It’s strange to say how someone can touch your life with such short similar conversations.
I lived next to the Cruz’s for most of my life, and Lolo was always around in one way or another, in and out etc… Even when I grew older and moved away, Lolo was living in different places so he was not always next door.
Somehow, I dunno how, but strangely enough, every time I would come to visit he would be staying there at the Cruz’s… They would always say “Mikey, Lolo wants to see you!” (always Mikey, even after 32 years never a Michael or Mike… 🙂
I would come out to the front yard and out he would come, grinning from ear to ear, “Mikeeeey, we have rice and butter!” Because ONE time! (Well… maybe a few) I came over because the Cruz’s made the best damn rice in the world, and I would always try to get my hands on some! Everyone always laughed and thought it was hilarious that I would put butter on my rice, also salt, don’t forget the salt, mmm… But, anyways the joke stuck.
So every time I would see Lolo we would have the same conversation “Mikeeeeeey, do you want some rice and butter?” Never failed, never! Then he would always ask me about my life, and we would just have a short conversation before he had to go in or go somewhere.
The touching thing is that he always came out to see me and talk to me with just the kindest of hearts. Always greeting with a generous smile…
He is someone that for the rest of my life I will never forget. He was always kind to me, and I believe that he is in a better place now where people are just as kind to him…
To the man with the best smile, Lolo.
Michael Mouroux