Between U.S.A. and Spain.

IN SPAIN. DAY 23. TIME TO SAY GOODBYE.

 

DAY 23

OCTOBER 6

 

It was 6 A.M. when the phone rang. As requested, a hotel clerk, was

letting us know it was time to "rise and shine". In our case...

it was more like  "rise and cry". Because, that is exactly what we did.

Knowing this would be the last time we would be together as a

couple, until next February. We stayed a litter longer in bed....just

embracing...

 After getting ready, we went to Mayra's to say goodbye. Her house

was still....quiet....Raul and the kids, asleep. It was better that

way. It was already hard enough to say goodbye to Mayra. I wondered,

when would be the next time we would be together...

 

Pepe started the car. I started sobbing. My forehead started pounding.

Pepe sat there...looking helpless not knowing how to console me.

Fearing a migraine I asked Pepe, not to move the car, and went back

to Mayra's so I could take something for my nerves. Thank goodness

my Doctor had prescribed a medication in case of an anxiety attack.

I kept it in case of an emergency...This was the time to take it, I

really needed to calm down...

 

Pill in hand, I got out of the car and walked toward Mayra's building.

I didn't want Mayra to see me like that, so I blew my nose, wiped

my tears, and pretended to be better than I was. I pressed the 

main door's intercom, there was a "buzz", and I opened the main

door to the hallway. Down the hallway I saw her open her door and 

pop her head out, looking worried. I put on a funny Cuban accent, 

the one we always use to fool around, and said " Ay, chica!!! I am

back!!!". We both laughed...I asked her for a glass of water to take

that pill, and gave her one more hug.

 

We were quiet in the car during the ride to Barajas Airport, in Madrid.

Traffic as always, was bad. The line at Delta, even worse. Seeing

the clock ticking, terrible. Saying goodbye, horrendously painful. 

 

Delta flight 109 to Atlanta, Georgia, took off right on time at 11:30 A.M. 

on the dot. As I peeked out the window I thought about everyone I 

was leaving behind. I thought about everyone I would be seeing 

when I arrived. I closed my eyes, rested my head against the

window, and thought about how well I named this blog. Yes, I 

couldn't have chosen better....Between U.S.A. and Spain. 

 

 

IN SPAIN. DAY 22. MY LAST DAY....

 

DAY 22 

OCTOBER  5

 

  
 

I could write so  much about this day....and, post so many photos.

However, I need to simplify. Time is of the essence. I am actually

in the U.S., and I am finding difficult to catch up with my day by day

stay in Spain....Yet, this is how our day turned out...

It's Tuesday. Pepe and I decided last night to do one more trip. I 

choose the great city of TOLEDO! It's only 45 minutes away from

Mayra's home...Why not!

 

 We had a great time...bought some souvenirs...and I, of course 

took photos.

 

  
 

Although....I wish...I really wish...I had a good camera to capture

these fantastic sights. Oh, well....it is, what it is...and now I will post

some photos so all can see the beauty of this city!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 During our visit, I noticed the amount of tourist, and guided tours!

I wondered....if I could become a guide tour.

 

Hmmmmm....I would like that too. I love to learn...and love to talk....

and, I speak English. When I get back home I MUST google this line

of work!!!

 

Before leaving Toledo, Pepe and I, sat at the main plaza and had

some ice cream while we people watched.

 

 

 
  
   
Oh....how I love to do that. Although, it seems...Pepe was

actually observing me while I observed people! He surprised me when

he said, " I love the way your white hair looks...it makes you such

an interesting woman". Oh, Lord!!! Please,  I thought it was wonderful...

but, I cracked up laughing!!!!!!

 

 

Before we left we bought Mayra her favorite sweets from Toledo, and

took one more look at the impressive city. I love Toledo...

 

 

 
  

Who woudn't fall in love with Toledo! Any street you walk through is

magnificent!

  

Once home, I gave Mayra her sweets, and a necklace I bought for her.

She is always so thankful, even for little things. She ended up crying

and hugging me....she is so emotional. I wonder who she took after....

 

I love you Mayra....you are so special to me. Thank you for all the

love you have always given us! Thank you for taking care of your

dad for me....

  

In the kitchen, as Mayra and I engaged in conversation, little Gabriel

seeing that we were distracted made this big, big, mess!

 

Now, It was time to finish packing....and enjoy our last night with

Mayra, Raul, Alberto, and Gabriel. But,  before I left I wanted to make

the rice pudding that Raul loves so much...so he would have a sweet

memory of his mother in law...he, he, he....and for dinner the cod

fritters Mayra loves....

Oh, and a super fun photo shoot with Alberto!!!
 

 
  

Altogether, I  sure had a full day! I am very, very, happy to have

been with my husband...with my family and friends!!! I love

you!!!!! All of you!!!!!

 

Later that night, Pepe and I, stayed at the other hotel in town,

"Las Estrellas", which means The Stars, Sigh....Sigh.....Sigh.........

If I  had to give this night a name it would be "Love and Tears".

And, that's all....I can't write anymore....I am not feeling well...

I can't see  anything from  the tears, anyway.

 

 

 

IN SPAIN. DAY 21.

 

DAY 21

OCTOBER 4

 

Last night I took a sleeping pill. I didn't want to stay up during

the night thinking. I really needed to ensure some sleep. Too much

going on...I have only 2 days until I leave Spain, and head back to

U.S.A. I also didn't want to think about the funeral, and how sad 

Belen must have been feeling. I know well how it feels. It was 

better to sleep.

 

However, this morning it was time to be there for Belen. My husband, 

who only needed to receive a shipment of products at work, came over

at 10 A.M. Maribel, Juanca, Pepe, and  I, had breakfast at a cafeteria

close to their home before heading to the 11 A.M. funeral Mass.

How sad to see Belen, and her brothers say goodbye to their mom...

 

After the Mass, Pepe and I,  needed to go to a nearby shopping center

to buy our son Christopher a book he had asked for. While there

we got a call from my nieces that they were taking Belen and her

sister, to lunch and asked us to join them at at "Jardin Pizza" ,

in Majadahonda.

 

It was a very nice lunch. I knew this would the last time I would

be seeing my nieces, and most likely my sisters too...But, we 

didn't really say goodbyes. We avoided that. Except with  Belen, 

who kept hugging me, and telling me how glad she was to have 

had us in such a hard moment. I was glad to be there too...she is

a great person....and has such a great heart! 

 

Later that day, Pepe and I, wanted to check out one more town

close to Brunete, the one we would like to live in, since we were

told house prices were good. Ah, we did....the town was cute, and

loved the country view from the road, going to Quijorna, but...the

curves and more curves, ahhhhhhh...no, thanks!

 

Since Quijorna was only 10 minutes from my sister Cary's home

I figured we could go and have coffee with them. It was nice

to be at her house again, and have a more intimate time with 

her and her boyfriend. When it was time to leave, they gave

me a box with two excellent white wines and four  fantastic bottles

of the most exquisite virgin olive oil! 

 

This time....Cary and I, said goodbye...until the next trip!

 

IN SPAIN. DAY 20. ADRI'S BIRTHDAY...

 

DAY 20

OCTOBER 3

 

It's Sunday...and the day started out wonderfully, with Raul

bringing churros, porras and that great, hot, thick, Spanish chocolate

I talked about in an earlier blog.(I made sure I took photos so I could

post them with this blog. However, for some reason I am not able

to download the photos....)

 

During breakfast we talked about my niece Adriana's birthday. She

turns 25 today, and we...of course, have been invited to her home

in Alcorcon. Another family get together, except this time it's a smaller

group...more on "our" side of the family and Adri's in-laws. 

 

Later on we had a nice lunch at home, and played with the kids. 

When it was time we went to Adri's. Alberto, as always went with 

Pepe and me, in our car. He loves Yayo's car...I love talking with him

during the rides.

 

What was promising to be a great birthday party for my niece, turned

out a very sad occasion. A couple of minutes after our arrival, we were

told that Belen had just called to inform them her mother, who had

 been sick for some time,  had just passed away. Belen...Belen...I

have known her since she was 15 years old. More than the friend

of my nieces, she is part of my family! We were in shock...and 

would be going to the funeral home as soon as Belen called to let

us know she was there. 

 

Feeling terrible for my niece, we tried to pep up for her and, as hard

as it was, put aside for the moment what we would be facing later on

that evening. We put a happy face, and kept our sadness tucked in

our hearts.  Adriana, got to blow the candles of her chocolate cake,

and open her presents surrounded by her family clapping and cheering

for her. After all...she was turning 25, and she deserved to enjoy

her birthday.

 

When we were having coffee, Belen called. She was at the funeral 

home. It was time to go. And, so we did....all of us,except Mayra and

Raul who had the kids,  left at the same time to be with Belen, in such a

hard moment...

 

Unbelievable as it seems....Pepe and I found ourselves once more

at the funeral home, next to the cemetery in Alcorcon. The same

one we had been at for Marian, two weeks ago. I couldn't help but

think, that in 3 days it would be October 6th. On that day, and at

that same place, eight years ago...we gathered when my mom

passed away....

 

We stayed nearly until midnight with Belen. My husband needed to 

work the next morning, so he left...and I slept over at my sister Maribel's 

so we could go to the funeral the next day.

 

In life you never know how a day is going to end....