there's also the US and Italy and England (intermediate home countries) to think of, so I guess I'll just hope for good matches all round. Makes for a more interesting World (Cup).

B.