Before...

Brothers Rodrigo, Jose Maria, Carlitos - Santa Catarina Palopo, circa 1977

Amira and I depart for Guatemala and the above-named village

on Thursday, August 4.  This is the same little community where

 Linda and I spent most of the summers of 1977 and 1978; and

where Mike, Chuck, and I showed up on Christmas Day, 1977 -- 

after an epic bus journey through Mexico -- playing

 Santa Claus and his helpers.

Due to the long Civil War that worsened in Guatemala in

 the late 70s, we were unable to return, and by the time

 the conflict was finally settled (1996), we

 had other countries and other concerns on our minds.

 In any case, it will be unreal seeing all the good people (many of them

kids) that we got to know (and in some cases, have kept in touch with all

these years); and observing all the changes that have come about in this

utterly tranquil place, where fishing, farming, and weaving were the

 villagers' main occupations.  

Stay tuned for the AFTER photo....