Census Day

We experienced another first last Sunday - Census Day. This occurs every two years, when paid data takers go door to door all over Peru and fill out forms collecting info about who is dwelling in this country and how many of us are there. Our favorite question was "Where was your mother living when you were born?" Not, "Where were you born?" which would be the U.S. equivalent.

The thing that made census day so great was that we were in "lock-down" from 8am-6pm, although we had heard a rumor that you could leave your house once you were counted. Now for most of us, the thought of being unable to leave your house even if you wanted feels a it, well, confining. But think about it. What if the U.S. Government ordered a mandatory day of rest - for everybody. Yes, you would be stuck in your house - which if you like your family, and you have provisions on hand, this shouldn't be a problem. What would it be like outside? Out there? With nobody around? Everybody is at home.

Well, for us it was tranquility. It was quiet. There were no obligations. There was nobody ringing the doorbell. Nobody calling on the phone. No taxis honking. Nothing we just had to do. Just us, together as a family free from distractions for one whole day. We loved it!

John grilled us a gourmet lunch that could only be done by a Texas. It was awesome! The kids and John played some game in the backyard that involved a football and the trampoline - a slight deviation on the "Ball Game" for those of you familiar with this. I , of course, read. It was so fun to watch John hanging out with his kids with out any other stress on him - except for the occasional bickering - but hey, we aren't in Heaven yet.

Anyway, all that to say, we decided that we loved Census Day so much that we are going to impose one on ourselves every so often just for a sanity break.