Interview transcript

This interview was conducted on November 11th, 2013. I spoke with Maria, Concepcion’s youngest daughter, and with Concepcion. Throughout the transcript, I abbreviated Concepcion’s name to C and I addressed myself as Me.

Concepcion Monge interview

Maria: Hello?

Me: Hi is this Maria?

M: uh huh.

Me: Oh Hi, this is Brittany, Evelin’s friend.

M:yes, uh huh. She told me that you were gonna call to talk with my mom.

Me: Yes

M: ok. uh don’t forget that my mom is 97 so you have to be very slow

Me: ok

M:ok, here she is.

Me: Ok

C: hi

Me:hi

C: how are you?

Me: I’m doing good

C: So am I

Me: that’s good

C: uh huh

Me: My name is Brittany, I’m in college right now and I’m doing a project where we interview people and get their stories about how they immigrated to the United States

C: Oh

Me: would it be ok if I could interview you and use your story?

C: Yes, but uh… you have to forgive me because I have to think what I’m going to say.

Me: that’s not a problem

C: ok

Me: Ok, so I just have a couple of questions for you

C: yes

Me: if I could ask first what is your name and how old are you?

C: My name is Co- Concepcion Monge M-O-N-G-E

Me: i’m sorry can you say that again?

C: My last name is Monge M O N G E

Me: Ok.

C: uh huh

Me: And How old are you?

C: how old?

Me: yes

C: 96… (can hear Maria in the background saying “7”) 97 97

Me: wow, i feel very blessed to be able to talk to you

C: Thank you

Me: I just have to, um, for my class I have to have you agree to have me interview you, and say that you give me permission to use your name and your interview for research and publication

C: yes

Me: ok

C: I agree

Me: Now I’m gonna ask you some different questions

C: ok

Me: what country are you originally from?

C: Mexico

Me: Oh cool, where from in Mexico?

C: Cananea Mexico

Me: and where is that

C: Cananea is… I don’t know, It’s in Mexico. Sonora Mexico

Me: And when did you come to the United States?

C: 19… (can hear Maria and Concepcion talking in the background, but can’t make out what is being said) 19 (Maria suggests a number, Concepcion says “no. I was born in” and fades out) 1924. 1924. I could not remember.

Me: it’s ok. How old were you when you came?

C: I was about 5.

Me: mm hmm

C: when I came to the United States.

Me: Do you remember the trip?

C:No. (gets quiet)

Maria: She was 8 years old.

Me: she was 8?

Maria: 8 years old when she came over here. 1924, she was born in-

Me: Ok.

Maria: uh huh

Me: Thank you. And, um, Concepcion, do you remember what the journey from your home in Mexico was like to getting to your home in the United States?

C: Well, we, my parents, my father, I still had my father and he was uh immigrated. My Mother and me. Because he had to have his papers. He was working at the smelter.

Me: ok, and you guys came to be with him?

C: yes

Me: where did you first live when you came to the United States?

C: Douglas, Arizona

Me: oh cool, is that where you are still living at today?

C: I’m still living here

Me: how, what was it like coming to the United States? Was it different from your life back in Mexico?

C: What do you mean?

Me: ummm… did you have a-

C: I, I, I came through through Agua Prieta Sonora, through the border

Me: ok, was living in Douglas

C:in Douglas

Me: different than how you lived back in your…

C: I had my education here in Douglas.

Me: Can you tell me about that?

C: well I went to the school until I finished. My school here at Salamale school. Salamale

Me: and, did you…

C: in those days we didin’t have the other schools, we just graduate from one school. 9th grade

Me: and you finished all the way to the 9th grade?

C: Yes, Ma’am

Me: that’s awesome! Ok, Concepcion, what I really want to know is about your life. So anything that you want to tell-

C: like from when i was young or now that I’m old? Because I am old now, 97, 97 and I’m in a rest home. I have no, I had my 2, my 1, 2, 3, 4, funerals, here within the last months. I’m alone now and I’m in a rest home.

Me: would you be comfortable telling me about your life starting when you were little?

C: yes, I had very good teachers at Salamale School and they, they, they took care of me because I was so thin and they were afraid something might happen to me. They called me every morning at 930 go in and take a glass of milk. I finished my school here in Douglas.

Me: mmm hmmm

C: and I worked very hard also, in the fields, in houses, until I got married at 19.

Me: uh huh

C: Now I finished my school, I finished my education here in Douglas too. But I didn’t keep on going to school because they started the… the depression. The big depression we had in the 30’s. So i had to start working in the fields. In cotton, in lettuce, all my lie I’ve been here in Douglas now.

Me: mm hmm

C: now I’m 97. I don’t know if I’ll finish here. I expect to go to heaven pretty soon because I’ve been sick.

Me: Oh no!

C: yes.

Me: how long have you been sick?

C: I’ve been here in this place for a month. (hear Maria in the background talking but can’t make out what is said) 3 months.

Maria: It’s not a rest home, it’s assisted living.

Me: ok

Maria: she’s still got her memory and she can do everything by herself.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: ok?

Me: ok. Umm Concepcion?

C: yes?

Me: would you mind telling me about some of your, do you have memories about living in Mexico?

C: living in mexico?

Me: yeah.

C: well I just remember a little about Pancho Villa, the revolution they had. uh… that’s all that i can remember, I was so little.

Me: would you mind telling me about that? or do you just remember being there during the revolution?

C: the Revolution. And I remember that we used to follow him, because he was the hero of Mexico. It was a little town. Agua Preita, it was a, where that war started and there was Pancho Villa. And every time he came to town we used to follow him and running and making noise so that the people will know that he was around here in town.

Me: that’s awesome

C: because I didn’t go to school in Mexico until we, my mother and my father, we came to Douglas. We came over here and I started in Kindergarten in Douglas.

Me: Mmm hmmm

C: I was very happy there.

Me umm so, Did your parents come over first and then come get you or did you-

C: We all three, my mother, my father, and me, we came here to Douglas because my father was working at that smelter. We had a little smelter where people, they would do work

Me: mmm hmm and how did you get from Mexico to the United States? did you drive?

C: we Immigrated. let’s see he immigrated my mother and then we moved to Douglas.

Me: ok but how did you travel?

C: walking

Me: you walked? Do you remember-

C: Yes
Me: can you tell me about that?

C: well, we my mother, we- well in those days we didn’t know who had a car, and they weren’t mostly cars. There were two horses and they had one that brought me to the line. The line is where the immigration, how, was. So then we got there, so they asked questions. My father, he answered the questions and then we crossed to Douglas. I was very happy here in Douglas, because the people, they are very friendly.

Me: mmm hmm. Did you make a lot of friends when you first came?

C: Yes. Not like today, that they expect… you know the people now they don’t like that these people, they raise, they don’t know. We were all friendly.

Me: how do you feel about that now?

C: So much different. Much, especially since now everybody is using drugs, the teenagers.

Me: mmm hmm

C: during the line you know, they are using drugs and alcohol. They’re racist, they don’t love colored people, they don’t love Mexicans, they don’t love the other races. The life is hard here. I’m getting ready to go. I’m ready to go and rest forever.

Me: uh huh. Concepcion-

C: I lost here in Douglas, I lost my mother, my father, my son, my daughter, everyone. I’m here alone in a rest home. (can hear Maria and Concepcion talking. Concepcion is softly crying)

Me: Concepcion Can you tell me about… What i want to do with this project, is I want to make it for your family. So that way your memory can live on, when you do pass, although i hope it’s not for a while. Is there certain stories you want to tell me so that I can keep them, preserve them for your family. Anything you want me to keep for them, like stories wise?

C: well I don’t have a big family now. It was just my husband, me and 1,2,3, and a sister. and 3 daughters and one boy. I remember about Pancho Villa, the Hero of Agua Prieta. He was a revolutionary. I remember that we would follow him because when he came, he was using a trumpet to call the people. All the things I do remember, but not anymore. My family, I don’t have a big family that I could know.

Me: mmm hmm. What about, what was it like to get married?

C: I got married when I was 24. Because I was working to hard to help my parents.

Me: mmm hmm

C: I worked in the office of the doctors, I cleaned the office of the doctors. But I was, they paid me good and they treat me right because I was, you know there were not many people who learned, that knew English.

Me: mmm hmm

C: and the people that crossed from the line, they speak, you know English, not much.

Me: Where did you learn English? Did you know it growing up in Mexico? Or did you learn it when you moved to Douglas?

C: Yes, when i moved to Douglas, because I went to school through the 9th grade.

Me: ok

C: Salamale School.

Me: what about being a citizen? did you get your citizenship from the United States?

C: Yes, I went to, no. It’s about, about, maybe 8 or 9 years I went for my citizenship.

Me: can you tell me about getting your citizenship? What did you have to do?

C: I had to study and then have to, to go to the the University here for the, to answer questions and I had to raise my hand to to, I had to promise that I was gonna say the truth in Tucson. There I had to go. And I went there and I raised my hand to say that I was telling the truth in what I was saying, that it was the truth. Then they admit me there and gave me my citizen ship.

Me: and you said you were 8 years old or 9 years old when you got your citizenship?

C: no when I got my citizenship, I was already married.

Me: Do you remember how old you were?
C: Maybe I was 20. (talks in the background to Maria). Now I need help from my, Clinton, from my president.

Me: Concepcion. Can you tell me about some of your favorite memories? about-

C: yes. My memories?

Me: yes can your tell me about some of your favorite memories from your childhood?

Maria: excuse me, excuse me. I think I’m going to have to help her. It’s getting to much to her.

Me: ok.

Maria: to remember those days. Maybe I can help you if I can help you answer your questions, ok?

Me: Ok.

Maria: what was the question that you asked her?

Me: I was wondering what some of her favorite memories were from her childhood?

Maria: oh well she loved to remember when she used to go to the ranches, and they didn’t have stores for the milk and they used to go get the milk from the ranches in Mexico.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: and they killed the cows and they buy the meat. All those things you know?

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: she always loved to remember those things.

Me: what about what are some of her favorite memories from when she lived in Douglas as a little girl?

Maria: she was talking to me. I didn’t hear what you say.

Me: ok. Um, what were some of her favorite memories from when she was a little girl, when she was living in Douglas as a little girl?

Maria: oh she loved to go to school because they used to treat her very nice and they used to give her cookies and milk.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: in Mexico they used to go to the ranches, and over hear they used to have those little cartons, you know, of milk.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: but she always remembers the difference in, that in in in the United States, they lived comfortably, but over there they had to work fro whatever they wanted too.

Me: ok and then, umm, She said that the teachers at Salamale school used to give her glasses of milk during the day, and she said that it was because they were worried about her because she was so thin-

Maria: mmm hmmm

Me: I was wondering if you could tell me why was she so thin? Was she, was she sick? or-

Maria: No she wasn’t sick, but when she moved to the United States, they come, they’re was concern over the way she was like that, they were thinking that she was hungry, but my mother, she’s always been like that, you know?

Me: oh ok

Maria: Yes, yeah she said that they used to feed her very nice because they were thinking that the reason she was very thin was because she was hungry.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: But after that, after she finished the school and everything she still was thin, and she still is.

Me: how about, I was going to ask her how she felt when she graduated from school in the 9th grade.

Maria: ok I’m going to give the phone to her.
Me: ok

C: hello?

Me: hi, can you tell me how it felt when you graduated in the 9th grade?

C: well I was very happy and scared because you, I thought that I thought that it was going to be very hard to, to , for the , for the Ayyy

Me: Are you ok?

C: yes. (can hear talking in the background)

Maria: Hello?

Me: Yeah I’m still here.

Maria: you were asking her how she felt when she graduated?

Me: yes

Maria: (talks to Concepcion)

C: I was very happy that I, I also was, I also had part in the band. We used to play the triangles, the drum, and it was, i, I remember that it was, that they took us to the theater because we were going to graduated from the school. All of them were happy for me, but after i got out, I couldn’t, you know it was the great depression that we had here in Douglas. My Father cannot afford what they were asking.

Me: can you tell me what it was like to live in Douglas during the Great Depression?

C: oh it was so late, it was I don’t know. Well I did what I could.

Me: Could you tell me what it was like working in the fields? during the depression?

C: oh it was terrible. During the depression, we had a hard time because we had to go to the, go to the county house, to get, get whatever they were going to give us, a piece of cheese. and about 3 pounds of flour for tortillas.

Me: mmm hmm

C: We had a hard time in the Great Depression we had here in Douglas. I remember, oh that my parents used to say “Don’t ask for this, don’t ask for that, because we don’t have.” But Thank God that we survived.

Me: mmm hmm

C: and I finished School. So after I finished school I had to start working and cleaning at Mr, he was as lawyer, Sheldon Richie. He paid me $5 a week. I was very happy that I could bring $5 to my mother, to my parents, a week. It was hard for us, because in the Depression, there were no extras, nothing but my hours, they would pay by day. Now i want to tell you, that sometimes I need, I need something I can go and ask at the office. I say “can you help me with this” and they say “no no we have nothing to do with that” But now I cannot work.

Me: uh huh

C: But I will survive

Me: yes, How about, what are some of you, can you tell me what it was like to be married to your husband? What was your Husband’s name?

C: what was my?

Me: Your husband’s name?

C: he was a taxi driver. Sometimes he would make (mumbles, can’t hear what she says). In those days it was very hard. In those days life was very hard. It’s not like today.

Me: uh huh

C: where you go to an office and you go there, you go, they help you. In those days, we used to get, I used to go pick cotton in the fields. And yet 5 dollars, from 6 or 7 in the morning to maybe 4 or 5 in the afternoon. And then we have to pay the ride. Life was very hard.

Me: How about when did you start having children?

C: Oh i start having children after I got married, maybe 3 years later

Me: mmm hmm

C: I had one little b- girl.

Me: what, how many children did you have?

C: Right now I have only one. I had three, three girls and one boy. And I, right now I have one girl. All of them are (gives phone to Maria)

Maria: She has three girls and one boy.

Me: uh huh

Maria: And last year, my brother passed away, and my sister. She only had two.

Me: ok, and who is the oldest?

Maria: umm. Lydia. She’s 75, she’s still alive.

Me: Ok who was born next?

Maria: Uhhh.. Alicia.

Me: uh how old is she, or how old was she?

Maria: She passed away in ah, when she was 69.

Me: ok, and who was next?

Maria: My brother, Jesus.

Me: ok. And how old was he when he passed away?

Maria: Uh 69. When he was 69 three years ago, he passed away.

Me: ok. And then, You’re the youngest?

Maria: Uh huh!

Me: and how old are you Maria?

Maria: I’m 69. I don’t like nobody to ask me for my age. *chuckles*

Me: ok, actually, can i just talk to you for a little bit Maria?

Maria: yeah, mmm hmm.

Me: ok so what I, I don’t know if you heard me tell your mom this, but what I want to do with this project, is I want to make it something that your family can have, especially like I want to make it for Evie and Alex and um, Leonard. For them and-

Maria: oh good!

Me: for them and for their kids, so they can remember their great grandma.

Maria: mmm hmm

Me: so I was wondering if you would be willing to help me too and be willing to, basically what I want to put up there is like her life story, from when she came over from Mexico until now. And I know she told me a little bit about it, but um, I think some of my questions are getting to her.

Maria: Mmm hmm, well those days were very hard for the people you know?

Me: Yeah

Maria: because they didn’t have the help of welfare, food stamps and things like that.

Me: yeah

Maria: and over here was hard, worse than Mexico. So that’s the reason that she cries. She remembers the hard days that they went through.

Me: can you tell me about the hard days that she went through? Like, what happened?

Maria: well, in those days. you, you wasn’t able to use, use nice shoes. whatever the salvation army or whatever the father buys, you know they didn’t have the sales. They had a store for the smelter, the people they worked there, because that was the best job. But uh, my grandfather, he used to work for those shoes for almost two weeks. So they had to take care of the shoes the whole year. You know. So everything that she’s been telling us, this this this, too hard to hear. they’ve been through a lot and they’re still alive. You know? They didn’t eat like us, they used to give up a piece of fish or a piece of meat for 15 days or a month. You know when they were in that situation of the depression, in the 1930’s. You know they used to go and get the colitas, you know caolitas, you know those green things that, Oh my God, that words went away from me. That’s what they used to eat most of the time. And it was hard. You know we have it made right now, because we can ask for help

Me: yeah

Maria: They didn’t have that/ You know? A piece of paper for school, was something they needed to take care. Pencils, they didn’t use pens because everything was so expensive.

Me: mmm hmm

Maria: so all those things, that she’s been telling us, it’s kind of hard to remember.

Me: mm hmm.

Maria: So this day, there are still people in Mexico who suffer like that.

Me: Yeah

Maria: And maybe you know, but in Gallup, there’s some people that suffer a lot too.

Me: yeah there is.

Maria: Because they don’t have education, and they don’t have nobody to help them. They go through, through days without eating. And the kids they don’t have shoes to go to school, It’s almost the same, but we don’t know because we have it made, we have everything. So that old people, that survived through that, they remember.

Me: Mmm Hmm

Maria: you know the hard days, that was in the 1920’s 1930’s. I was born in 1944 and they was still having a hard time when I was a baby.

Me: Mmm hmm

Maria: Yes, So all these things that have happened to her, she still remembers. I hope one day you can talk with your dad. We still have the places that she used to go to the theater, to the hotel, the school is still here where she used to go. Douglas has a lot of memories.

Me: That’s cool.

Maria: Yes

Me: um, how about, has she told you, um she said that her dad came first. that he had a job at the smelters.

Maria: well the situation is, they didn’t have a line in those days. you know how we have a line, we have to use passports to go to Mexico, or the people who have to use passports to come over here. In those days they didn’t have nothing.

Me: Oh really?

Maria: From Mexico to a little town. Walking, it’s like 10-8 miles.

Me: uh huh

Maria: You know we used to walk to come to church. They didn’t have immigrants or customs or nothing. It was free. So my grandpa started working in the smelter because it was the best job that they had in Douglas. And then he decided to fix the papers fro my mom, her sister and my grandmother. So thats, that’s the only things I know about the childhood that she have. Then you know, she started working and she worked at the lawyers with the schools that need some help. You know I guess in those days it was hard to get a job and I guess they hired her because she speaks English.

Me: uh huh

Maria: So that’s the only thing that I know.

Me: Ok so, what are some of your favorite memories about your mom?

Maria: Well She used to take me to California. She used to go to work in California.

Me: Mmm hmm

Maria: and she used to take me over there. It was beautiful.

Me: What did she work as in California?

Maria: huh?

Me: what was her job when she would go to California?

Maria: She was a housekeeper.

Me: Oh cool.

Maria: She was very good.

Me: How about where would you guys go to in California?

Maria: Um (speaks to her mother) Paloma. And my answer to where we used to stay is San Diego California.

Me: I’m sorry can you say that again?

Maria: San Diego. And My mother used to go on the bus to work every morning. It was about an hour from San Diego.

Me: Ok. And um, How about what are some other things that you remember about your mom. Your favorite memories.

Maria: Well she, she always was working in different places and uh, my brother and i stayed while she was working in a cannery.

Me: uh huh

Maria: and i remember that we used to take money to buy something new for her because we always get the used furniture. So we decided to save our money to buy something for her. And I remember that she was happy when we got the furniture for her.

Me: that’s awesome. Um how many different jobs did she work as?

Maria: well she was a housekeeper, she was a, uh, in a cannery, she used to go to the fields to pick the cotton.

Me: ok and then, she was saying that she liked Douglas because back then, it was nicer, and-

Maria: oh yes.

Me: and now she said that it’s not like that. I was gonna ask her does she feel like there’s discrimination against her? for being a Mexican even though she is an American citizen?

Maria: No. The the reason that she feels like that is because it’s horrible with the drugs.

Me: oh ok.

Maria: All of the young people, you know the youth?

Me: yeah

Maria: They’re on drugs, they drinking. They don’t respect the elderly anymore.

Me: ok

Maria: It’s nothing that we’re Mexicans or we don’t have papers or whatever, it’s that they don’t have no manners. They don’t care anymore.

Me: Yeah I think that’s how it is all over the place now. People just don’t have any manners.

Maria: Mmm hmm

Me: ok, umm

Maria: You know when we was young, we used to respect, just to know the people was older than us. But now they don’t care if there’s somebody with a cane or a wheelchair, they don’t care. They put the radio’s loud and they start cussing in front of them.

Me: Yeah

Maria: it sounds horrible! Yeah.

Me: uh huh. What I also wanted to ask was what were some of the dreams that she had, for growing up. What were some of her plans for her life, growing up when she was little? Did she fulfill those?

Maria: Well you can ask her to see what she answers and then I’ll tell you.

Me: Ok

C: Hello?

Me: hi

C: hi

Me: I wanted to ask you, what were some of your dreams when you were a little girl? Like what did you want to do with your life? What did you want to see, or do, or anything like that.

C: (hear talking in the background) Well to have a nice home, at lease a room with the furniture I like, not to be begging for a glass of milk, not to begging for nothing. But I lost everything now, I’m here in a rest home. And I remember so much, that I worked so hard. Now I wish I could go home because my feet were hurting so much, and now my heart is broken because I lost everything. I’m all alone, just with this daughter that I have, I have nobody. But she don’t live with me, she lives by herself.

Me: How about, I’m making this project so that your great- grandkids, Alex and Leonard, will have a way to remember you. And so that Leonard’s kids, his baby right now, will be able to look at it and be like, that’s my great-grandmother. Is there something you wanted to say to them? or wanted something for them to remember you by?

C: I don’t think they will remember me no more. They don’t, I have only one, and I raised him, I was always at his side. he’s the one that comes and he calls me sometimes. I ask him for a dollar or for something that I need. But they don’t remember me no more. That’s what getting me, you know in my heart, in my broken heart, that I cry so much because I lost everything, I don’t have no one. It’s so lonely. Now I’m here in this place where, they make a plate like a hotel. It’s assisted living. Sometimes I feel like I want to sit down and go somewhere, see the sun. But it’s too late for me.

Me: Ok I’m going to ask you just a couple more questions ok?

C: Ok

Me: when is your birthday?

C: My birthday is November, 11.

Me: Oh Today is your birthday?

C: Yes, Ma’am

Me: Happy Birthday!

C: Thank you, Thank you.

Me: I feel very special to be able to talk to you on your birthday.

C: Yes Thank you.

Me: Thank you for sharing a part of your birthday with me!

C: It was nice talking to you

Me: It was nice talking to you too! How about, what are some of your favorite colors?

C: Pink.

Me: Pink is your favorite color?

C: Yeah

Me: ok, how about what are some of your favorite foods?

C: Tostadas, and enchiladas

Me: How about, um, did you, when you were younger, did you have a nickname?

C: uh, yes.

Me: What was your nickname?

C: Connie.

Me: It was Connie?

C: Connie

Me: ok, and what’s some of your favorite music to listen to?

C: Country.

Me: You like country?

C: yeah.

Me: how about who’s some of your favorite country singers?

C: Singers? Elvis Presley. Oh he was a good singer.

Me: what was your favorite song?

C: oh he sang so pretty he sings, in the, in the, place where we eat.

Me: Really? Did you get to see him?

C: So beautiful that Elvis Presley. I don’t remember right now

Me: ok Are you religious, Concepcion?

C: Pardon me?

Me: Are you Religious?

C: Yes, I belong to the Assembly of God.

Me: ok, How about do you have a favorite bible passage?

C: Bible? My God will provide all my needs. Mira. (hear talking in the background).

Me: ok, and hmm, is there anything else you wanted to share with me? any other stories about your life?

C: Yes I would like to uh, to Thank God that I’m still alive. I thank you for at least talking with me, asking these words with me. Thank you.

Me: Mmm hmm I enjoyed talking to you and listening to everything that you had to tell me. It definitely made my day better, and I’m very happy I got to spend part of your birthday with you.

C: Oh Thank you very much.

Me: Mmm hmm

C: I really do appreciate you talking to me because, I don’t talk to much here. It’s very lonely. (Hear Maria saying something in the background)That I love Clayton.
(Hear Maria “your father is very nice to her. He’s very nice”) He’s very nice with me. I appreciate him.

Me: That’s good.

C: oh yes.

Me: I’m hoping I get to meet you when I come home.

C: oh yes, whenever you want to, I’m here.

Me: ok, I’ll see if maybe I can go down with them if they go down.

C: Ok Thank you very much

Me: mmmm hmm and Thank you so very m-

C: Forgive me for giving all my sorrows to you.

Me: No don’t worry about it. Like I said I enjoy talking with you.

C: Yes Thank you very much.

Me: Maybe we can do it again some other time, outside of the interview.

C: Oh yes! Whenever you want to. I’m here always.

Me: ok

Maria: ok, that’s all you need?

Me: that’s all I need for now. Is it ok if I work on what she gave me now, for everything that she’s told me. But if I have more questions, is it ok if I call you and see if we can set up another time to talk to her?

Maria: Oh yeah, mmm hmm. the only thing is we have to be patient, cuz you know her age.

Me: yeah. I was wondering if, um, she said she’s lonely. I was wondering if there was a time I could just call her and talk to her? So maybe she wouldn’t be so lonely.

Maria: ok, whenever you want to.

Me: ok, because I know how it gets when you’re lonely, because how I get up here too.

Maria: the only thing that you have to call to the office.

Me: ok.

Maria: I’m going to give the number, and i’m going to give it to Evie so that she can give it to you.

Me: ok

Maria: ok?

Me: Thank you so very much for all your help.

Maria: And Thank you, thank you for your time.

Me: Yeah, and I wish I was there to give her a hug for her birthday. I had no idea that today was her birthday.

Maria: well that’s the reason I didn’t go to work, because I wanted to spend it here. And I really appreciate that you called, and whenever you want to come and visit us, you’re more than welcome, so I can take you to go see the places where she used to be.

Me: ok

Maria: Yeah whenever you want to come, you can stay with me, I have a place for you there.

Me: Alright thank you so very much.

Maria: Ok. Bye bye!

Me: Bye.