Memories

It seems as if just yesterday, I was a little girl, trying to fit in at school.  I cannot believe how many years of my life have gone by, yet the evidence is in my own face.
My baby girl is a preteen, and going through the same changes I did almost 20 some years ago and the only difference between her and me is that she knows more than I ever did at her young age.
Also the fact that she has a more lively personality than I have ever had, and knows what she wants, at least she thinks she does for now.  Today, instead of focusing on the negative, I want to focus on the positive side of my life story.
  I must say, that in spite of the potentially negative enviroment that surrounded me at home, while  visiting relatives, I was able to see the difference between our family and others.  One thing, that comes to mind, is the fact, that no matter where we went, everyone would comment on my brother and I, good behavior and manners.
  We always said, " Please" and "Thank you".   And we were taught to address everyone properly, and always wait, before accepting beveradges and drinks from our aunts or uncles.  We never touched any of the fine ornaments that were laid out around the house, and waiting to be told where we could go and play at.
  Most of the times, our cousins would take us outside to their patios and play soccer, or just do jumping jacks and such.  Most houses we visisted while in El Salvador, everyone had what they called, " Gringo food items", for my brother and myself, as we were not accustomed to eating the salvadorean way.  Which mainly consists of eggs, beans, cream, cheese, tortilla and real cows milk.
   The part we loved best was that we would always get sick from our stomache and be allowed to drink soda, in order to keep the food down.  We relished in this, as our parents did try to avoid giving us too much soda back home.  Normally, the soda was only for visistors, but that goes without saying that we never snuck behind mom's back to take sips of the bottles.  In our home, here in the states, there was a laundry chute included, and my brother and I would take turns sliding down towards the basement and always made sure there was a laundry basket full of clothes for us to land in.
  My mom tried getting us used to eating salvadorean food, but I was the most picky eater of us all, and in the end, she would come up with ways to get me to eat certain foods, but one soup in particular, up to this day, I never was able to hold down less eat or smell it! Ugh!  Its called," Sopa De Pata", which basically is made of cows hooves and intestines, blah!
  One time, my mom had the intestines inside the sink, letting them soak in water, I believe.  I was about 5 years old, and to me, it looked more like a bee honeycomb, and I loved those!  So, I decided to take a piece and eat it before getting caught!  Well, in it went and out it came out and my mom asked what I had done, and saw the piece missing and scolded me and then took me up and asked my nanny to clean me up. Boy, I am telling you, never, I mean never eat raw cow intestines!
   My brother and cousins, all boys would love to play jokes on the only girl, around them.  Me.  But I would outsmart them everytime.  I was a good eavesdropper, and would play, dumb at times, in order to get them to think that they had me.  I would love to see their faces when I would not put my hand inside a bucket, or drink a glass of water, Hah!
  We loved impersonating Mr. Hulk and Andre the Giant!  I even wrestled with them.  I was a good fighter, and my brother would give me tips on how to hold someone down ect..my favorite sport was soccer, after that, American football, and baseball.
   My brother hated practicing as the goalie for soccer, cause most of the time I would aim the kick right down yonder, not intentionally mind you, and well, poor kid would end up sore on the way home.  What I also remember was the fact that we would be outside, with our neighberhood kids, and we would ride our bikes, go to the pond or bike track and just hang out.  I loved picking berries, and also chasing down frogs, and tadpoles, while my brother fished for gold fish.
   All in all, we got to go to Disney World and Disney Land, several times, plus Universal Studios and Sea World Parks, which I now regret.  So, indeed, my brother and I got to go to places alot of kids never have gone to, and I call those blessings, yet in the end, once we were back home, I became the same dead, living zombie of a girl.
   I enjoyed each outing, mainly because we had other relatives around us.  I would dwell on that, and enjoy the love and attention some of my aunts would give me behind my parents back.
   Memories, we hold on to them forever, the good and the bad, but the bad is what can eat us alive, if we let it thrive.
   I thank God each day, I wake up in bed to a new day, even if I am in a bad mood or sick, or just cranky, I still say, " Thank you."
      Relishing in the joys of Motherhood can be challenging while single.  Yet, I love my daughter no matter what, she is my Guardian Angel.
                I relish each moment with her, even in our arguments.
                      Enjoy each second, you are alive, and you will see, just how beautiful life really is.
                                      Blessings,
                                         Angel 4 Eternity