God-daughter

It was May 2005, and I was visiting Cuzco. As part of a tour, we went to a spring. I was told that if I drank the water, I would stay young forever. Well, that was worth trying, so I drank some of the water. Some people looked shocked; as they were sure I would get sick from the water. But a couple of the guides started to laugh, and told me another detail to the story of the old spring: Due to my age, I would get twins within two years if I drank the water.

One year later, on my next trip to Peru, I was asked to be the God-mother of two tiny small Shipibo Indian twins. They were so beautiful - both of them. I wondered if I would ever see them again.

Four months later I met them again, in the same village in the Amazon jungle. They had grown so much! But unfortunately they both were sick with some kind of infection. It took two years till I again visited the area, and only then I learned that one of my dear little twins had died from that infection.

But I had one girl left, and she sat on my lap for hours! Although she was shy, she was very aware of who I was. And when I visited this April, she knew perfectly well who I am. We had a really good time together.

In my experience, embracing some extra people into the family sphere is enriching life. Nobody needs to be lonely in this world if we all include a few extra kids, aunts, grandparents... and whether we bond with someone in Peru, US, Ethiopia, Bangladesh or Norway doesn't matter. But the bonding matters!

I have visited my girl in Peru four times now. Each time I leave, it's like leaving a little piece of my heart there. At the same time, it also feels like the heart is growing. So, cheers to bonding and life - with Inca Kola!