Managua
Wednesday morning, August 5th was indeed a new day to relish. Our trip seemed to become a spiritual quest to connect with family; and the inheritance of our history and our faith. Our trip evolved into a pilgrimage. Each day brought new people into our lives.
The day before we visited the Missionaries of Charity in Managua on the old road to Leon. The sisters were happy and grateful to receive an "encomienda" a suitcase full of items sent to them from the MC's in Alhambra, CA. Their chapel is beautiful just like all chapels of the Missionaries of Charity. Seeing the beautiful crucifix on the wall and the words written next to it reading, "Estoy Sediento" (I Thirst) makes one stop and contemplate on the sacrifice of the cross and His mercy that pours out to all humanity. I felt privileged to be there.
We noticed the churches as we past them and we prayed that God would keep us safe. I realized that the people on the street are all part of us. They make up what Nicaragua is today. Afterall, we're the one's who left. Strangely I thought, we were all connected in one way or another. I thought about my mother. I knew that she would know her way around but I couldn't ask her. Are our family members buried in that old cemetary? What is that building? Did you get married in the old Cathedral? The old Cathedral was now abandoned and dilapidated. What would she think if she saw it now? What ever happened to "El Dario," the theatre that she and my father owned back in the early 1940's. Where had it stood? These thoughts haunted me. I had no answers. So, we took pictures.
We had slept comfortably at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Managua. The hotel was formerly called the Inter-Continental Hotel. Breakfast was excellent and well worth the cost of the nights stay of $130, after haggling the price. This is were Howard Hughes was a guest the dreaded day of the earthquake of December 1972. He had to flee just like everyone else. Just to close your eyes and imagine that you were standing in the same place, in the same city where so many people had suffered so many trials - brought upon me a true spirit of empathy for the people of Nicaragua.
Ciudad Boaco
Jack's family is from Ciudad Boaco. Today we would drive east and then south to a different part of Nicaragua, "La Ciudad de dos pisos" (the city of two stories or two levels). The Departamento de Boaco is known for raising cattle and the production of cheese. The drive of an hour and a half east was pleasant and the scenery calming. The stands on the side of the road with "Flor de Cana" (Rum) bottles filled with honey were an interesting sight. Finally, Sarah said, "stop the car" I have to buy one. She paid $2 for a bottle. I supported her quick response and wished we had bought more.
Boaco is where we would meet the Espinosa family. I had heard about this family most of my married life. Jack put emphasis on seeing the older family members. He showed genuine concern to see them "before they are all gone."
Arrangements were made for us to stay at the home of Chepita Espinoza. Tia Chepita and her adult children received us with open arms. Although Tia Chepita was confined to her room due to health problems, she and Lesbia de Hernandez, her oldest daughter could not have been kinder to us.
Hernan and his wife, Aida Marina Cortez-Espinoza, Jack's uncle and aunt, made arrangements to have Sarah and Catherine stay with them. Their home was about 2 blocks away. We were told that their home was the oldest home in Boaco. The property had been subdivided over the years. Now what remained of the house sat in the middle of the block dividing by walls separating the spaces now owned by neighbors. "La enramada" (outdoor courtyard patio) was in the center of the house with the rooms opening into the little outdoor courtyard.
The love that poured out to their guests was something that made me long to be like Hernan and Aida Marina if God blesses me to reach the ripe age of 80 or 85. A sense of peace and love dwells in that home.
In Boaco the church bells ring for morning mass waking the entire city. The hill town with it's colonial buildings and winding streets reminded me that I could be anywhere in the world where life is simple and people are important to each other. I thought of the hill towns of Assisi, Cascia or Lanciano in Italy where we had visited last April.
The thing that was fascinating to me was the "aguacero" (the downpour of rain) while we watched from the "sajuan" (the gate) at the front entrance of the house. It was caught on video which I'll share if I can figure out the technical hurdles with blogging. After the rain we walked over to the church to visit the beautiful Adoration Chapel which remains open 24 hours a day. Aida Marina said, "no one in Boaco can say they are lonely or have no one to talk to. If you have a problem you go to listen to Jesus at any hour of the day or night. He helps you figure out a solution to your problems."
I'll be posting Sarah's slideshow which made me emotional and made me cry as I watched her beautiful photography of Nicaragua.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Jose Vicente Sirias - The man who would be bishop
As a child I had not heard much about my grandfather, Jose Vicente Sirias. I only knew that he was alive and living in Nicaragua. I had once heard that he studied to become a priest but instead married my grandmother. That's all I knew.
When we were in Managua last August, we visited my uncle Damiscis Sirias at his office of the Corte Suprema de Nicaragua. In our 1-1/2 hour long visit he shared many stories with us and we tried to get caught up on things unknown, at least to me. The most interesting story was the one about how my grandfather met my grandmother.
Now I can only imagine Granada, Nicaragua in those days. The story takes place in approximately 1918. My grandfather had been studying in the seminary to become a priest. Just to think that almost 100 years ago my grandfather had a calling to the priesthood is mind boggling; that none of us would be here if he had become a priest!
Jose Vicente Sirias was the personal secretary to Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares of the Diocese of Chontales-Granada and extended areas of El Rama of the time. Once on a visit to Managua to what was probably a church event, Archbishop Jose Antonio Lezcano y Robleto was introduced to the young seminarian. Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares proudly stated that Sirias was a likely candidate to be his successor one day. Archbishop Robleto had a different sentiment and told Bishop Valladares to proceed with caution because the young man had, " hojos de picaro" (mischievous eyes).
A grand wedding would take place at the Cathedral of Granada. Maria Brunilda Burgos's sister was getting married and Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares would preside at the mass. His right hand man, Jose Vicente Sirias was also invited. At this lavish event, he couldn't help noticing the beautiful Maria Burgos. Things would never be the same after that.
Back in those days the bishop was the only person in Granada who owned an automobile, a Dodge. Naturally, Jose Vicente Sirias learned how to operate the vehicle. He would learn how to service the car and see that it was operating properly. He would tell the bishop that he was going to take the car for a drive. These seemingly innocent gestures of being "servicial" became an opportunity to drive by the home of Maria Burgos for a visit. The visits increased in time and soon he was courting her. He would no longer think of the priesthood in the same way.
One day Sirias broke the news to the bishop. He told the bishop that he didn't think that he could go on to become a priest. But the bishop told him that he would soon forget about Maria. The bishop wanted to send him to Rome where his studies would increase with more depth; to study Canon Law.
Sirias was not going to change his mind. They had fallen in love. He married her at the Cathedral of Granada. Bishop Robleto was right - Sirias had a wandering eye.
When we were in Managua last August, we visited my uncle Damiscis Sirias at his office of the Corte Suprema de Nicaragua. In our 1-1/2 hour long visit he shared many stories with us and we tried to get caught up on things unknown, at least to me. The most interesting story was the one about how my grandfather met my grandmother.
Now I can only imagine Granada, Nicaragua in those days. The story takes place in approximately 1918. My grandfather had been studying in the seminary to become a priest. Just to think that almost 100 years ago my grandfather had a calling to the priesthood is mind boggling; that none of us would be here if he had become a priest!
Jose Vicente Sirias was the personal secretary to Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares of the Diocese of Chontales-Granada and extended areas of El Rama of the time. Once on a visit to Managua to what was probably a church event, Archbishop Jose Antonio Lezcano y Robleto was introduced to the young seminarian. Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares proudly stated that Sirias was a likely candidate to be his successor one day. Archbishop Robleto had a different sentiment and told Bishop Valladares to proceed with caution because the young man had, " hojos de picaro" (mischievous eyes).
A grand wedding would take place at the Cathedral of Granada. Maria Brunilda Burgos's sister was getting married and Bishop Canuto Reyes Valladares would preside at the mass. His right hand man, Jose Vicente Sirias was also invited. At this lavish event, he couldn't help noticing the beautiful Maria Burgos. Things would never be the same after that.
Back in those days the bishop was the only person in Granada who owned an automobile, a Dodge. Naturally, Jose Vicente Sirias learned how to operate the vehicle. He would learn how to service the car and see that it was operating properly. He would tell the bishop that he was going to take the car for a drive. These seemingly innocent gestures of being "servicial" became an opportunity to drive by the home of Maria Burgos for a visit. The visits increased in time and soon he was courting her. He would no longer think of the priesthood in the same way.
One day Sirias broke the news to the bishop. He told the bishop that he didn't think that he could go on to become a priest. But the bishop told him that he would soon forget about Maria. The bishop wanted to send him to Rome where his studies would increase with more depth; to study Canon Law.
Sirias was not going to change his mind. They had fallen in love. He married her at the Cathedral of Granada. Bishop Robleto was right - Sirias had a wandering eye.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
History and the Connection
A Little History
Before the 1920's, my grandfather, Jose Vicente Sirias, and our grandmother, Maria Brunilda Burgos de Sirias, were married in Granada, Nicaragua. My father was born in 1921. The details are kept in someone’s memoir or in someone’s heart. I only know what I know from my memory and from what I've been told.
My grandmother was a very strong and independent women who was also very devout in her Catholic faith. She arrived in the U.S. sometime in the mid 1940's without her husband. Her grown son(s) came with her or followed shortly thereafter.
My grandmother bought a duplex on 54th St. in South L.A. She lived in one of the units and rented out the other unit on the left. I remember her as being rock solid having a no-nonsense approach to things. There was always food on the table and everyone who walked into her home had to sit down and eat a hot plate of food that she had whipped up in an instant; no questions asked. She had a persistent will and carried this persona in everything she did. She spent her life praying, going to mass, and working. She always had a project going on. She was non-stop. Interestingly, I seem to be much the same way.
My father, Emilio Jose and my mother, Emma Leticia Arroliga de Sirias were married on December 24, 1943. Their family got started with the birth of my sister, Maria Fidelia in 1945. They arrived at L.A. International Airport on their 7th wedding anniversary in 1950 with 3 children in tow and 1 in utero at 13 weeks gestational age (me).
1957 or 1958
I remember in a distant memory of the time a visitor came from Nicaragua. My father picked him up from L.A. International Airport. I recall going with my dad and one of his brothers to my grandmother’s house with their guest. Their reunion was amicable. I remember clearly being told that he was my father’s brother. I remember thinking in my 6 or 7 year old mind, “ I thought my father only had 3 brothers; where did this 4th brother come from?” After pondering on the question, I asked my father. He answered telling me, “He lives in Nicaragua.” On that day I questioned my grandmother’s relationship with “the guest.” I wondered from time to time how he could be my father’s brother but not my grandmother’s son. I never saw him again and the memory faded with time, until now.
My grandmother came to the U.S but my grandfather stayed behind in Nicaragua. I never knew any of the details regarding my grandfather until just before out recent trip to Nicaragua last August.
Silvio & the Sirias-Vargas connection
I decided to e-mail my cousin, Silvio Sirias, who lives in Panama. I asked Silvio if he knew of any of the Sirias family that might still live in Granada. He informed me that all the Sirias-Burgos' were gone, however, there are Sirias-Vargas uncles and aunts living in Santo Tomas. This was news to me. I knew nothing about them.
Silvio’s name surfaced last year in 2008 when Becky, my cousin, Tio Eduardo's second daughter, and I were planning the Sirias Family reunion. I recall Silvio as a little kid from my childhood when my Tio Joaquin would visit our house. Those were the halcyon days when kids would play hide n’ seek in the yards of everyone on the block and played softball in the street.
Silvio's words were kindly of the Sirias-Vargas branch of the family. He encouraged me to get in contact with them. We decided to incorporate Santo Tomas into our itinerary. We had decided that Granada would be our first destination because it was the place of my father's birthplace.
After many e-mail communications with Silvio and his sister Sandy, contact was made with Sor (Sister) Milagros, who lives in Leon. We made arrangements to visit the Sirias-Vargas branch of the family by driving to Santo Tomas on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009.
Our first encounter was when we visited Masaya about a 20 minutes drive from Granada. Doctor Jonny Sirias owns a hospital/clinic there. We met Ingrid, his wife at the pharmacy across the street. They took us to their home in town and also to their lovely estate outside of town up in the highlands of Masaya.
Unfortunately, Sor Milagros was unable to attend due to a cold that she didn't want to spread. We spoke by telephone on a few occasions. I sensed from our conversations that she is a wonderful person through her enthusiasm to embrace these new family members and in her expression of grace and familial love.
The rest of the family was awesome. Vladamir (Chava) and his daughters were first to attend to us in their home. We then went to Yadira’s home a few blocks away. There we were received with a grand lunch of Indio Viejo, smoked cheese, rice and other Nicaraguan delicacies. We met Yadira and two of her children; Jose Vicente and his son; Daisy, the wife of Damiscis, and their daughter. We also met their 94+ year old mother. There are a total of 7 children who are my father's half brothers and 2 sisters. We had lunch and interviewed each other about family while I took notes. We became acquainted and were given a brief tour of Damiscis’ home, Central Park, across the street from the Santo Tomas Cathedral, and the memorial library dedicated to my grandfather, Jose Vicente Sirias.
The following day in Managua we met Damiscis, the oldest brother of the 7 children, at the office of the Supreme Court were he is Presidente de la Corte Suprema. He shared many fascinating stories about my grandfather. One of the stories he shared was of an older brother by the name of Edgar. He was born before the Sirias-Vargas children came into the picture. Damiscis spoke of him with fondness and kindness. He told me that they often still see each other.
Edgar is my grandfather's son after fathering his 4 Sirias-Burgos sons from his marriage to my grandmother. Edgar is the half-brother who came to visit my father and his brothers in Los Angeles in a faint memory of that little girl (me) back in the late fifties .
Before the 1920's, my grandfather, Jose Vicente Sirias, and our grandmother, Maria Brunilda Burgos de Sirias, were married in Granada, Nicaragua. My father was born in 1921. The details are kept in someone’s memoir or in someone’s heart. I only know what I know from my memory and from what I've been told.
My grandmother was a very strong and independent women who was also very devout in her Catholic faith. She arrived in the U.S. sometime in the mid 1940's without her husband. Her grown son(s) came with her or followed shortly thereafter.
My grandmother bought a duplex on 54th St. in South L.A. She lived in one of the units and rented out the other unit on the left. I remember her as being rock solid having a no-nonsense approach to things. There was always food on the table and everyone who walked into her home had to sit down and eat a hot plate of food that she had whipped up in an instant; no questions asked. She had a persistent will and carried this persona in everything she did. She spent her life praying, going to mass, and working. She always had a project going on. She was non-stop. Interestingly, I seem to be much the same way.
My father, Emilio Jose and my mother, Emma Leticia Arroliga de Sirias were married on December 24, 1943. Their family got started with the birth of my sister, Maria Fidelia in 1945. They arrived at L.A. International Airport on their 7th wedding anniversary in 1950 with 3 children in tow and 1 in utero at 13 weeks gestational age (me).
1957 or 1958
I remember in a distant memory of the time a visitor came from Nicaragua. My father picked him up from L.A. International Airport. I recall going with my dad and one of his brothers to my grandmother’s house with their guest. Their reunion was amicable. I remember clearly being told that he was my father’s brother. I remember thinking in my 6 or 7 year old mind, “ I thought my father only had 3 brothers; where did this 4th brother come from?” After pondering on the question, I asked my father. He answered telling me, “He lives in Nicaragua.” On that day I questioned my grandmother’s relationship with “the guest.” I wondered from time to time how he could be my father’s brother but not my grandmother’s son. I never saw him again and the memory faded with time, until now.
My grandmother came to the U.S but my grandfather stayed behind in Nicaragua. I never knew any of the details regarding my grandfather until just before out recent trip to Nicaragua last August.
Silvio & the Sirias-Vargas connection
I decided to e-mail my cousin, Silvio Sirias, who lives in Panama. I asked Silvio if he knew of any of the Sirias family that might still live in Granada. He informed me that all the Sirias-Burgos' were gone, however, there are Sirias-Vargas uncles and aunts living in Santo Tomas. This was news to me. I knew nothing about them.
Silvio’s name surfaced last year in 2008 when Becky, my cousin, Tio Eduardo's second daughter, and I were planning the Sirias Family reunion. I recall Silvio as a little kid from my childhood when my Tio Joaquin would visit our house. Those were the halcyon days when kids would play hide n’ seek in the yards of everyone on the block and played softball in the street.
Silvio's words were kindly of the Sirias-Vargas branch of the family. He encouraged me to get in contact with them. We decided to incorporate Santo Tomas into our itinerary. We had decided that Granada would be our first destination because it was the place of my father's birthplace.
After many e-mail communications with Silvio and his sister Sandy, contact was made with Sor (Sister) Milagros, who lives in Leon. We made arrangements to visit the Sirias-Vargas branch of the family by driving to Santo Tomas on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009.
Our first encounter was when we visited Masaya about a 20 minutes drive from Granada. Doctor Jonny Sirias owns a hospital/clinic there. We met Ingrid, his wife at the pharmacy across the street. They took us to their home in town and also to their lovely estate outside of town up in the highlands of Masaya.
Unfortunately, Sor Milagros was unable to attend due to a cold that she didn't want to spread. We spoke by telephone on a few occasions. I sensed from our conversations that she is a wonderful person through her enthusiasm to embrace these new family members and in her expression of grace and familial love.
The rest of the family was awesome. Vladamir (Chava) and his daughters were first to attend to us in their home. We then went to Yadira’s home a few blocks away. There we were received with a grand lunch of Indio Viejo, smoked cheese, rice and other Nicaraguan delicacies. We met Yadira and two of her children; Jose Vicente and his son; Daisy, the wife of Damiscis, and their daughter. We also met their 94+ year old mother. There are a total of 7 children who are my father's half brothers and 2 sisters. We had lunch and interviewed each other about family while I took notes. We became acquainted and were given a brief tour of Damiscis’ home, Central Park, across the street from the Santo Tomas Cathedral, and the memorial library dedicated to my grandfather, Jose Vicente Sirias.
The following day in Managua we met Damiscis, the oldest brother of the 7 children, at the office of the Supreme Court were he is Presidente de la Corte Suprema. He shared many fascinating stories about my grandfather. One of the stories he shared was of an older brother by the name of Edgar. He was born before the Sirias-Vargas children came into the picture. Damiscis spoke of him with fondness and kindness. He told me that they often still see each other.
Edgar is my grandfather's son after fathering his 4 Sirias-Burgos sons from his marriage to my grandmother. Edgar is the half-brother who came to visit my father and his brothers in Los Angeles in a faint memory of that little girl (me) back in the late fifties .
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Trip to Nicaragua
The idea of making the trip with Sarah settled in quite easily. There was no way in the world that I would allow Sarah to go to Nicaragua on her own.
It didn't matter that she had already gone to 4 country's in Europe for World Youth Day with a group of kids (including her cousin, Lauren) from St. Therese Church in Alhambra; a mere adolescent at the tender age of 16. Or that she had already visited Peru with her friend, Joanne. Or that she has gone to Brazil for her Critical Race Studies program or that she went to New Orleans, LA to work for a Post-Katrina legal program through UCLA Law School. None of this mattered. The only thing that mattered was that she NOT GO to Nicaragua without me. It would be completely illogical. Either I had to go with her or go first.
After all, I had heard about this place all my life. This is the place that my mom and dad came from. This is where they lived, walked, met and fell in love. This is where I was knit in my mother's womb - into the Sirias family. This is where my soul finds it beginnings.
So, I started doing one of the things I love to do, plan an itinerary. This comes easily especially since I have a geographical compass in my head. I've always believed that I could be spun around and upon stopping, tell you which way is north.
Sarah, her dad, and I decided to compromise by going on the trip to Nicaragua together with her friend, Catherine for the first leg of the trip. The second part of the trip would include Costa Rica and Panama. Sarah's friends, Tifanny, and Michell would join us in Nicaragua and the 4 girls would go on the remaining part of the trip while Jack and I departed happily back to Los Angeles.
Sarah completed her undergrad in 3 years from Loyola-Marymount University in Communications Studies. After working for a year at Clear Channel-Katz Advantage (radio), she got bored and decided (quietly) to apply to several law schools. I would see several pieces of mail arrive from different law schools and tell Sarah, "Hey, you ought to apply to law school, they seem to have you on their mailing lists." She continued to remain silent until one day when I came home from work to find a half-sheet cake decorated in the blue & gold UCLA Bruins LOGO. Gracie, her sister, had made the cake and stood there beaming when I walked in the door. After all, Gracie and Oscar are both UCLA alums.
Fast forward - 3 years later. Sarah and I have gone and come back from our first trip to Nicaragua. Jack was a good sport for putting up with 3 strong willed women, me, Sarah and Catherine. Jack survived the challenges of getting lost in Managua, culture shock - seeing all the changes since he was last there, and my taking possession of the rental car to drive the wild streets of Nicaragua. Driving in Nicaragua requires honking your horn and driving like a Nicaraguan to get from one place to another - and you'll do just fine.
Catherine, an avid reader, was a delight. She fit into the mix just like she was born into the family. She must have read 3 books during the week that we traveled together. I'm sure she'll never forget the downpour of rain, the bath and the church bells in Boaco. None of us will ever forget about the machete man on the road.
Sarah told me of the time when she was in Rome for World Youth Day in the Jubilee year of 2000. She was in St. Peter's Square with two million other youth from around the world and suddenly she saw Catherine across the courtyard. She stared and stared then they both made eye contact. When they saw each other they ran toward each other and hugged in jubilant joy. Each of them went to WYD 2000 with different groups yet they encountered each other in St. Peter's Square. What are the chances of that happening?
Sarah's after-the-bar exam trip to Nicaragua was indeed a great way to celebrate this milestone event, graduating from law school and taking the bar exam. We have indeed been blessed.
It didn't matter that she had already gone to 4 country's in Europe for World Youth Day with a group of kids (including her cousin, Lauren) from St. Therese Church in Alhambra; a mere adolescent at the tender age of 16. Or that she had already visited Peru with her friend, Joanne. Or that she has gone to Brazil for her Critical Race Studies program or that she went to New Orleans, LA to work for a Post-Katrina legal program through UCLA Law School. None of this mattered. The only thing that mattered was that she NOT GO to Nicaragua without me. It would be completely illogical. Either I had to go with her or go first.
After all, I had heard about this place all my life. This is the place that my mom and dad came from. This is where they lived, walked, met and fell in love. This is where I was knit in my mother's womb - into the Sirias family. This is where my soul finds it beginnings.
So, I started doing one of the things I love to do, plan an itinerary. This comes easily especially since I have a geographical compass in my head. I've always believed that I could be spun around and upon stopping, tell you which way is north.
Sarah, her dad, and I decided to compromise by going on the trip to Nicaragua together with her friend, Catherine for the first leg of the trip. The second part of the trip would include Costa Rica and Panama. Sarah's friends, Tifanny, and Michell would join us in Nicaragua and the 4 girls would go on the remaining part of the trip while Jack and I departed happily back to Los Angeles.
Sarah completed her undergrad in 3 years from Loyola-Marymount University in Communications Studies. After working for a year at Clear Channel-Katz Advantage (radio), she got bored and decided (quietly) to apply to several law schools. I would see several pieces of mail arrive from different law schools and tell Sarah, "Hey, you ought to apply to law school, they seem to have you on their mailing lists." She continued to remain silent until one day when I came home from work to find a half-sheet cake decorated in the blue & gold UCLA Bruins LOGO. Gracie, her sister, had made the cake and stood there beaming when I walked in the door. After all, Gracie and Oscar are both UCLA alums.
Fast forward - 3 years later. Sarah and I have gone and come back from our first trip to Nicaragua. Jack was a good sport for putting up with 3 strong willed women, me, Sarah and Catherine. Jack survived the challenges of getting lost in Managua, culture shock - seeing all the changes since he was last there, and my taking possession of the rental car to drive the wild streets of Nicaragua. Driving in Nicaragua requires honking your horn and driving like a Nicaraguan to get from one place to another - and you'll do just fine.
Catherine, an avid reader, was a delight. She fit into the mix just like she was born into the family. She must have read 3 books during the week that we traveled together. I'm sure she'll never forget the downpour of rain, the bath and the church bells in Boaco. None of us will ever forget about the machete man on the road.
Sarah told me of the time when she was in Rome for World Youth Day in the Jubilee year of 2000. She was in St. Peter's Square with two million other youth from around the world and suddenly she saw Catherine across the courtyard. She stared and stared then they both made eye contact. When they saw each other they ran toward each other and hugged in jubilant joy. Each of them went to WYD 2000 with different groups yet they encountered each other in St. Peter's Square. What are the chances of that happening?
Sarah's after-the-bar exam trip to Nicaragua was indeed a great way to celebrate this milestone event, graduating from law school and taking the bar exam. We have indeed been blessed.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
A trip in the making
I wasn't quite sure if I would ever go. The many years hearing about Nicaragua had left me wondering if the place really existed. From the earliest of my memories, Nacatamales, Bajo, Indio Viejo, Salpicon, Gallo Pinto, plantanos, maduros, mondongo, and every other essence, smell and comfort of Nicaragua permeated into the core of my soul. I knew about Nicaragua but I didn't belong to Nicaragua nor did Nicaragua belong to me. She was a distant notion. Like an Aunt that your heard about but never met because she died before you were born.
As a small child growing up in the great city of Los Angeles, I remember all these things about her as being part of who I am. When family visited from Nicaragua, they brought a little piece of Nicaragua with them. Spanish was the primary language spoken to our parents in our home but English came naturally. It was second nature, no doubt.
While growing up, the thought of visiting Nicaragua was off the radar. It was for those who have already been there or were born there. It was far fetched. I really didn't care to consider the notion of ever visiting her. Even being married to a Nicaraguan didn't stimulate or stir the senses to want to go to Nicaragua.
One day last summer Sarah told me, "Mom, I want to go to Nicaragua for my "After-the-Bar Trip." We had celebrated her graduation from UCLA Law School on May 8, 2009 with a grand party that we talked about for weeks. The studying for the bar exam was probably getting to her head, I thought. Her peers are all probably talking about where they'll go to celebrate after two intense months of studying for the bar exam, I thought.
My response to her comment came automatically as if I had rehearsed it all my life, "You can't go to Nicaragua without me." The rest is history by the grace of God.
As a small child growing up in the great city of Los Angeles, I remember all these things about her as being part of who I am. When family visited from Nicaragua, they brought a little piece of Nicaragua with them. Spanish was the primary language spoken to our parents in our home but English came naturally. It was second nature, no doubt.
While growing up, the thought of visiting Nicaragua was off the radar. It was for those who have already been there or were born there. It was far fetched. I really didn't care to consider the notion of ever visiting her. Even being married to a Nicaraguan didn't stimulate or stir the senses to want to go to Nicaragua.
One day last summer Sarah told me, "Mom, I want to go to Nicaragua for my "After-the-Bar Trip." We had celebrated her graduation from UCLA Law School on May 8, 2009 with a grand party that we talked about for weeks. The studying for the bar exam was probably getting to her head, I thought. Her peers are all probably talking about where they'll go to celebrate after two intense months of studying for the bar exam, I thought.
My response to her comment came automatically as if I had rehearsed it all my life, "You can't go to Nicaragua without me." The rest is history by the grace of God.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Sirias Family Reunion - June 7, 2008
The impulse to reunite the Sirias Family came about 2 years ago when I began to wonder where all the cousins were. If it had not been for aunt Debora who persistently sent me an Christmas greeting every year, I would not have acted on the impulse to even attempt to plan a reunion.
My father, Emilio Sirias, was the oldest of 4 brothers. His brothers were Joaquin, Eduardo, and Guillermo. All are gone now. The only remnants of the paternal side of the family are their children (cousins), some of the spouses (aunts) and grandchildren. With the passing of time everyone moves away and scatters. Family is that connection with those who have had some of the same experiences at some point in our lives. I believe that it's important to rekindle the family connection at different times in our lives. Our life experiences will then continue to grow in love and grace.
The reunion was indeed a labor of love. Becky became to me the lovely faithful cousin who always responded to my e-mails. Without Becky, our reunion would never have happened. Becky would tell me, "I'm working on so and so" and I'd tell her, "I'm also working on so and so." We didn't know what we were getting into, but we certainly knew that whatever it was, was something good.
David, my brother, offered us his Club House and his home in Forest Meadows, in Murphy's, CA. Becky's brother, Ed, came from Florida and sister, Veronica, came from Texas. Becky's husband and children, along with mom, Stan and grandmother were present.
David and my sister-in-law, Susan and their children, Taryn & Cole were present. My family included my husband, Jack, my daughters, Sarah & Gracie, son-in-law, Oscar, our granddaughter, Emma. Also present from Southern California were my sisters, Emma and Maria, Maria's husband, Ignacio and my brother, Emilio. Gloria, my friend/sister and Fanny, my godmother/cousin also came along.
Most of Emilio and Eduardo Sirias' children were present to enjoy good food, drink, song and company. Our family reunion was a success. Everyone participated in the spirit of family, love and harmony; making our family reunion a memorable event. It was the first of future Sirias Family Reunions - God willing.
My father, Emilio Sirias, was the oldest of 4 brothers. His brothers were Joaquin, Eduardo, and Guillermo. All are gone now. The only remnants of the paternal side of the family are their children (cousins), some of the spouses (aunts) and grandchildren. With the passing of time everyone moves away and scatters. Family is that connection with those who have had some of the same experiences at some point in our lives. I believe that it's important to rekindle the family connection at different times in our lives. Our life experiences will then continue to grow in love and grace.
The reunion was indeed a labor of love. Becky became to me the lovely faithful cousin who always responded to my e-mails. Without Becky, our reunion would never have happened. Becky would tell me, "I'm working on so and so" and I'd tell her, "I'm also working on so and so." We didn't know what we were getting into, but we certainly knew that whatever it was, was something good.
David, my brother, offered us his Club House and his home in Forest Meadows, in Murphy's, CA. Becky's brother, Ed, came from Florida and sister, Veronica, came from Texas. Becky's husband and children, along with mom, Stan and grandmother were present.
David and my sister-in-law, Susan and their children, Taryn & Cole were present. My family included my husband, Jack, my daughters, Sarah & Gracie, son-in-law, Oscar, our granddaughter, Emma. Also present from Southern California were my sisters, Emma and Maria, Maria's husband, Ignacio and my brother, Emilio. Gloria, my friend/sister and Fanny, my godmother/cousin also came along.
Most of Emilio and Eduardo Sirias' children were present to enjoy good food, drink, song and company. Our family reunion was a success. Everyone participated in the spirit of family, love and harmony; making our family reunion a memorable event. It was the first of future Sirias Family Reunions - God willing.
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