Writer's father is alive but mourning his dream house in Haiti
When I last wrote about my Papa, Austrel Valbrun, on these pages, just five days after the earthquake that devastated Haiti, my family had not heard a word from him. Although the capital and surrounding areas were destroyed, I knew in my gut that he, a stubborn old widower with a young man's zest for life, had survived. I even joked about him appointing himself the neighborhood block captain in charge of organizing barbecues of stray chickens.
Now I can tell you. He did survive. But the reality was much more serious -- and sad.
His tale is one of amazing survival at age 82, yes.… Seguir leyendo »