famiLIES

     Family is everything, or is it? Growing up, my grandparent's instilled in their children and grandchildren that family was of the upmost importance and should always come first. My younger, naive, self did not comprehend the notion at the time. I did spend most of my childhood with my grandparent's and looking back I am greatrul for those precious moments I shared with them. When ever my grandmother saw two cousins fighting, she would immediately yell "¡Traime el bordon pa pegales!" which meant, "Bring me my cane so I can hit you guys!" This was always followed by a long lecture as to why we should respect and get along with each other, take care of one another.
     After my grandparent's passed, our family virtues began to crumble. What once was our support beem, what my grandparent's worked so hard to instill in us, began to fade away. I saw it as it began to unravel but remained silent. I wanted to see how far our family would distant from one another. To my surprise,  there was no end to it. It first started with less time being spent with one another, less parties, less socializing.  I guess part of this was because the only time we really spent time with each other, besides family parties, we're at my grandparent's home. They were no longer here to ensure that we remained as close. I look back and recall my grandmother asking all her son's and daughter's to keep these teachings alive; for as long as we stayed together, none of us would fail and she would look down upon is in happiness, eternally greatful.
     As time goes by and people change, believe me  people change, family ordeals began to arise. Whether monetary isses or simple misunderstandings, a wedge was cutting in between each family. Some of these families still  socialize with one another. As for my family, we'll as we noticed more people gaving their backs to us, it was that same rejection that bonded my immediate family closer together. As a wise man once told me, it can take a small amount of money to know who really suround's you and who really has your back, but that's a life lesson nonetheless. It brings tears to my eyes to see what my grandparent's worked so hard on has diminished in such a short period of time, but I remain true to these teachings and I now see what they meant so many years ago. I will always extend a helping hand to any of them even those family members that once turned their backs on me. It is something a great woman and a great man once tough me and I intend to inculcate to my children these virtues so I know that all that hard work my grandparent's once did, doesn't go in vain. I just hope that they look down upon me and I make them proud as I once did. I love you Chelino and Toñita. May God have you ever in his glorious presences.