FELIZ NAVIDAD 2013
For the younger generation: This is called handwriting. It is done with an instrument (usually called a pen or pencil) that leaves a mark on a piece of what we traditionally call ‘paper’ - kind of a mighty thin tablet. The cool thing about this is that neither the pen or paper need to be charged. When you finish using them, you can just easily recycle them. (Actually, the pencil sort of simply disappears as you use it. Sort of magical!) No batteries to worry about. And, they are generally pretty cheap. Amazing invention!
So we decided to write our letter this year the ‘old fashion way’: In cursive no less! … No hyperlinks. No pictures. … Just words on paper. (We wish we could have sent this to you the old fashion way, via the postal service. But that cost money. We love tradition, but we are cheap!)
Now mind you: We love our gadgets. But, ain’t it nice to know that there are things that have been around for a long long time still worth valuing? (See where we are going with this for a Navidad letter: :-) )
For our familia, 2013 was a year of affirming relationships, celebrating life, and enjoying experiences.
The year got off to a great start in Key West with the Snights. If you have not done New Years in Key West, put it in your bucket list. Fun. Wild. Great food. Awesome weather.
NOT a political statement: We attended our third Presidential Inauguration. Talk about permanency and tradition! It is simply awesome to live in a country, as imperfect and dysfunctional as it is, that goes through this amazing ritual of electing its premier leader every four years… As long as we live in the DC area, we’ll make this a family tradition.
The males of the familia (except Benny) were able to go together to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises with our old friends in Atlanta. Beautiful experience indeed. A real blessing, made even more special as we contemplate with excitement the deep meaning of having our first Jesuit Pope.
For ½ the year we were blessed with being ‘boomerang’ parents of both of our ‘children’. Rembe Jr., and Iggy moved back in with us. They tell us that when this happens with adult children, they are not to be referred to as your children, but rather your roommates. Actually, it is pretty neat to have someone put out the trash and give Benny his two insulin shot when Geraldina is away. (Yes, Benny is blind, diabetic, and fat.)
Talking about the ‘children’: They both are back in school! Rembe Jr., at the University of Maryland seeking an MBA. Iggy at Georgetown doing a special masters program in sports management… Yes, NOT a political statement: Education IS the great equalizer! It may seem tough now as they go through these masters program. But, in 20 years they’ll be glad they did. Trust us. It works. NO substitute… And, it is not just about the money. It is about the intangible worth of knowledge.
RemDana is now part of our life! (With Hugo - NOT Chavez! - to boot!) … Rembe Jr., and Dana got engaged. And we celebrated with a pig - of course. (We did another pig for a wonderful charity, A Wider Circle; and another as a fund-raiser for a friend running for office in a nearby county.) Talk about tradition? Pig. Rum (Bacardi!) & Coke (NOT Pepsi!) Cigars. Dominoes. Can’t beat that :-)
By the way, Hugo - NOT Chavez! - is doing great. Strong as an ox. Funny. Precious.
The year did bring its inevitable deaths and births in the familia. Mario, Geraldina’s dad passed away to be with his loving wife. … One of our old patriarchs, Tio Carlos, passed away in Miami at age 96… (Certainly ‘celebrations of life’.)
On the opposite end of the circle of life, three of our great nephews and nieces are new parents and three other are pregnant. This will help bring the number of new Rodriguez offsprings in the immediate familia to 10 in the last five years! (NOT a political statement: All born in the US. Proud Americans. Proud Latino heritage… And yes, we pray for the 12 (or 13? or 14?) million of our Latino ‘brothers and sisters’ that are eagerly awaiting real immigration reform.)
One celebration of note was Tio Paco’s 80th Birthday celebrated in the “country of Miami”. Simply awesome to see all the old folks - at least most; some had to stay home, no longer able to do outtings. How impressive to see the contingency of younger folks too! We’ve lost track of the names and ages… Too many to count!... Hopefully the new generation will do a ‘family reunion’ sometime soon. It’d be neat to redo a ‘life family tree’ again like we did a few years ago at the Sotolongo family reunion.
Well, off to Australia we go! Rembe Jr., and Dana are really giving a new meaning to the term ‘destination wedding’! They are getting married December 27th in Syndey (yes, Australia.) We will join them on this journey - at least through the wedding; they are staying in those neck of the woods for their honeymoon. We will not be joining them for that. :-)
We had a blast at the family ‘wedding showers’ in Cleveland and Atlanta. So cool to meet new family and reconnect with old one!
On the professional front, Geraldina continues her tireless work in the world of HIV/AIDS, traveling to Africa often. Reemberto continues his tireless work in the world of community in Silver Spring, traveling to Rockville often :-)
And thus on we welcome 2014!
May your Holiday Season be filled with happiness and joy.
May you relish your traditions with tenderness and love.
May whatever comes your way help you grow in faith and fortitude.
May you have a blessed FELIZ NAVIDAD
