Haitian frys - and Gerald’s Papa
24 February 2007Greetings from Haiti Children’s Home!
Yesterday, before Pat returned, (she was on vacation in the Dominican Republic) baby Gerald’s Daddy came to see him. Now, Gerald is my baby. I claim him. He’s 13 months old and the only 1 year old who has not been adopted yet. Anyway, I went downstairs to give him his medicine (he’s been fighting a cold) and there was this kind looking man sitting on the bench in the playroom holding my baby! I smiled at him and he nodded and waved. I watched them for a minute, Gerald seemed fine, but he was’nt necessarily delighted either. Eventually his Daddy put him on the floor to crawl around, but continued to smile as he watched his little boy. Some of the other kids warmed up to the stranger, and I went and gave Gerald his morning hug and play with him a little. The Daddy just smiled. With several of the kids climbing on me, after a while I managed to get up and take Gerald to sit by his Father. The man introduced himself “Papa” and pointed at himself and Gerald. I smiled. “You’re his Daddy?” he just nodded his head with delight. I felt sorrow for the Man. Gerald’s Mother must have died shortly after his birth. The Man, probably still grieving for his wife found so much happiness in just being near is son. He seemed to be longing to just take his little boy with him no matter what happend, but at the same time knowing that it was just better this way. If he took Gerald home, would he even live long enough to learn to read or ride a bike? Would he even have a chance to go to school if he did? No, it was just better this way… but it hurt. I tickled Gerald and he started giggling. He was in a good mood and warming up to his Father some more. The man kept smiling and pretty soon Gerald reached for him. I handed him over and after a few more moments nodded, got up and left to play with the other kids. The last time I peeked in, Gerald was asleep and his Papa was just holding him. My heart was tugged at again.
Haitian frys, (as Minnie and I call them) taste like french frys because in a sense, they are. The same ingrediants anyway. The difference? The way you cut the potatoes. Simply slice the potatoes like potato chips only thick. Deep fry in oil.
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