Between U.S.A. and Spain.

A FAIRY TALE LOVE STORY...

                                                                                                                                                   April 2, 2011.

                                                                                                                  Gahanna, Ohio.

                                                                                                                                                                                    Savannah and Zachary.

                        A Fairy Tale Love Story...

Once upon a time... Deep in a forrest of Ohio, in the midst of an early morning... a very young and 

beautiful fairy, Savannah Tinkergoria, was sighing for true love. She stood by her bedroom's

window, and smiled as the  sun's first rays dyed the sky in bright oranges, violets, and pinks, 

and wondered ...when her fairy-soul-mate would come into her life and fill it with beautiful 

 colours and warmth. She let  out one more sigh, turned around, fluttered her pretty wings and 

zipped off to her kitchen where she prepared a bowl of Twinkle-starr oats. 

Savannah Tinkergoria, with bowl in one hand, darted to  her nearby computer, sat on a daisy and

logged on to see what was new around the inter-fariy-kingdom-net, while she had breakfast. In a matter

of minutes she was chatting with a young and handsome, but a little goofy, fairy-man from another kingdom, 

Zachary Wardbell.

As it turned out, that one chat, was the beggining...sigh...of a timless...sigh... love. For as each day passed,

Savannah Tinkergoria and Zachary Wardbell, having so much in common chatted away for weeks...

until one day they knew...they had fallen in love. 

                                                                                                                                          by Mayra Alvarez

After two months of just hearing their voices, Savannah and Zachary, set a date to meet in fairy-person, at a

quiet meadow atop the big, yellow flower on a moonlit night. And on  that night...She chose her prettiest flower-

dress. He chose his coolest outfit. Legend says that when, Savannah Tinkergoria and Zachary Wardbell, 

 saw each other for the very first time, the air filled with loving warmth,  their hearts throbbed in unison, and their

 wings...their wings showed the signs of true fairy-love:  they shined in vibrant colours!

Yes, they shined...just like the sun's first rays in the early morning... when they dye the sky in bright

oranges, violets, and pinks. 

                                      Oh, I almost forgot!!

                    Savannah and Zachary married on April 2, 2011.

                        And they lived happily ever after...

By:

Juana Aragon

 

 

WEEKS 53,54,55 AND 56. PART 2.

 

 

                 ATTENTION:  This is PART 2. For PART 1, click here: 

                                       WEEKS 53,54,55 AND 56. PART 1.

 

Silly me...on my last post I didn't mention what time period the WEEKS belonged to.

So I correct my error.

WEEK 53   Feb. 24 - Mar. 2.

WEEK 54   Mar 3 - 9

WEEK 55    Mar 10 - 16

WEEK 56   Mar 17 - 23

All right now...I will pick up where I left. Finally the cold goes away and we have one truly

beautiful day. What did Pepe and I do? We spent it outside doing yard work. Just like

the good old times!

But one peek outside and Pepe knew...it was going to be a lot of work! We discussed

what had to be done. He went off to do some tough jobs, while I...kind of got distracted

when I went off to see what was springing up around the house...

                                                                                                                        

 

 

Well,  this was a surprise. Some

perennials were looking nice already...

 

 

 

                     And the bulbs were calling my name... so I took  photos of them..

 

              Oh, and I can't wait for my yellow, purple and white lilies to bloom!

 

 

I thought this was unbelievable, this is the

cabbage that didn't want to die. A long

winter with freezing temperatures,

snow, and even hail...and it still alive!

        What a survivor! 

 

 

 

 

 

YAY! In a few weeks I will be able to

come down and pick some fresh herbs

for cooking! Nothing like it...

 

 

 

 

 

I am sure  that while in Spain, Pepe,

had missed trimming bushes.  So I

handed the electric trimmer to him.

He was thrilled....Yes, just like the

good old times, he had a blast!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meantime...I kept exploring my territory...OH! LOOK!! A lady bug. How cute!

You know...Alonso saw us, his Yaya and Yayo, work so hard it made him thirsty!!

 

It was a truly wonderful day...too bad the cold weather would hit us again.

      ****************************************************

During these weeks I enjoyed everyday family life. Precious  little moments like when

Pepe shared chips and dip with Alonso...

 

 

 

 

And...Alonso shared the chips and dip

 

with his pants...but it was OKAY,

Yayo took care of it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All is well that ends well!

 

                                              ************************************************************

One day I made a paella.

                              Yes, it was me who did it...

                                              Pepe, was just helping me out  in the kitchen...

                                       Everyone to the table PLEASE!!



I really wasn't too pleased with it...I have done better before, but I couldn't find

some of the ingredients. However everyone seemed to find it delicious. 

                  AND THAT MAKES ME HAPPY!

WEEKS 53,54,55 AND 56. PART 1.

                  

                                     WEEKS 53, 54, 55 AND 56.

I had a dream. Aha, I had a dream last night. And in that dream I was being dragged, at a

fast pace, by two masked bloggers to ....

                        BLOG COURT! 

Yes, I was being  taken in front of a Judge. But why? What had I done? I asked the bloggers

nervously, "What am I being charged with?". In unison they responded with quirky voices,  "Juana Aragon, you have been accused of...  

                     BLOG BETRAYAL!!                                     

Gasp! Mamasita, I was doomed! It's true...I have...I have betrayed my very own blog.

You see,  I have let go of the essence of Between U.S.A and Spain. I have let go of   

my " WEEKS", which in fact are the backbone of this blog. Somebody help me! I was

about to be found guilty as charged...

Next thing I knew I was in the court room. It was filled with bloggers who held signs that

said in big, red letters:

                  BAD BLOGGER. SHAME ON YOU!

Then I heard a voice say, "All rise for the Honorable Judge Bloggity Blog". We did. And

when he sat down we all did too. Then he called me over to the stand and looking down

at me said, "Do you, Juana Aragon, promise to say the blogging truth, the whole blogging

truth and nothing but the blogging truth?". I lifted my right leg, (Yes, you read right. It's

a dream...and dreams are just plain weird) and solemnly said, "Yes, I do, your blogging honor."

Then I tried to defend myself...

 

Looking straight into  his eyes, I said, "Your majesty, I confess I am a blogging mess.

There isn't much I can say in my defense. If you hadn't asked me to swear the whole

blogging truth, I could have said I was temporarily insane...but that would be lying.

Because I am not ever temporarily insane. I am permanently insane. I am also going

through a rough time, and to top  it off, I have lost my memory...therefore, I can't find

part of those weeks 53, 54, 55, and 56!. If only I could  remember  where I put

my camera's memory card...Please have pitty of me your blogness! I know I am

a blogging disgrace in your eyes, but not everyone can write perfect post after perfect

post...I am a tender, fragile, baby blogger. Between U.S.A. and Spain, just turned one year

old on the 25th of February! I will someday blossom into a better blogger..." Sniff.

 

Anyway, it went well. The judge was sobbing by the end of my confession. Then he

asked me to extend my arm toward him, he hit me in the hand with a ruler, and

told me not to do it again. He also told me to pray one Our Father and one Hail Mary

for each  WEEK  I had lost.

                      I WOKE UP.

And so, I thought I should quickly review WEEKS 53, 54, 55 AND 56... I don't want 

to have another dream like that!

                      Here it goes...

As you know my Pepe came back home on February 23rd. He brought several

gifts for us from Spain. I told about the special book my cousin, Pili, sent me..but,

I didn't tell you about the movie Pajaros de Papel or Paper Birds. My cousin, Emilio,

(her brother) directed this film. I am so proud of him...not only did he direct it, he

also composed the music. OUTSTANDING! Click on the link below and you can see

the trailer. (Chose "English" so you can read subtitles.)

 

                                http://www.pajarosdepapel.com/

                                                          ***

In order to spend more time with Pepe, and less in the kitchen, somedays we ordered

pizza . YUMMY!!

                                      

 

                                                                                                                                                      Look at Alonso's face! He sure loves his pizza! 

                                                          

 

                                                                 ***

There was a visit to Chris and Beth's apartment... It was awesome to see that big, long,

father-son hug... and as always had a great time with them. 

I also gave Chris something he always wanted. A portrait of my father. It was done by a Cuban

artist, when my family lived there. How I got this portrait is a story in itself. (NO, I didn't

steal it from another family member)

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      *********************************************************** 

 Then of course there was work to be done in the garage...organizing for hours for another

garage sale...which didn't happen because....IT RAINED. 


 

But the day that we were working hard in the garage, Sandra surprised us with her signature

dish, Spaghetti a la Sandra, for lunch. Thank you Sandra, it was delicious!

                                                                     ***

                          There was also lots of Yayo and grandson time...

 And when they played...I worked on my Wilton flowers for cake decorating!

   

                                            I love, LOVE, LOVE, making these carnations!!

 

 

 

  and calla lilies too!!

        

 

 

 

                                                                                                  ***

                           My friend, Maricela, invited us to Carne Asada.

Pepe enjoyed meeting Maricela's family...and he had a blast with the twins,

Maritza and Alexa.

                        I think these girls are getting cuter by the minute...don't you?

                   And the food was delicious as always! Thank you Maricela!


                                                                                                                                                                             ***

The day Sandra moved out, I took Alonso outside and did a very special photo

shoot...

                                   What can I say...I adore this kid!

                                                          ***

And every time Sandra visited us, she brought sweets, because her dad love

them...

                                                                                                                                              and guess who else does too?

 

                                                            ****

Oh, and I had a special steak dinner for Pepe one night. They were supposed to grilled,

but the weather turned shockingly cold, that in a pan they went...

                                              I cooked some potatoes....

                                                                                                                                                                                       fresh asparragus....



                                 and portabello mushrooms to go with the steaks...

And if you are wondering how cold could it have been  for us not to grill outside...

WELL...let me show you...

   Yeah, it was that cold....ask SUPERSTAR ALONSO if you don't believe me!

Have I told you that since Sandra moved, Alonso, has been quietly sneaking things out

of my house? I guess Mommy needs some kitchen utensils....

                                                               ***

                    And one day, out of the blue....we went from freezing to...

            BOOM!!

                                 full Spring.

 



To be continued...

I WANT TO HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO.

                 I DID IT!

 

Since Pepe left I haven't been in the mood for much. On top of that... the last few days

I have been sick, and have had migraines also.

                             However...

I have duties. I needed to bake a cake. I needed to bake it for my last class on gum paste

and fondant, so I would get my certificate. All I knew is that I wanted it simple, but pretty.

So I chose one of my favorite flowers...daisies!

They were so much fun to make. This is the only flower with a hole in it...but I like it.

It reminds me of life. It's not perfect...but it is still beautiful. Don't you think? 

 

                       I am done. I have completed all 3 Wilton courses.

                     TA-DAAA!!

So now...I WANT TO HAVE MY CAKE AND EAT IT TOO!!

HAPPY 6TH BIRTHDAY ALBERTO!

 

 My Dearest Grandson Alberto: 

How I wish I was there to give you a big, big, big hug and an even bigger kiss on this very special day...your 6th birthday!

              You see I would sing you Happy Birthday and "Feliz en tu dia". 

                                 I would play with you and be silly,

and although it's not very nice....I would stick my finger up your nose because

                                  that makes you laugh...

 

 I would tell you your favorite bedtime story: Little Red Riding Hood Goes

To Ingles. Which I promise to write for you so Mom can read it to you.

                                      We would also have a jam session...

                      

                                  and show you more tricks on the guitar...

 

 

            and have a fun photo  session with lots of crazy shots...

        Yes, how I wish I was there to spend some time with you...

                            and have a great time...like we always do!

 

But since I am not there, Yaya, wishes you a very  Happy Birthday all the way

from  across the Atlantic. May God bless you today and always my beloved

grandson Alberto!

Love you

Yaya Juni

P.S. Don't forget to send me some photos of you blowing the candles

on your cake!

                                                   **********

Note: If you would like to read about his last birthday click this link.

« 03/19/10 HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY ALBERTO !

I'LL HAVE A SPLASH OF COLOR. THANK YOU.

 

Someone left a Shamrock  plant in my video department. I had brought my camera to work.

                             Temptation took over and I snapped a photo.

                        Cool! Finally I figured out how to make a wide shot! 

Then...I said to myself...how about if I go get a coffee at the Deli? And as I walked to 

the Deli...I passed my friend Mary's Floral Department. She had just received a shipment

of beautiful flowers and I couldn't resist them...the colors...those beautiful colors!

                      Oh yes. Yes!! I'll have a splash of color. Thank you.

 

 

 

                                  Hope you enjoyed the colors too!

A FINE TRIO.

 

A fine trio we make. Maricela, Sandra, and I...hanging out Wednesday afternoon.

Maricela's husband is away all week working in another state. Sandra's is by herself

in the evenings. And I have Pepe away... in another country. So we got together.

           After all who likes being alone? 

 

First we ordered pizza. Not a piece was left. Lonely women eat a lot...hadn't you heard? 

                                             Then, after dinner the children played...

                         (But wait let me show you a better photo of the twins.)

                Sandra studied...and Maricela and I prepared delicious tamales. 

                 Ummm...Roasted Poblano peppers, Monterrey and Cheddar cheese.

                        After folding...they are ready to be steamed!

It was really nice while I had company. Then I drove Maricela home, Sandra

left a little later, and the house was too quite again. I went to my room got my

pillow, my blanket... and put a movie in the DVD player.

Before I drifted to sleep once more on my green sofa, I thought about Maricela with the

kids waiting for her husband to return home.  I thought  about Sandra waiting around my

house until Gabriel gets home, and I thought about me...waiting and waiting...

              Yes...a fine trio we make. 

P.S.

 I will share the recipe for Lonely Hearts Club Tamales in Food Stories as soon as

my  brain starts working correctly.  And by the way there is a sauce my friend

Barbara, from Long Hollow,  was waiting on that is real easy. Roast 6 green tomatillos,

then put in a blender with 4 fresh, seeded jalapenos and some salt. Can't get any

simpler than that...

THE MORNING AFTER.

 

=

 

 

 

I opened my eyes at 8:00 A.M. without 

the need of the alarm clock. I was grateful to

see sunlight. Daytime would be easier to

handle.

 

I got up from the sofa and went straight

to my bedroom. Surely Pepe had left me a

message in facebook, or written an email.

 

                  He did:

 

                     

 

                                                                               March 16

                                                          Cariño ya llegue y ya te extraño

                                                                luego te llamo. Te quiero.

 (Honey I just go here, and I miss you already. I will call you later. I love you.)

I smiled, then I went to the kitchen thinking about this new beginning.  My house is so quiet.

I just realized this is the very first time in my life that I am by myself. 

 Talk about an empty nest. 

 

I made some fresh coffee and sighed as I remembered Pepe brewing coffee each

morning and bringing me a cup so I could enjoy it in bed. I miss him. I miss him. I miss him...

It should have been easier this time. 

 

THE FIRST NIGHT.

 

This first night without Pepe was worse than I

had imagined. I asked myself, why was I feeling

this way again? Why, if I had lived a year without

my husband at home, did I feel like I was starting

from zero?

 

I fear a three month  depression...just like the first

time. And I don't want to go through that once

more. I want to be well. I want to feel at home in

this house again. 

 

Last night I didn't even know what to do with

myself. I could have done laundry, watched 

television, taken care of  my Ebay sales. Instead I

sat on my green sofa.

Once in a while I would tell myself, go pick up your room, or get those dishes out of the

dishwasher. Eventually I got around to picking up the kitchen. I didn't want to see our

coffee cups on the counter the next morning. And changed the sheets of our bed. As I took

them downstairs to the laundry I caught the scent of his cologne. I immediately put them in the

washer.

 

Finally at nine I found myself going out in the darkness, getting in my car and driving to

Ingles. Sandra was working at the video department, that gave me an excuse to

see how she was doing. I also rented a few movies, bought some soup and... sleeping pills.

 

So after saying goodbye to Sandra I drove back home. I heated some Campbell's vegetable

soup, grabbed a blanket, put on a "feel-good movie" that turned out to be a tear jerker,

and cried some more. When Sandra called me to let me know she was at her apartment...

It was time to take a  sleeping pill. I fell asleep right there on my green sofa.

 

   And while I was dreaming, my husband arrived in Spain.

Carrier Flight #	Depart		Arrive		Equipment Type	Stops	Flight Time
	Time/Date	Airport	Time/Date	Airport
Delta 0126	7:55pm 15 Mar 2011	JFK	8:35am 16 Mar 2011	MAD	Boeing 767 Passenger	0	07:40

 

 

AND NOW THE LONG ONE.

Flight Details
	City	Scheduled	Estimated	City	Scheduled	Estimated
Boarding	New York (JFK)    Gate B20	7:55pm  15 Mar	On Time	Madrid (MAD)    Gate 70	8:35am  16 Mar	8:32am  16 Mar

 

Pepe  has been at JFK Airport in New York waiting for his connecting flight for 5 long hours. 

At this moment my hubby is finally boarding his Delta flight with destination Madrid, Spain. 

 

New York-Madrid is a long one. I hope he gets some rest...I know he needs it. 

                    

                                                                                           ATL airport.
                     I MISS YOU!


                                    CHRIS AND SANDRA DO TOO! 

CAN'T DO THIS.

 

                     CAN'T DO THIS!!

It's only 6 P.M. and I am walking around my house like an idiot...I should have gone

to my Wilton classes, but I can't get going...I don't feel like getting dressed and driving 

all the way over there. Anyway, it's raining...Anyway, I can't stop crying.

                     WHAT A FOOL!!

 What a way to fool myself!! I really thought I could handle this separation again, but I can't. 

        

        Maybe tomorrow I will see it differently.

                        Or  maybe....

I can pretend he didn't leave this morning.

 

 

PEPE RETURNS TO SPAIN.

 

                             Flight 0072 on Tue, 15 Mar 2011

 

Status	Departure			Arrival
	City	Scheduled	Actual	City	Scheduled	Estimated
In flight	Atlanta (ATL)    South Terminal    Gate A21	12:30pm  15 Mar	12:30pm  15 Mar	New York (JFK)    Gate 5	2:59pm  15 Mar	2:47pm  15 Mar

 

Our 21 days are up. It was time for Pepe to return to Spain. We got up early today to a

dark, rainy day. After coffee we headed to Sandra's apartment to pick her up since she

wanted to come to the airport with us. From her apartment to Christopher's where he took

us to a nearby restaurant for breakfast and we had wonderful time. After father and son

hugged and said their "see you soon", the three of us headed to Hartsfield-Jackson

Airport. 

Through all of this...I was fine. I really was.  At least I thought so. Even when I said goodbye to

Pepe at Gate 21, I surprised myself by not getting teary eyed. I did good. I didn't cry because I

kept thinking, "I will see him soon...we are a step closer". But as I drove down the road to

my house things started changing. And when I saw my house even more. And when I opened

the door to my house... it all hit me. 

Pepe is flying to New York. From there to Madrid.  I don't know when I will see him again...

All I know is that I am getting in bed, and I am going to sleep for a while. 

Honey, I wish you a smooth and safe flight. I love you.

MACHU PICCHU ROYALTY...

 

Machu Picchu, Peru. 

 

Extraordinary new discoveries have been found by a group of prestigious archeologists two

thousand feet above the rumbling Urubamba river, in one of the world's  most beautiful and

enigmatic ancient sites of the world, Machu Picchu. 

 

The discovery was made by the famous, Dr. Juanucha Pichumota, head of the department

of archeology of La Macha University, as she accidentally slipped on Alpaca poop and went

down a crack on the site. Dr. Pichumota landed  deep below the ancient Inca city

in a secret chamber filled with paintings of Inca royalty life. 

 

Out of all the paintings, one stands out due to it's tenderness. It is believed to be the

Inca ruler, Macho-Macho, feeding Alpaca milk to his grandson Machotito-Man. 

A jewel of a find. See for yourself...

 

 

 

 

 

SUNSHINE FROM SPAIN.

 

The temperature has dropped. The sky is grey. The wind blows.

And yet...in a  corner of my bedroom rays of sunshine are coming through...

warming my spirit...making me smile. 

Sunshine from Spain. It filters through my computer screen every once in a while

when my daughter, Mayra, sends me photographs of her and the kids...

 

                    My Mayra is like the sun. See how she shines? 

 

                       Oh, look at how the camera has captured the rays!

            A walk in Aranjuez makes you feel warm any time of the year...

 

              Parks...peacocks.... ponds. Perfect for children to run and explore.

                        A little ray of sun, called Gabriel, has escaped ...

                                         with a water bottle.

 


                    Big ray Alberto with dad. What a beautiful photo. 

                                   And this one...made me laugh!

                               Can you tell me what is wrong here? 

                                                                 Loving warmth...

                                                     Shine on baby! 

                                                  Playful rays...having fun...

                                                  And Mayra looking to the heavens..

           asking if she will ever be able to get her rays under control ...

Thank you Mayra for all the sunshine you bring into my life....

                                                  I love you!

STUCK AND CONFUSED.

                                                                                                                               Wednesday. March 8, 2011.

I should be getting dressed to go to work. But do I feel like it? Do I ever? Yes, believe

it or not. Sometimes I do. I am not one to sit and do nothing. 

Unless I am sick.

However...nothing is what I feel I am doing. All the plans Pepe and I had of acomplishing

certain goals before he left are going down the drain. 

 

But at least we are together.

 

One week. Just one week before my husband  returns to Spain...and we feel stuck and

confused. I mean really stuck... and really confused. Like in "What have we done?"

and "How do we get out of this?" 

And you are probably wondering why....WHY...don't I just pick up and leave? Well, for

those of you that have been reading for over 52 WEEKS and for those of you who

haven't, and are new to my blog...there are several reasons that are tying me to Auburn,

Georgia, U.S.A.

 

1) I/we want to be debt free. It is very necessary. I can't. I won't. I refuse to start a

new life, while paying debts from my old life.  AND since we would be starting practically

from scratch in Spain...it will take $$$.

 

In our original plan...this would have been acomplished while Sandra graduated from

college. She hasn't yet. She is running "behind". So are we. As Forrest Gump said,

"Shit happens".

 

More reasons:

 

2) This year's taxes were not what we expected and  have derailed us from our course...

slightly.

 

3) Although we have made some progress getting rid of some of our things. There still

is a garage full of "stuff". Mostly not mine. Long story. I will have one more garage sale

and if they don't go... there is always donation. Hopefully, this Sunday...just about

all will go to Goodwill. 

 

Now... two  big fat reasons:

4) In order to rent my house, my mortgage payment needs to be covered, or at least most

of it. So far everyone interested in the house can't afford it....

 

5) Selling is out of the question. Foreclosures in this area have knocked out all

equity off our home. Asking price would be below what we owe on it! If you were

in our shoes...would you sell?

 

And the most recent addition to our reasons:

6) Because I need to wait and see if the two peas that left the pod, will adjust to their new

life. You see Mama-Pea here knows her Daughter-Pea better than she thinks...and I

didn't see her happy. So I don't want to be too far just in case she changes her mind. 

Most likely she will. It's  only been one day...and she has changed her mind twice already.

 

For my peace of mind. I NEED to see Sandra settled and content. Because once I leave

I will be very far away.

 

And of course there is more, but I can't get any deeper than this.

                                 ************

 

NOTE: Today is Ash Wednesday. I must add that tonight, after Mass, I felt much more

at ease. A sense of relief came over me...I know all will settle into place. I just need

to be patient and wait. I am happy that Lent has started. Less of me and my problems ...

and more of Him. 

                                           Yes...that will be good.

 

WEEK 53...54...and...

 

I can't...right now.. I can't catch up with my "WEEKS". These days are going fast,

and I find no time to write. I wish I could say we are having a blast. However, this

time it's not like when I went to Spain last September. That time we traveled. We

had so much fun! 

This time....it's very different. It's more work and less play. So I am putting of my

"WEEKS" until Pepe returns to Spain. Then I will catch up. I will go over the 

moments we have shared. Otherwise, I would stress...and I have enough on my

plate right now. You see my daughter, Sandra, left yesterday to start a new life.

So now, there are two less peas in our pod.

 

It's five A.M. and I am up. This hadn't happened since before Pepe arrived. I had

been sleeping like a log until this morning.

I can just see what will happen next week...when I face this empty house. When I 

become the last pea in the pod. 

 

A MOST PRECIOUS GIFT.

 

                              For my cousin Pili with lots of  L.O.V.E.!

 

During my visit to Spain last September my cousin, Pili, invited Pepe and I to lunch at her

place in Madrid. We weren't the only ones that would be sharing delicious food, pleasant

conversation, and lots of laughter with her that day. 

 

We were going to be a large group of Aragons...

But that is how it is in my family. No way

around it. Even when all invited can't make it,

we are a large group.

 

 

 

Or should I say, a very... umm..  large group

 of...umm..crazy people? But, regardless

of our  mental status...there is lots

of L.O.V.E. when we gather. Even if

we haven't seen each  other in a very long time

due to even longer distances.

 

Amongst the family members I hadn't seen since my last trip to Spain, would be Pili's

parents; my dearest uncles, Miliki and Rita.  Now, from here on out I will refer to them as 

Tio Miliki and Tia Rita. That is how I have always called them. You see in Spain you always...

always...(well, at least in my family anyways), add "tio" or "tia" before your uncle's or

aunt's names. 

 

Having said all that- before lunch... before the rest of the family arrived... as I was conversing

with Pili in her living room, my eyes set upon a large black book on her coffee table. On the 

cover of that book was my Tio Miliki. My cousin immediately  said to feel free to browse

through it. And so I did. By doing so, I fell  in love with the book... and asked Pili if there

could be any possibility of  a copy for myself. She said she would try to get me one, and 

the subject drifted to other directions as more family arrived, and we engaged on catching

up with each others lives...

 

Five months have gone by since that memorable lunch at Pili's. Five months I had been

yearning  for that book about my Tio Miliki. And then... just a couple of week's before

Pepe's trip, my cousin informed my husband that unfortunately there were no more

copies available.  

 

But...guess what my husband just brought me from Spain?

 

He brought me a most precious gift...a wonderful surprise

my cousin, Pili, had just for me...

            And not only did I get the book I desired about my Tio Miliki....

                                        He sweetly dedicate it to me...

Which makes it even more special.  This will be a family heirloom to pass

down through generations.

This book honors my uncle's career and achievements ...and is filled with family history.

 

Just take a good look at my  great-grandmother, Virginia Foureaux, daughter of the owner

of El Grand Cirque Foureaux.  What a magnificent photograph! And what a magnificent

woman- As the circus's ÉCUYÈRE, she had an intrepid acrobatic act while bare horseback 

riding! More amazingly she had 15 children... one of them was my grandfather Emilio.

If my father was born in 1920... I am wondering... what year is this photo from? 

 

 

And here I am looking at a photo of 

Tio Miliki when he was 11 years old. That

was around the time my mother met him...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These are photos of my dad and my uncles

(Gaby, Fofo, and Miliki) from the time they

were working in U.S.A. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Pili, my dear cousin for this wonderful surprise, for taking the time and showing

what family love is all about...even when we don't see each other very often, even

when distance is between us. 

Muchos besos

Tu prima Juani