August 26th
Laurence Birdsey is the director of BECA.  He runs the show stateside and makes everything in Honduras possible.  He’s also really nice, and let Sam and I stay in his apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan (sleeping in his bed mostly) for an entire week.  Whenever Sam and I would leave the house, Laurence’s parting words would be along the lines of “Don’t do anything nutty.” He’s nothing short of inspirational.

Drinking coffee this morning reminds me of Laurence and a brief conversation that we had on the topic.  As can be expected, his point was accentuated by has blunt and thoughtful delivery.  What follows is a summary, not related exactly, of what transpired.

David Whitaker: Laurence, I’m going to get a cup of coffee.  Do you want one?

Laurence Birdsey: Ya know. I used to drink coffee.  But I don’t think it actually helps me get any work done.  I just get frantic and think I’m doing more.  But in reality.  I’m not.

D: Like you get amped up on caffeine and type harder but not really faster?
L: Yeah.  Sort of.  Plus coffee really clears you out.  Your guaranteed to spend some time shitting heavily.

D: Not just #2, but #3 and #4 as well?*
L:

D: Ok, well, you just call me if you change your mind.
L: Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.

David leaves and returns with coffee 10 minutes later

L: What’d you get.
D: The Peruvian.

L: That’ll ream you out.

*Numbers three and four are on the Honduran bathroom scale.  In the States we have number one or number two.  Hondurans have modified the scale to suit their needs.  Number three represents manageable diarrhea, probably the normal state of most defecation in Honduras.  Number four is described as un chorro de agua.  Google translate provides 10 definitions for chorro:
1.    jet
2.    stream
3.    blast
4.    flow
5.    gush
6.    squirt
7.    trickle
8.    puff
9.    effluent
10.    spirt

Agua, as you know, is water.

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