Dance Lest We All Fall Down - Margaret Willson [65]
We have about $1000 from the meetings on Vashon and in Seattle and currently have $225 a month committed for Juliana. We are sending out grant applications to cover the tutoring program for four other girls and to cover administration costs. Eduardo’s (our Vice President) band Show Brazil has also donated their time for a benefit concert at the Tractor Tavern.
With all this activity, I have total confidence that we shall find the support for Juliana. Regardless, we have committed to her and in no circumstances will we let her down. In a worst-case scenario (which I don’t think will happen) I have committed to pay whatever shortfall we may have in her expenses.
Let me tell you about Juliana herself. Her mother died about six years ago (there has never been a father mentioned), and she and a younger brother are being brought up by an older sister. They live in a shantytown about an hour from the center of town and about an hour from the school she is attending. However, the bus service to her new school is excellent—one of the reasons we chose it—so she can get a single bus direct from her house to a half a block from the school. Juliana was able to be admitted to the school because, through a redevelopment project, she received a scholarship to a private school in her area for the first four years of schooling. This was a much lower standard school, but Juliana is bright and this earlier opportunity allowed her enough schooling to make the present opportunity possible for her.
So, onward. I would be delighted to speak before any group you think might be interested in Bahia Street. If any of you know of anyone you think would like to donate or volunteer for Bahia Street, please let me know. We need people to help with the benefit and many other bits and pieces. We are particularly looking for a volunteer lawyer and accountant. I shall be teaching Tuesday through Thursday, so expect me to return your calls on Mondays and Fridays.
And again, I want to express how much your support of Bahia Street means.
um abraço (a hug),
Margaret
fifteen
letting the outer skin be social
I was in my office after teaching an evening class at my new job at a university in Portland, three hours south of Seattle. I had just started. My plan was to commute, spending four days a week in Portland, and the rest in Seattle working on Bahia Street. I set down my pen and stared at the wall. I sat immobile for a long time.
What am I doing here? I thought. Why do I think this job is so important I had to come anyway? I should be in Seattle.
I had already canceled my first two classes of the term. Jill was going in for yet another operation. I went to the hospital, and her husband let me sit with her for a while. Jill opened her eyes and smiled at me. “Oh, Margaret,” she said, “I’m glad you’re here.” Then she closed her eyes again.
And that was the moment I realized that she was dying. Somehow I never expected this to happen. All the way, I kept expecting she would come through. I knew few people as strong as Jill, with such spirit, such strength and courage. Somehow I never faced the fact that she could actually die.
I got up from her bedside, wiping from my chin tears I could not control. Her husband took my place. He wasn’t crying. How could he not? I realized it was because he had already known for some time. His pain was beyond tears. He knew he had limited time in which to give his love to her. He could cry later.
We stood in the hospital hallway as they rolled Jill to her operation. She