Things You Can't Live Without

It is truly amazing what we think we can't live without. I have actually made a list for the next time we have an air shipment so we wouldn't be "roughing it" where ever we go next. Here is the list:

Things you May want to Include in an Air Shipment

1. One place setting for each person: plate, bowl, cup, and silverware set
2. One pot and one pan and one cookie sheet
3. Basic cooking utensils: spatula, slotted spoon, mixing spoon, garlic press, bread knife
4. Cutting board and butcher knife
5. Ziploc bags and/or freezer bags in various sizes
6. Reynolds wrap
7. Coffee/tea pot and cup
8. Toaster
9. Kitchen towels and pot holder
10. Your entire medicine cabinet
11. A set of towels for each person
12. A set of sheets for each bed plus pillow and comforter
13. A variety of toys for kids (not just one thing like Legos, they will get bored)
14. Game system (Wii, Xbox)
15. Sport equipment: football, baseball and bat, roller blades
16. A variety of clothes for warm and cold weather and anything in between
17. Your hobby (i.e. knitting or beading)
18. All of your computer wires, wireless router, and electronic chargers (iPod, camera, video camera, phone, Kindle/Nook)
19. A home telephone
20. A variety of DVDs for both kids and adults

Look, I even titled it. I would also include on that list JIF Peanut Butter and as much Cheerios as possible.

So these are the things that make life hard to live without. Ricardo has said many times that I bitch too much and I should be thankful. Which is totally true. But I am actually extremely grateful and thank God everyday for the opportunities he has given me and my family. I look outside at the beautiful blue sky and thank God for the day. Or look out when it is rainy and cold and thank God that we have a warm place to live and my family is alive and healthy.

Because you look around Sao Paulo and you see that the city has two distinct classes, those who have and those who have not. This holiday weekend we went to the Rodeo Drive of Sao Paulo - Oscar Freira. It was very nice, and we enjoyed walking around. Then we head back to our car and a lady is sitting on the side of the street with her young child or grandchild (don't know which). She was sitting there when we got there, and has not moved in the time we were gone. The child was maybe 4. And that is all the stimulation that young mind will have that day.

Then as we head out anywhere and have to get on the highway - The Marginal as they call it here - there is a street that you drive down where the people live in cardboard boxes. I have seen a few smoking crack when we have driven by. Which you would say is why they are on the street. But that is not the reason for all of them.

Then yesterday I am at Sam's Club with my friend. We are loading up about $1000 Reais ($500 US) of food and purchases into the bulletproof car between the two of us. Along comes a guy on crutches. This is probably more food than he has seen in 6 months. I have no idea what he is saying, but I can figure it out. He is begging. Now I have passed people before and not given them money, usually when I don't have anything or nothing readily in my pocket. But I just couldn't morally fill this car with food and not give him anything. So I take a R$10 out of my purse and give it to him and say good day. Now some will read this and say I should not have given him anything, that it will go to drugs or something. But how do you know? Statistically it is quite possible, but there is always that other percentage where he actually really needs it for food. He couldn't stop thanking me and blessing me and I could not figure out why. Then when we got in the car Beth asked how much I gave him. R$10. Why? Well usually people only give him 10 cents or so - he's not going to know what to do with that much money. But that R$10 is really only $5 US to me, a Starbucks coffee. Plus it was the smallest bill I had in my wallet.

Now I am not trying to brag or pat myself on the back. Please do not think that. But as I organized my closet yesterday and my boys were thanking me for the M&Ms I bought them I could not help but think of that gentleman. Does he have a place to live? Will he use the money for food? Does he have kids like mine that need that money? And I think, I can give my kids piano lessons, Jiu Jitsu classes, a private school. And as I drink my coffee and look out from my balcony to the Favela across the highway, I thank God for everything He has given me and I promise that I will try to not bitch as much for the things I think are inconveniences.