I miss my Dad today. I think it’s because his birthday is coming up, on Thursday, and today is Memorial Day. He was a Vet and his casket was covered with an American flag at the mausoleum.
This morning, I helped my Mom order flowers for my aunt’s funeral. She is not good at ordering things online so I did it for her. Before we ordered, she called my cousin, Reyna to find out my aunt’s favorite color. I probably have only seen my Tía Olga maybe 10 times in my life but she meant so much to me and I was really affected by her passing!
My Dad was happiest when we were visiting relatives in Texas. I first met my Tía Olga and Tío Rey when I was six years old. Texas was so foreign to me because everyone spoke so funny (with their southern accents) and it was so blazing hot!
My Tía doted on my Dad! My Dad would call her, “Aunt” (she was his dad‘s sister so really she was my great aunt) and when they spoke, if my Dad had a question or if she agreed with him she would say, “Yes (which really sounded like “chess” with her thick accent) Mijito.” I’ve been thinking about that and hearing her say it all day today!
My Tía Olga and Tío Rey and their two daughters came up to Michigan for my Dad’s funeral. Sean and I had just moved into our second apartment three weeks earlier and I gave it to them to stay in while Sean and I stayed with my Mom. My Tía sent up a crocheted Afghan to me shortly after they left as a, “Thank you.” It is absolutely beautiful with an intricate design on it, one that I’ve never seen before. It’s purple, to match my bedspread.
Once the flowers were ordered and after we talked extensively about our time in Texas, my Mom called the florist once I received confirmation via email. She wanted to know how big the spray was that we ordered. Once we were given the dimensions, I looked at my Mom and told her that it was pretty big!
My Mom responded simply with, “Everything‘s big in Texas!” My Tía was the first person to tell us that when my brothers and I saw a 3 L bottle of pop at H.E.B. for the first time. My family would constantly say those four words to each other whenever we spoke of Texas or went down there as a family. I am happy that she is with my Dad now!