June 23, 1998 Christmases past

Remembering when I was a child and all our big family got to gather, It struck me how far apart we've all become, It's not a moral judgement just an observations. As a Puerto Rican child growing up in the states I think we had an extra-added dimension. We knew all about Santa Claus, Rudolph, frosty, the night before Christmas, the nutcracker suite and it's a wonderful life, miracle on 34th St etc, etc. But we also knew about the three kings who at Christmas time in our parents homeland would bring gifts for all the children, in exchange the children would leave them straw for thier camels. We knew that people there would go to church on midnight, Christmas Eve, called la Misa de Gallo . Everyone would talk about Christmas dinners, punch and gifts family reunions and all the lovely amenities that make up Christmas I remember listening, as the adults would discuss who would buy and roast the pig. Who would make the coquito {a Spanish eggnog made with coconut}, Who would get together with who to make the famous Puerto Rican pasteles {they look like a tamale but they are made with plantains and a delicious spiced pork stew um good!} Who would make the cuchifrito. Then there was turron (nougat candy} nuts. Bread pudding, And the special arroz con dulce{Spanish rice pudding},Pan sobao, which is great with cafe con leche, Lots of Puerto Rican rum And of course tons of Music. There was a type of music they would love to listen to; it was called Aguinarldos {Puerto Rican folkmusic}. It's funny when I was a kid I thought It was so hokey, Now whenever I here it it My heart fills with a kind of sad happiness, sad cause most of them are no longer here happy because I remember all the good times, And what they all strived so hard to impart to us. A great Sense of family togetherness, honesty, Pride in your Puerto Rican heritage, Love, caring, loyalty and most of all Humor they were always laughing. Oh there were Times of turmoil tempers would flare, Who hurt whose feelings and who was ungrateful. They were passionate people, and they fought passionately, loved passionately, and played with the same intensity. There is something special about this Mendez clan. Am sure lots of people may feel that why about their family and they are probably right! But then am speaking of the ones I know best. I often think how it must have been for them coming here from a different country different language culture and raising a family eking out a living and still maintaining your sense of who you are and what's meaningful to you. In all I think they did rather well .Now the baton has been pasts to Us I hope we do as well or better. I hope we never forget the values they instilled in us and build on them I hope we remember {LA FAMILIA} And who knows maybe this Christmas we can get together and find out who's making the pasteles, who's roasting the pig who's bringing the rum and while listening to Aguinarldos over a cup of Coquito toast to the ones that made it all possible. {LA FAMILIA}escribe: { Coqui Jote de la mancha de platano.}a.k.a YiYa