A Wonderful Reunion

Just a few months before my 10th birthday, my family moved to Mexico. We lived in Guadalajara for just over a year. We quickly made friends with a lovely family across the street. The family had one daughter a year older than my brother (so 5 years older than me) and three boys (each of which, or maybe all of which, were the objects of my juvenile adoration at various times). I really really loved this family (and still do :o) I idolized the daughter, Carmelita (-ita is a diminutive use to make a nickname for the name Carmen...She was so nicknamed because she and her mother share the name Carmen). I loved hanging out with her and I played with her or her brothers almost daily. We moved to Mexico City but we kept in touch. Carmelita always said she wanted to marry an American and move to the U.S. She is a very bright and determined person. She had a plan, and it started with her learning English by, at first, listening to American music...Specifically, Barry Manilow. Yes, she is a fanilow. And since I idolized her, so was I by default. It's amazing that with as many places as I have lived and with as many people as I have known, and with as many people as I have lost track of, this family and mine are forever joined in some wonderful way.

I remember her youngest brother, Jesus, was an artist. I keep forgetting to ask if he still draws and paints. But he was a gifted artist at a very young age. I regret that I don't have one of his drawings. But life is funny and as proof that the world is indeed a very small place, various members of this family call from time to time to say they are passing through and we bend space and time to make sure we get together. I really owe a debt of gratitude to my Uncle Bill and Aunt Suzie, who have lived in the same house all of my life, because they are also very close to this family and have helped us keep in contact.

Carmelita got her wish...or maybe fulfilled her plan to marry an American. She attended my wedding and she and her husband lived in a town close to here for several years. When her first child was born, a son, I was one of the first to visit her at home. My own firstborn is just about 7 months older than her son. That was the last time I saw her, 12 years ago.

A few years ago Jesus called out of the blue a day or two before Thanksgiving. He was in Oregon on business and Dad talked him into coming to our wild Turkey Day celebration. It was FABULOUS to see him and I will always cherish it. I got Carmelita's email from him and we corresponded for a while but I suffered multiple computer crashes and lost all my email addresses, then I had to change my email address, so we lost contact.

Most recently, on Monday at 8:30 am, to be precise, my phone rang. I didn't recognize the number but I answered it in a moment of curiosity (I routinely screen numbers I don't recognize). I am so glad I did. It was Carmelita! She now goes by Carmen or Meli, but she is still Carmelita to me. I again owe my uncle a debt of gratitude for keeping great records and never moving because he gave her my new phone number (which is also unlisted). So we set up a time to meet on Tuesday.

We did meet. I took Quinn. Connor was at school and Dylan and Jonah were with Grandpa Don and Grandma. Carmelita and clan were gracious enough to make a stop so we could visit a bit. As these things go, it was was glorious and achingly short. Her children are deliciously beautiful and charming and darling. I wish we lived closer. I think they are wonderful young people whom I would very much enjoy knowing better and watching grow. I had never met her daughter (now age 10). Both children look so much like their uncles. And how impressive, to Carmelita's credit, both children are bilingual! Wonderful!

My sincerest thanks to her wonderful husband, Jeff, for taking a large chunk of potential driving time on a beautiful day, with a very long drive ahead, and allowing us to share a short while together. Thank you!