IT's a Party!

Kids running around, coming in and out of the red, green yellow and blue inflatable castle; hotdogs and buns burning in charcoal, familiar faces smiling from table to table, and there we were, Ann and I chatting closer together from our self designated table at the twins 11^th birthday party.   We have been invited to this family’s daughters birthday party.  The mother is a full time mechanical engineer and the father, who looks much older that the mother, a full time stay at home dad.   We look at each other eyes in admiration, they are so brave, we thought.  He seems so contented; he is not even looking for a job!  Perhaps he is retired we were guessing.   We were a little jealous and perplexed at the same time.  Was this possible, could the family work having the men at home being the primary caregiver and home administrator, while the mom would go to work long hours  in a work field that is primarily occupied by men?    I remember saying to Ann, I think is possible, sure is nice to come home to a hot meal that you don’t have to cook.   The Birthday girls’ mom sat with us for a while, and we had to interview her. Ann & I look at her in full attention, eyes wide open. I bet mom had seen our curiosity before; she did not seem annoyed with our inquiries.  “Yes, dad takes care of the cleaning, shopping and cooking.   I just have to adjust to his standards, and fix something here and there, but pretty much, he does a very good job”.    Dad is so friendly, he loves having people around, he seems, however, he does not speak much words.  Apparently he did not finish high school. He used to work back in Washington, mom tell us that he worked in Good Will by picking up donations and driving a truck.  Mom’s dad was in the board and that is how they met.   Ann and I were listening to her story while she speak so matter of fact, and I ask her,  how is it that you guys start dating. She smiles a little and while she explains:  he is just so funny.   You could never be boring with him, and by looking around, everyone gathering around him, who has a joke for everyone, it seemed it logical.   Now, with our curiosity satisfied, Ann and I concluded that perhaps the norm can stretch a little.   

The Reunion

Life is about taking a day a time; however, when we are young, we think time will disappear from our hands like running water.   Today my junior high group had a reunion. It has been about 22 years since we shared a space, and I am pleasantly surprised to find out that we haven’t changed much.  I studied junior high in La Paz B. C. S., a little piece of heaven, beaches, the sun and the dancing palm trees where time seems to have been stopped.  My friends created a group and took the time to find most of us from all around, even the ones who are out of town, to take part of the gathering through a What’s Up group.  They are sending us, the out  of town ones, current pictures of what is going on at the reunion.  I look at them and I remember their nicknames, their vices, and my own.  It was not too long ago when I was a master to ditch classes, Gerardo was my boyfriend, and Amor, who is now an instructor in a gym, was a tiny little girl who ran around chasing everyone with coursing words.   Like her in those days, we were running to adulthood and now here we are, embedded in nostalgic school tales.