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My tía‘s wedding
My tía, the one mom had the shower for where dad and I were personae non gratae, finally got married. We had to go to the wedding in Mexico City. It was a week before Christmas which we were going to spend with my other tía and her family on the beach.
Mom and dad, (I almost wrote we), decided that it would be best to go to Mexico City for the wedding and then visit other people after the wedding before going on to the beach. Mom wanted to visit her best friend and her tía and tío. Her tía and tío were very supportive when she and dad were trying to have a baby ( a whole other story) before they got lucky and had me. They really wanted to introduce me to this tía and tío.
My tía, the one that was getting married, was pretty cool. She told dad that she wished everyone could come to the wedding in jeans. Dad liked the idea because he only had jeans. He didn’t want to go dress pant shopping.
She also told dad that she would understand if I stole her thunder. She had noticed that her mother, sister, brother and just about anyone who looked at me would start drooling. I wondered if she thought everyone was drooling because they were copying me.
I was rather well behaved at the wedding. Though I did find it necessary to go crawling onto the dance floor when my tía and new tío were having their first dance!
My tíos abuelos
A note of understanding: if you are having trouble keeping track of who is who, you are not alone.
After the wedding in Mexico City, we went to visit my tíos abuelos in the state of Querétaro. Dad was greatly relieved that we were going to their house cause he would get a proper bed, and great meals, including a steak. My tío abuelo always made dad a steak whenever mom and dad visited.
My tíos abuelos live in a planned community. Dad said it reminded him of the Stepford Wives. The reference was lost on me, and I don’t think mom got it either.
My tía abuela is the big sister of my mom’s dad, not to be confused with my abuela’s current husband. Mom’s dad died shortly after mom and dad got married. My tía abuela is very fond of my mom. My mom and dad are very fond of my tía abuela. It was very important for mom and dad to take me to visit them.
My tía abuela says she wants to be my abuela. Meanwhile, one of my abuelas says she wants to be my tía not my abuela. I am very impressed with how things work themselves out and everyone ends up happy.
We had a lovely stay with my tíos abuelos. My tía helped me refine my standing skills using her coffee table, “arriba” (up) “abajo” (down). I also learned how to get up a bunch of stairs with minimal interference from dad. He made sure I didn’t unintentionally go backwards! I agree with mom, dad’s very considerate sometimes!
A beach
We returned to Mexico City and stayed with my (another) tío and tía for a couple of days before flying off to the beach. They are a lot younger than mom and dad (well almost everyone is). Mom and dad spent lots of time encouraging them to make me a cousin. I am not sure if they listened or not. Time will tell.
We got to the beach and then our villa in the middle of the afternoon. As soon as we got off the plane, mom and dad started to take off a bunch of cloths. Mom even let me get down to two layers. It was hot, hot, hot.
Dad had to go to the supermarket and buy all the food for Christmas dinner. I know, you are wondering “if they are Jewish, why are they celebrating Christmas?” Well it’s all about my other tía. She loves Christmas and she is not Jewish, and even if she were, she would probably still love Christmas.
My other tía
Mom and dad have been visiting my tía’s family at Christmas for a few years now. This year, they all decided to meet on the beach and have the dinner celebration there. It was agreed that when we arrived, dad would do the shopping and the next day when my tía’s family arrived, we would all do the cooking.
I must say that I kind of like this celebration cause I get presents. Well I got a present (singular). I got to watch everyone else open their presents (dad a present singular too!) and when they weren’t looking, I moved in for the wrapping and boxes.
We even had a traditional Mexican tree to put all the presents under.
I liked my cousins, even though they are much bigger than me. They played with me but weren’t too rough. I was probably much rougher. I forgot to mention, I even got to go swimming, not in the ocean but the swimming pool at the villa.
We hung out with my tía and her family for a few days before the rest of the family arrived. Yep, I forgot to mention, the annual gathering at the beach meant 30-40 other tías, tíos, cousins, abuelos, abuelas, bisabuela. You name it, they were there.
Together, they brought in the new year before returning to Coatepec or wherever they came from.
A new year
And so it was that I celebrated my first new year with lots of people; lots of good people in a good place in a world that is not so idyllic.
Return to Coatepec
We have returned to Coatepec, my home for the last few months. Mom and dad are getting us ready to return to Hamilton. It’s supposed to be really cold there. I like contrast, I think.
I look forward to sharing updates in 2018. Dad says it will be an interesting year; “challenging” he said looking me straight in the eye. I smiled at him. He seems to like it when I smile. Mom too.
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