Mi Familia.

So today is Saturday, May 13. A day conveniently sandwiched between Mother's Day and my grandmother's birthday. She turned eighty-three yesterday. ^_^ Today was the party.

I went to the party straight from work. I was surprised how quickly I'd gotten there. Anyway, I walked in and there were so many people around that I hadn't seen in years. I wish I remembered my camera....

( Twenty-six people, if you count the babies soon to be born. )

I had a lot of fun. I kept answering questions about why I wasn't in school and how Phill was doing (and when we're getting married. X_X!!). Most of my family's met him by now -- he was at my grandmother's eightieth birthday three years ago, which was such a great party that lasted well into the night -- and they like him, which is great. I sucked back a couple of beers with Jimmy, which was fun, because he's eighteen years older than I am. I spent a lot of time laughing, but also watching. I just loved watching how my family got along with each other, and watching old, almost-forgotten jokes resurface as though they'd just been told. On top of that, there was the feeling of belonging to that group. True, I can't speak much Spanish, but the feeling was there, and that was somehow the most important thing. I love those people.

It's different at home, but when the Pachecos -- or whatever the hell we call ourselves -- gather, I get the warm fuzzies. :::wiggles Pacheco toes:::

"I had eight kids because there wasn't TV back then." --my grandmother, ladies and gentlemen.

Feliz cumpleaños, Abuelota, y feliz Día de las Madres. ♥