A Pedal Away

Great news my friends. My short story "A Pedal Away," has been published. After returning to my homeland Nicaragua twenty-one years after exile, I met a special boy. At that time the boy was one of the many homeless children that lived in one of the largest landfills, La Chureca. The day I entered the landfill of eternal despair, my life changed and I made a promise. "Tourists come and go, take my pictures and say they will tell the world about me, but I know they don't," the boy said while telling me his story. My throat knotted at the impotency of sitting next to him and not being able to relieve his hunger, fear and overall sense of abandonment. It was then that I made a promise. " I will write your story for the world to know," I said to the boy not knowing if I would be able to keep it--the publishing part that is. Now my story is out in Spain and I will soon receive my copy to share with all of you. A life well-lived is one where our hearts reach out to others without expecting a return.

Haiti

Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the Americas, second to Haiti. These two countries share an unfortunate fate of poverty and now earthquake tragedies. Nicaragua's 1972 earthquake, along with war, greed and corruption left the country devastated and with a heart-shattering calamity. For instance, how can we explain innocent children living in landfills like "La Chureca?" It is my honest belief that as one family that share Mother Earth, we must help each other overcome the perils of misfortune. A single gesture of affection, care and solidarity goes a long way in countries that at times, seem to be forgotten by the rest of the world. As we can see, nothing remains the same, for today we might be on top of the tallest peak and tomorrow we might find ourselves in the abyss of the sea.