It took me a long time to find Papa’s house in Aldona. The wall on which I bloodied my three year old knees had crumbled but a flicker of memory lingered on. While i couldn’t enter Papa’s once magnificent house through the padlocked front door, I could’ve entered through a huge hole in the concrete side wall. I’d have to wade through a brush of thick and unruly vegetation in which cobras, no doubt, thrived. The prospects were totally unappealing and I opted to plop myself in the stone seat on the dilapidated verandah and reminisce.
I don’t have a photo of the house but I did walk down the dusty road to the very church where I was baptized. Feast your eyes on this beauty. My little grandson said it looks like a ‘giant cake’! I doubt the church has looked this good in a million years but there’s been a lot of renovations and updates. I was born in Mapusa and spent my very early days in my grandparents home. Zuzin became my godmother and I was told that St. Joseph was my Godfather. Who am I dispute that an important Saint (the father of Jesus) was asked to be my Godfather. I’m blessed that he agreed because St. Joseph has/is/will be an inspiring spirit! So, there – that’s my blurb about the church of St. Thomas in Aldona.
Del Lobo 