I DO!

There may be one or two more chapter/episode from the "Life's a Dance" writing that I been posting here. Most of you that have been following it already know that this was not written recently but almost five years ago. However most of what you've been reading is pretty much a transparent representation of what our current state of mind and level of life was. Our last big fight or disagreement happened around the year 2000 but once we re-committed to each other we spent all of our time and energy concentrating on having a good life as a couple and trust me what glorious last ten years we had. We learned more, loved more, and lived more than we had in the past.

So here's the next piece of the story, this one although brief it touches on what was a huge highlight in our lives.

I DO!

And so in an intimate family gathering held at my mom’s house surrounded by our son and his wife, our two daughters and their husbands, and our five grandchildren Sylvia and I said, “I do” all over again. Seems it was only yesterday when we said those two little words and yet a quarter of a century has passed.

God has given us so much that I am ashamed we have abandoned him so much. The ceremony performed by Father Helios was an eye opener, his words though beautiful said a truth we did not want to hear but that needed to be reminded, it was a good time to reflect on our past and to see if we need to make any adjustments or changes as we head to our future. Father Helios was able to remember Sylvia’s mom and my dad and made us feel as they were there with us blessing our renewed commitment to keep going on.

I certainly was a blessing to have my mom and Sylvia’s dad present, Don Sixto looked just as good as he did 25 years ago when he walked Sylvia down the aisle except this time around he just walked her out the living room to the patio where the mass was celebrated.

Anybody that knows Father Helios will know that he is a very good priest that puts so much attention to detail, from his singing to his melodic sermons where he makes us repeat his sentences over and over again. The mass was about 40 minutes long but thanks to him it felt, as it was shorter.

A touching moment that will last in my mind forever is when he called our kids and told them to kneel in front of us so that they could receive our blessing. Both Sylvia and I took turns blessing each one of them, naturally some tears were shed but you can rest assured that they were tears of happiness.

What followed was also a beautiful moment as my niece Marya sang her rendition of “The Ave Maria” as we received communion. More than one pair of eyes showed that sparkle that only comes when a tear makes its presence known. Sylvia’s and mine were just inundated with tears so if we looked like we sparkled now you know why.

Thanks to all of our family members and friends that joined us in such a joyous occasion, your presence meant the world to us, and to the ones that could not attend know that we still had you in our hearts thus making us feel as if you were there celebrating with us.

So as Sylvia and I head towards our future we invite you to keep being such a crucial and important part in our lives. With your help another 25 years should be a breeze.

So, we had found the formula we needed to make that possible. Given the chance, the next 25 years would have been a breeze. We were making sure of that on a daily basis. But when orders from higher authorities manifest themselves before us, we must submit and accept. For those of us left behind until our time comes family, family unity, and family values continue to be our set goal to pursue and strive for.

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The Wedding

Writing a post is getting harder and harder, after all life is very repetitious. I wish I could tell you something new but my life wonderful as it may be is pretty much routine.

Even our celebrations are becoming harder and harder to top as we have so many. Well such was not the case of my sisters wedding this past Saturday. It was at least 35 years in the making and it finally happened.

Friday we went to church to have an entrance practice. We were given instructions of the "do's" and "dont's", and also in which order we were going to march down the aisle. When the deacon asked whom was giving the groom away "mi chica" sort of kiddin-gly said she would. Well, the kidding became a reality as she was in fact the person that my brother in law took with him to walk him towards the bride as she came to meet him by the altar.

(Wow, baby I just realized that you gave him away but also you were kind of the "Best Man"... way to go "mi chica", you're the man... ma'am)

So, anyway practice went pretty good, we were to make sure that the following day everyone knew where to place themselves and what to do as they walk down the aisle and got to their places.

Me, I had the honor of walking my older sister in representation of my dad along with my mom on the other side. Both of us walked her down the aisle and that in itself was a great moment in my life.

Waiting for so long to say "I do" was worth it, the ceremony was beautiful, my sister took the church choir and they added some very harmonious songs to the mass. My niece also offered a couple of songs that she sang for them. It was all very beautiful.

We had the reception at my other sister's house, same as where we had my daughter's two weeks ago and are happy to say that no neighbors complained, so I guess we must behave pretty good. We had good food, plenty of drinks and fun music to dance to.

All in all, another great and successful celebration.