Hombre Dulce

I heard sad news yesterday. The man who sold candy outside of the Safe Passage building in Guatemala City died last week- Hombre Dulce.
Every morning he would stand outside of the building selling “penny” candy to the neighborhood. Every morning he would clap his hands and cheerlead as the Safe Passage volunteers entered work. Some days I would drag off the bus, a little tired and less than eager. What a difference it made to round the corner and see his shining face, my day was made!
I am ashamed to say, I don’t know his name. We would swap small talk but I never told him how much his enthusiasm encouraged me. For several years I remember wanting to trade his candy for pencils or fruit, something healthy. Last Tuesday he was sitting on the corner with his head hung low. I stopped to chat and he was sad that he couldn’t sell his candy any longer. I left a little despondent not realizing what he was really selling was his passion.
I know Candy Man doesn’t literally translate as hombre dulce but to me and everyone who saw him, he was a sweet man! A loving cheerleader for life!