The Dreamer Writes Seriously for Once

I find myself in a hotel room tonight. In Arizona. Not going out with the crew. Reflecting on the week and night. There have been 2 tests for class, I aced both. We had driving school ALL day today. I passed that with flying colors. I had a fantastic dinner with a group of 15 tonight at PF Changs and tried different foods. These are all great things. Life is good. I dont have to worry about much tonight. But tonight I lay here, listening to Tom Cruise rant about something in that movie with Demi Moore when he is a military lawyer...and all I can think about is Roberto.

Who you may ask is Roberto? He is a fellow trainee. Roberto also had a good day. He passed his tests with flying colors this week. Roberto had a fun day at driving school too. He had a little happy hour in his room after class. He was a happy camper from today too. Now, Roberto is different from the rest of us with his strong Puerto Rican accent. But, he's smarter than the rest, knows his stuff and is all around a nice guy. So, when I got back from dinner, I called Roberto's room and he was out. So then, I went out to see what was happening in the pool area. That was the same time Roberto came back to the hotel.

I walked into say hi and he was down. He was visably distraught and alone. I asked him what happened. So, apparently 18 or 20 people went to a club here in Scottsdale and they were carded at the door like happens most of the time. Roberto was told at the door that the State of Arizona does not recognize Puerto Rican drivers licenses and that he was not permitted to enter the club. Now, this alone is terrible and heart-breaking. The part that hurt me the most is that the people with him allowed him to walk 45 minutes back to the hotel ALONE! They did not go with him or offer to give him a lift...OH NO...when I found Roberto, he was alone, mixing his own drink and hot. Damned hot from the walk.

I have always been the person who sees people who are alone or rejected and my heart breaks for them. Breaks. Not a sympathy...an ownership of their pain. So, I took time tonight to listen to Roberto. I learned of his family back home, his wife, his 2 kids. I learned that he is just trying to work to make a better future for them. AND he cant get in a club and people wont take him back OR LEAVE to be with him?

So tonight, I learned salsa. Roberto gave me a lesson. He laughed. He danced. He enjoyed himself. We had Club Katie if you will. We watched 2 fights on TV and I spent time with him. Granted the jerks he went out with called FROM the club to check on him 2 hours into it, but what a slap.

I dont know how it is to be persecuted. I dont know how it is to be singled out of a big group and be turned away and the friends I thought I had betray me like that. I cry for Roberto. I cried right next to him and gave him a hug. (I originally typed hog, and it was a funny line..."I cried right next to him and gave him a hog." HA!) He said I made his night. He called me once I came back here and thanked me for spending time with him. Now, I can't tell you I understand what Roberto went through tonight, but I can tell you I ache for him. I can tell you that I am angry for him.

That's all. I am physically rattled by it. I hope all are well. Tomorrow is my first day off in 8 days...I need it. My pictures are coming hopefully on Monday. Chris sent the cable...wooo hooo!

Peace~