When I was thirteen my Mom and Dad invited a foreign exchange student to live with us on our eight acres in Palmyra, NY.
Javier was from Madrid, Spain and was a fun "big brother." He was 17 or 18, loved to where expensive clothes, enjoyed music by REM and took several walks in the protected park behind our house. Girls at school loved his accent and dark hair and complexion.
My favorite memories of Javier were taking walks with him behind our house. He showed me how to track deer and several smaller animals. He would stare in awe when he saw deer or a raccoon. He wasn't a hunter like some of my relatives or friends. He simply liked looking at creation.
Before Javier returned to Spain, he gave me some of his very expensive sweaters. They were itchy and didn't look as good on me.
But what I remember most about Javier is not his money or his popularity. I remember his time with me. And his smile and friendship. And, of course, his nature walks in our back-yard.
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