Between U.S.A. and Spain.

WEEK 97. PART 3

WEEK 97

PART 3 

 

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - Wednesday, January 4, 2012

 

If you are about to read and have not read Part 1 click below

WEEK 97. PART 1

If you have not read  Part 2 click below

WEEK 97. PART 2

 

 

Sunday, January 1, 2012.

FIRST day of the year!

My official countdown begins

Eleven days to go friends

Only ELEVEN

Can you believe it?

The day of the countdown has finally turned around the corner and it stares straight into my eyes.

The encounter leaves me perplexed. I have a bundle of contrary emotions, happiness and sadness, all neatly tied up in my heart. 

Now why would that be? You must be wondering. After all, I am going home to my husband. Isn't that what I have been waiting for the past 97 weeks?

True. I should be counting it all joy. But...  It is simply impossible because in order to gain, I must lose. Because for me reuniting with Pepe, also means separation from two of my children and one very special grandson. 

I am a happy wife. I am a sad mother. And... I am an even sadder grandmother.

Not the first time I have gone through this either.

Back in March of 2009 I faced the same mix of emotions in my heart. My firstborn, Mayra, who was expecting her second child, would be moving over seas. My husband and I knew that someday Mayra and Raul would return to the country their roots. The one where they fell in love. Spain. We just didn´t expect for someday to come so soon. 

Over here in the States, we didn't have much family close by... and in Spain they had tons of loving family and many, many friends! It would be good for them to enlarge their social circle. Add to this that they would have medical attention for their unborn child (who would need surgery shortly after birth, and it was being denied by their health insurance claiming the baby would have a pre-existing condition) and it was a win-win situation for their family.

Or just about, because we knew they would miss us as much as we would miss them...

My daughter Mayra and I loved spending time together, or on the phone talking away. Sandra, my youngest, could never understand how on earth we could find so much to talk about. But Mayra and I had a special bond. There was not a day when we didn't see each other; even if for a moment along the curves of Dee Kennedy Road where we coincided on contrary lanes each morning as we went to work. Honk. Honk. We would simultaneously flash smiles and waive hands.

And then of course there was Alberto. Our first grandson. Cute,smart and funny. He filled our daily lifes with joy and laughter. 

Alberto with his cousin Alonso in March 2009. 

Yaya thinks they are absolutely adorable.

Alberto was about to turn four years old that unsually warm month of March. Alonso, his baby cousin was only seven months old. The children were unaware of the big changes that were about to occur in a couple of days. Unfortunately, I could't say the same, and I wondered how long before the two sisters and the boys could be together again. It could be years! That is why I decided they have a professional photo shoot at the mall. 

A keepsake to capture and treasure the closeness they once had.

The photos turned out truly beautiful. I only regreted not participating in the shoot...SO when we got home, at my request, Mayra snapped some photos of the boy and me in my back yard.

 

We immediately realized the photo

shoot was not going to be an easy

one....

 

NOPE! 

 

Definetely not what I had in mind...

But they turned out to be lots of fun

And I wouldn´t change them for the world!

Two days later my husband's heart and mine broke when we said goodbye to our daughter Mayra, Raul and Alberto.

Little did I know then that life would lead me down a path with twists and turns I would have never thought of...

 

 

 

 

 

That my husband and I would plan to return to Spain ourselves... and he would actually travel a year later.

That I would wait close to two years until I made the move.

That I would have to say goodbye to my other children, Christopher and Sandra...  and leave my three and a half year old grandson, Alonso, behind. A grandson that I had helped raise in our home since he was born.... 

It is the first day of the year and I sit and write, and wonder with a heart filled with mixed emotions. 

I am a happy wife. I am a sad mother. And... I am an even sadder grandmother.

I can only hope that one day the road of life leads me to being with my husband, children and grandchildren again. All together as it once was. With just happiness in my heart and no sadness.

 

_________________________________________________

 

WEEK 97. PART 2

 

WEEK 97

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Part 2

If you have not read part 1 click here WEEK 97. PART 1

 

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

 The rest of Saturday 31st went like this: 

I drove around, Auburn, the town where I live trying to finish off my ¨to do¨ list. It didn’t take long

because Auburn is a very small town. Founded in 1892 the city was given its name because of the red

clay found here to dye cloth auburn-red.  The pine tree surrounded town is so small in fact; the historic

downtown consists of two tiny blocks. Police department included.  Incredibly, the old, two story brick

and wood buildings on those two tiny blocks are in just one side of the street. Therefore, there is great

visibility of the little downtown area when you drive  on Highway 8, also known as Highway 29 or Winder

Highway, because the only thing between them are the rail road tracks that run parallel to the road for

miles on end. 

However, even with an open view of Auburn’s historical downtown, driving by at 30 miles an hour you can

miss it by a blink of an eye. The only thing that pops out of the scenery in this small street was an old,

red caboose stationed on a little park area by the buildings. When Alonso was with me in the car and saw

it he would shriek with delight over and over again, ¨Choo chooooo tain!! Ook! Yaya!! Chooooo choo!!¨

And when I was by myself and saw it, I knew that on the next light I had to turn left and cross over the

rail road tracks if I wanted to go home. 

Sometimes the thought of stopping and taking a closer look at the red caboose crossed my mind. But I

never did. Not in eleven years.  I guess I had let it go to many tomorrows.

When I was done with my list I passed once more by the red caboose on my way home. Sigh.

Soon I would be living in another city and this familiar sight would be something from my past.

I wondered... No- Certainly now was not the time to be curious and stop the car. Georgina C would 

soon be by my house to pick up her virtual yard sale purchases. 

Georgina arrived right on time with her husband, teenage son, mother, and two pick up trucks. The

cheery woman in her late thirties paid for what she promised she would buy, then looked around the

garage with interest and bought even more. Her son wanted every tool he saw in sight, and her mother

bought the green rod iron kitchen rack and one of my favorite decorations; a wreath... a beautiful one

custom made, with lots of love by my sister Hilda just for me.

At least Georgina was so thrilled with the furniture, decor and tools she bought that it made it easier

for me to let go of them... I even threw in some of my movie posters for free. But when I saw that 

wreath in their pick up truck as they drove off on Summer Lane... I had to repeat to myself that I was

saying good bye to mere objects, not loved ones. Things dear to me, but not necessary to go on living.

And afterall, much of our memory bearing belongings were on the way to Spain already.

 

I should not complain. The large two car garage that had metamorphized into a storage unit throughout

the years was now almost clutter free. I couldn´t believe I actually could park two cars in it if I wanted

to. I laughed out loud and shook my head. How ironic... now that I didn´t need it.... 

Now, with the pick up arrangement out of the way, and a gratifying sense of relief I could go to Ingles

Market and buy some groceries for a special dinner, as I had always done in years past for New Year's

Eve. I took my grandson Alonso along. In the produce department I held a bag of green, seedless

grapes and pondered on buying them. In Spain it is traditional to eat grapes on New Years Eve; exactly

twelve grapes on the last quarter of the last minute of the year. There is always an exception of

course... with my son, Chris, I remember we had to prepare a small plate with 12 peanuts. He was a 

finicky eater. However, most Spaniards make an art of this traditional grape- eating moment.

Others like me, choke or end up laughing and pieces of gnawed grapes go flying everywhere...

I smiled. What´s not to like about it? I certainly had some great family memories tied to the tradition!!

 

I looked at Alonso, sitting in the shopping cart, happily eating the free cookie offered to all children at the

bakery. The chocolate chips matched his big, dark brown eyes. I said to him, ¨well, buddy, you won´t be

eating grapes tonight... by ten o´clock, the latest, you will be sound asleep, and your mommy will be

going over to her best friend´s house. Hmmm... what´s the point of buying these.¨

 

I put the grapes back. Some people skip Christmas- tonight I was going to skip ¨las uvas¨or the

grapes.  It could wait until next year when I would celebrate next to my husband, Pepe. 

The thought aroused emotions. A tear fought my will and rolled down my cheek.

I decided right there I wasn´t even going to cook dinner. The hell with it. Sandra, Alonso and I could eat

out. I paid for my milk and bread and headed home. There was a very important call to make at six p.m..

That I couldn´t skip.

 

On the way home, Alonso cried out his usual, ¨Chooo choo!! Yaya!! Chooo choo tain!!¨ But this time I 

didn´t keep going, I crossed over the rail road tracks, turned left and onto the tiny two block street.

Alonso sensed what was about to happen and clapped his hands in aticipation.

I said opening his door, ¨Let´s go buddy! Let´s say hello to our friend the choooo chooo tain.¨ Alonso

opened wide those big eyes of his and gave me an even bigger smile, jumping for joy all the way to the

red caboose. 

 

 

Seeing Alonso explore the red caboose was priceless. However, when the time came to say good

bye it wan´t easy. He did not want to part from his new friend. I had to half drag, half carry a very

dramatic, crying Alonso to the car. The child shed tears all the way home crying out for his train.

My grandson´s tears would not be the lasts of the day. When six o´clock came around I was ready to

make that important phone call. In Madrid it was midnight and the New Year 2012 had arrived. As I held

the phone tight I whispered, Happy New Year honey. I waited a few minutes before dialing my husband´s

cell phone number. I had to wait... give him time to hug our daughter Mayra, her husband Raul, our

grandkids Alberto and Gabriel, and the rest of the family there gathered.

 

My husband´s voice quivered as he said, ¨Baby, don´t cry please. Everything will be different next

year... This is our last one apart. OUR LAST ONE!  The wait is over. I love you with all my heart and

I can´t wait to see you in a few days. We have a whole brand new year to spend together. I love

you. I´ll call you tomorrow. OK?¨ 

He was crying by the end of the conversation.

I sobbed on the kitchen´s counter after we hung up.

 

Sandra, and I ended having juicy hamburgers at Dakota´s Restaurant. Alonso had a grilled cheese

sandwich with fries. Delicious any time of the year, yet so different from what I would have prepared on

such a night. I think my daughter and I did a real good job of eating our hamburgers without getting

emotional. In the back of our heads I know we were thinking the same; eleven more days and

who knew when we would be together again after I moved to Spain.

 

When we returned home, Sandra started getting ready to go to Diana´s home. I had insited she

go before midnight... but she took her sweet time. I knew what my daughter was doing. She

didn´t want me to be home by myself. While she put on her make up and did her hair I fell asleep

cuddled up next to Alonso. 

A ¨Mom! Wake up!!MOOOM!! It´s almost time¨!!¨ woke me up. I responded with a ¨Didn´t I

tell you I wanted to sleep? Why aren´t you at Diana´s?¨ She said, ¨I wasn´t going to leave you

here like this!¨ I rolled my eyes. I knew it. 

When the clock struck midnight my daughter and I hugged, kissed and did a little silly dance in the

dark living room lit dimly by our television. 

 

After the door closed behind her I took a moment and texted Happy New Year to my son Chris, who

was working, his wife... my friends. I gave Hilda a phone call and we ended up talking for quite a while. 

And as always we laughed. We always like to say something funny to make each other

laugh... we can´t help it. Silly, very grown up girls we are.

 

In my home. In the wee hours of the first day of the year of 2012. In that little town of Northern

Georgia named Auburn, next to a peacefully sleeping Alonso I cuddled once more and wished him

a Happy New Year. I carresed his hair and wondered if he was dreaming of red choo choo trains.

 

Kissing his forehead and wrapping my arm around him... I  hoped... hoped it would be a good

year for us all. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WEEK 97. PART 1

 

WEEK 97

Thursday, December 29, 2011 - Wednesday, January 4, 2012

This is such an important week in my life

 A turning point

The year 2011 with all my waiting and wondering will be left behind

  The year 2012 will be welcomed with all my hopes and dreams of a new life in Spain next to Pepe

*******

Sooo.... Let´s see what I have to say about Week 97...

 

On Thursday I spent much time checking my Facebook messages. Obsesively checking. Not to see if Pepe, family or

friends had anything to say to me...nope... I was checking for messages from strangers. Because with only two weeks

until I leave Auburn, Georgia, and still so much to sell I figured I´d try anything. And I did.

 

You see, a friend who saw me hand out my ¨for sale¨ flyers to another friend at Ingles Market (A.K.A. as my former

place of employment) sugested I´d try a virtual garage/yard sale on Facebook. Wow, for real? I said with a big smile,

I wish I would have known about this before! I left the flyers with Sherry, bought in a hurry a few groceries for that night´s

dinner, and I drove home with high hopes. As soon as I was at my desk I sat and searched in Facebook for results

under my neighboring area plus yard sale. And Yeap. There it was. The Dacula Auburn Online Yard Sale, or something

like that. Ah, looking at my computer screen I imagined a little light at the end of the tunnel intermitently flashing

 ¨possible sales... possible sales... possible sales...¨ I quickly requested a ¨friendship¨ and just as quickly I was

 ¨accepted¨. Wow, I said to myself, How awesome was this? Facebook is not just for connecting with friends, loved

 ones and not so loved ones. No. Now you can actually sell your treasures/junk through it!

 

I was one happy woman. Afterall, if it worked out I would be making less trips to the Goodwill donation center in

Winder and that would be very, very nice. So I snooped around the page first to see who was selling and what they

were selling and secondly I joined the club with fingers crossed. Now it was time to check, and check and check for

any responses to my posts.

  

Anyway, at the end of the day my obsesive checking gave fruit for I was messaged. I even heard angels sing as I read

the messages from Facebook strangers who wanted to buy! The best part was that it had been easy to do too. And If

you would like to try a virtual garage/yard sale just follow my steps...  Upload photo of your stuff. Forget what you

paid for it. Describe the wonderful condition it´s in and ask for a fair low price. Patiently wait for comments with

offers/bids. If you are as desperate as I accept any ridiculous offers. Don´t pull your hair. Laugh. Afterward

message the strangers for pick up arrangements.

 

And I prayed that they, the strangers, did not back down. I prayed that I might be able to leave our pretty house with a

view completely empty to facilitate renting it, and that I might have no worries the last few days of my stay in the United

States. That I could proudly tell Pepe that night, ¨Baby, I did it! Our house will soon be empty.. Wheh! One less thing to

worry about!!¨ Sigh. Dear God, you know how hard these two years have been on my husband and I. Allow us to finally

concentrate on us. On our marriage. Allow these last fourteen days to go by fast...

 

Hopefully, God wouldn´t mind my silly prayers.

**********

 

The following is a bit of show and tell to conmemorate what would be my best Facebook sale.

 

       Georgina C

• Do you still have these items:
  
  Desk Lamp
  
  Lawnmower
  
  Ladder
  
  Shelf Unit
  
  Bookcases
  
  China Cabinet.

• Juana Aragon Bernal

  • Actually, yes I still have them all!

  Georgina C

  I added it up, you want 186.00 for it all but would you be willing to take $175

  • I could come saturday and pick it all up.

       Juana Aragon Bernal

• Hi Georgina: Yes, $175.00 is fine.
  When would you pick it up?

         Georgina C

• It would have to be Saturday. I have a feeling I will need more than one truck. So by then I will have gotten two
  helpers and trucks together. Or Sunday, if that is better. Just let me know when, and how to get to you.

Juana Aragon Bernal

Saturday is fine, but if you change your mind please don't let me know last minute, because I am moving overseas on Wednesday and I wouldn't have a chance to sell it! Thank you!!
My address is 1**4 Summer Lane,
Auburn 30011 

 

 

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

Friday 30th I start the day with my first of many cups of coffee, the usual peek out the kitchen’s window to check the weather, and then return to what used to be my bedroom but now only holds a small, square, dark brown table that serves as a desk, a chair and my computer. Then, I begin my daily routine by logging into my Yahoo mail account. Nothing new. Just a bunch of unwanted e-mails that I don’t care to even read and delete, delete, delete. Darn! I was hoping someone browsing for a dining room in Craiglist fancied mine..

In order to sell it better I had reupholstered the six chairs with my own clumsy little hands! A little time consuming but totally worth it. They looked amazing if I say so myself. Frankly, I was very surprised at the result. At least at first sight... Who was going to turn the chairs upside down and look at the imperfections underneath the seat? If you saw me as I write this, I have a develish grin on my face. What!! I am not good at anything involving fabric, measurements and scissors...

Anyway, I have kept reducing it´s price and most likely will keep doing it. You know this actually hurts? But it hurts because so many great memories are attached to this eleven year old, solid pine table and chairs. To an outsider it´s just a table and chairs.. oh, and hutch. To me it´s MY dining room. The table and chairs were we gathered as a family. Where I placed my family´s favorite food. Where we placed birthday and baby shower cakes. Where we played games.Where we drew out plans. Where we had great conversations… and laughter… lots of laughter! Ah, the memories… and now I have only thirteen days to let go of it practically giving it away… but there it was; One more day sitting pretty in it´s place with no offers. 

 What´s wrong with people? Don´t they see it´s a steal?

Oh, well, Juana maybe tomorrow, I said to myself and went on with my routine. After logging out of my e- mail account I went on to log into my E-bay account. You see, I had invested a little money in reduced dvds and 24 by 27 inch movie posters before I stopped working in my video department. It was a way of making a little income during this time of waiting around for my return to Spain. I didn´t mind E-bay. It kept me busy - adding listings was time consuming. But at the end the money added to good sums in Pay Pal and that was very welcomed. Especially since I have been without a paycheck for two months now.

However, once in a while there was that customer, like today, that soured the milk in my coffee with a message saying the item arrived damaged and was going to give me negative feedback unless I returned his money. Which was imposible of course.. unless the mail carrier ran over it with the truck... and I would have to settle with him in order to keep my ¨good seller¨ status. BOO HOO! 

Word of mouth, flyers, Craiglist, and E-bay selling...  

You gotta do what you gotta do!

And now, after dealing with the irrate person from E-bay it was time to log out and log into my bank account. One quick look.... and I felt like bringing out a violin and playing a sad tune, but I don´t have one so I log out of my Suntrust account and log into my Facebook account.. With no messages from possible buyers through the online yard sale it was time to read status updates from  family and friends.

Finally!!  

Something enjoyable to help me disconnect for a moment from my selling and worries! 

WOW! I just realized

I am pooped from logging in and out... 

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

Saturday 31st. Last day of the year 2011. Hard to believe. It´s been a long, long wait for my husband and I, but that gap betwen us called the Atlantic Ocean will be no more in a matter of days. For Delta flight 109 will carry me over it, and once on the other side I will never, never, EVER separate from my husband again!! I will be stuck to him like a 5 ft 6in giant leech. Watch out honey! Here I come!

However, New Years Eve is the last thing I want to think of. Or at least I am trying to convince myself of that. Good thing I have so much on my mind today. I have to swing by the dollar store and buy bubble envelopes to mail the dvds I sold in e-bay the last couple of days. I also have to swing by the library and print out the addresses and delivery confirmation numbers for them. Then run to the post office before they close. Later on the day Georgina C, will be coming by to pick up the furniture she is interested in... and there is another person interested in the patio set that might come by the house. Oh! I need to run by Home Depot and buy more Wasabi color paint so I can finish painting the kitchen cabinets.... Some lucky person is going to enjoy a freshly painted house and brand new looking kitchen cabinets! 

Did I mention I bartered with my car?

I need to paint my house.

You need a car. Only you will get it the day before I leave the States? Yes?

Uhu... I traded my old, purple Dodge Stratus for a complete house paint job.

Well, except for the kitchen cabinets...

 

The young man to the right is Felipe. He is the brother of Sandra´s best friend, Diana. And their parents Mr. & Mrs. Gonzalez are like Sandra´s second parents. Wonderful Colombian family. I will miss them!

 

As I was saying-  lots in my mind today, but not enough to stop me from taking a look at Facebook before I left the house. Today, unlike me, everyone I knew would be celebrating and having parties. I tried not getting melancolic... I just had to wait a few more days to celebrate... my New Year´s party would be January 12th, when I reunite with my hubby. It was around the corner!

Meantime, reading other people´s plans for New Year´s Eve would be fun. Besides, I would add a word or two myself!! 

And as I scrolled down facebook...WHOA!!  Did someone have plans!! Very different plans from most people on this last day of the year!! Savannah, my sister Hilda´s very pregnant grandaughter had just posted earlier in the day ¨Jack is coming for real! my water just broke!¨

 (You might remember Savannah from posts   A FAIRY TALE LOVE STORY...  and WEEKS GONE BY + WEEK 57 AND 58. Part 3 + Part of WEEK 59 & 60= I can't keep up! )

Oh, my gosh!! How exciting!!

A new baby boy would be born to our family in a matter of hours

BUT... OH, MY GOSH!!

My nephew Alex would be a grandfather!!

That meant my sister would be a GREAT GRANDMOTHER... 

Already?? How can that be??

I am too young to be  her sister!! 

 MY SISTER IS TOO YOUNG TO BE ONE!!

NOW, Hilda,... don´t worry. Seriouly. 

 You will be one of the greatest, coolest and youngest GREAT GRANDMAMAS there is in this world!!!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

A few hours later in Ohio...

Precious baby Jack James Ryan Ward was born 

 

Making all of his family in the United States and in Spain say

¨AAAAAAAAWWWWWWW!!!¨

Congratulations and many blessings Zach and Savannah

He sure is a cutie!!!

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 TO BE CONTINUED...