The Invitation that Changed my Life

As told to Glenda Martin Roman by Jesus Lopez-Vega

Walking the cobblestone streets of my village when I was a boy of seven, I passed the old house that once was my grandmother’s. From behind the walls, I heard the laughing of children. I peeked through the gates. I could see nothing. So I sneaked through them. I thought no one would see me. I went on exploring, seeking to follow the laughter out of my vision.

At last, I could see through the shade of the portico far to the back at the patio. There were kids of all ages, sitting at long tables. But what were they doing? I went to spy. At last, I could tell. They were painting! Laughing and painting. I wanted to be closer, see more, and play.

As I passed a doorway, I heard the rustling snap of a newspaper. I looked in and saw a room I remembered. Surprisingly different, it was covered with shelves from floor to ceiling with more books than I had imagined existed. There was a big desk where sat an old gringa lady. From behind her newspaper, she asked me in Spanish, “What do you want?”

I did not know what to answer, so I didn’t.

“Do you want to paint?” she asked.

“Si,” I answered, because it was suddenly true, though I still wondered if I could fit in.

“Good,” she said. “But first you will sit here for fifteen minutes. You will do your homework. Then you will paint.”

So I sat, did my homework, and joined the tables of painting, happy children.

I have painted here in Ajijic, the village of my family, for forty years now. [Editor’s note: Today, that remarkable journey spans more than fifty years.] I have made a fulfilling good life and a living, once given the tools and a chance. For these, I am most grateful.

The woman described in this vignette was Angelita Aldana, the 1st art teacher at Neill James’s Biblioteca Publica and the year was 1969.