![\"me](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/mejoe.jpg\")
Last
\n week I got one of those phone calls every parent dreads. Actually, there
\n are a number of phone calls that parents dread. This one was somewhere
\n on the seriousness scale between "send money" and "send lawyers, guns
\n and money".<\/p>\n
The specific sort of call involved was the "I’m getting married" variety. The As the phone conversation went on, the story got weirder and weirder. As the plot unfolded, it became apparent that this was not a case of So he figures marrying a full-bloodded Peruvian is the easiest way to Upon hearing the details, I broke out laughing, obviously not the reaction "Just be prepared for your children to be mongoloid idiots. It’s not "C’mon Dad, it’s not gonna be that kind of marriage.." Completely missing "This whole thing is your Mother’s idea, isn’t it?" As soon as the details "Sorta," he reluctantly admitted.<\/p>\n "Joey, she’s your first cousin! As far as I know that’s against the "That’s the beauty of it," Joey explained, as though to an idiot ignorant At that moment I feared for his future, if he believed for one moment Anyway, it is truly beautiful in the little town where Joey is, which Last week I got one of those phone calls every parent dreads. Actually, there are a number of phone calls that parents dread. This one was somewhere on the seriousness scale between "send money" and "send lawyers, guns and money". … Continue reading
\n specific child involved is my
\n 22-year-old son<\/a> currently living high in
\n the Peruvian Andes trying to turn a gorgeous but off-the-beaten-track
\n property I bought back in my rambling days, before he was born, into
\n a hostel.<\/p>\n
\n Said son, who has been working on this project for over a year, was coming
\n back to the states to get married – in Atlanta, where his mother lives,
\n over Christmas vacation, less than two months from now. Furthermore,
\n he was marrying a young Peruvian woman named Cuci (pronounced "kooky")
\n – who happens to be his first cousin!<\/p>\n
\n forbidden love at first sight. Rather, it was an ingenious plot
\n to simultaneously defraud the immigration authorities of both the United
\n States and the Republic of Peru. Joey, although he was actually born
\n in Peru, grew up here, graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin High
\n School, and carries only an American passport. As a legal Gringo, he
\n has to leave Peru for 25 hours every three months, just to renew his
\n tourist visa. The trip to the nearest border (Ecuador) takes three
\n days, and while Joey reports it was kind of fun the first few times,
\n I guess the novelty is wearing thin.<\/p>\n
\n regularize his visa status down there. Meanwhile, Cuci has been visiting
\n her aunt in Atlanta, and is having visa problems as well. With a job
\n at the Atlanta Convention Center, suddenly going back to her studies
\n and dead-end position in a doctor’s office in Lima seems like a short-cut
\n to nowhere and a fate worse than death. Solution – marry an American.<\/p>\n
\n young Joe was hoping for. "Why are you laughing? I’m serious."<\/p>\n
\n so bad, take it from me."<\/p>\n
\n the subtle putdown.<\/p>\n
\n came out, I recognized my first wife’s paw prints all over it. Just the
\n sort of hair brained, borderline illegal scheme she was continually hatching.<\/p>\n
\n law, at least around here." Although who knows what the law is in Georgia
\n I thought but didn’t say.<\/p>\n
\n of the art of the scam. Hrrumph – I was committing felonies before he
\n was
\n born, "They’ll never suspect, since we have different names and come
\n from so far apart. Then if we need to dissolve the marriage we
\n can say we didn’t know we were cousins!"<\/p>\n
\n a scheme like that had a prayer in hell. His only excuse was that
\n the evil plot had been hatched by his dear mum. Which was the other
\n reason I could laugh, and was not worried. None of the plans or
\n schemes of my ex ever really come to much, certainly not one as complex
\n and dubious as this. Nevertheless, the woman can do a great deal
\n of damage even with the best of intentions. And Joey is perfectly capable
\n of calling next week and telling me he is marrying an Incan princess.
\n Such is life.<\/p>\n
\n is why I bought the land, along a small mountain river, in the first
\n place. I understand he has started taking in guests although he continues
\n to construct more guest cabanas. Contact information available on
\n request. Let me will close with a snapshot of the view from a friends
\n bedroom balcony.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/cyber.law.harvard.edu\/blogs\/static\/dowbrigade\/raulwinview.jpg\")
\n <\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"