happiness is health and a short memory: 2009

Thanksgiving and friends

Sunday, December 6, 2009

So we had a small Thanksgiving this year. My aunt in NY just got back from Jerusalem where my cousin got married and she was leaving for Florida right after Thanksgiving, so she decided not to do her annual dinner. It was a fun evening and we really enjoyed it because the focus was on our little family.

Last week my friend Brett came into town to visit for a day. We've been friends since highschool and I just have so many good memories of us going to shows, skateboarding...just hanging out. Its been a long time since we've last hung out, I'm talking about years! So it was good just to catch up and show him around Philadelphia.

City Hall

Macy's and the world's largest organ

I even found a peruvian restaurant in center city.

We also visited Bryn Athyn Cathedral.

And finally some pictures of the kids:

Leon Melecio Chalco 1917-2009

Monday, November 23, 2009

Papito's birthday

On October 30th I received a call that I knew would evntually come but I just didn't expect it so soon. My grandfather peacefully passed away in the early morning. I was able to fly out two days later and be with my family for the funeral. I think I held all my emotions in until the day of his funeral. That day we celebrated his life in the way he would have wanted to celebrate it: dancing to his favorite music. We held hands and sang to him, we told him what we loved about him and we played a famous Peruvian song: El Condor Pasa.

I think about his life and about its impact on me and who I am today. My grandfather was a merchant in Peru who sold garlic and onion. Based on his earnings he was able to buy a house and send his children to the US to study and get a college degree. With time his children brought him over and he was also able to buy a home in California. All this he achieved on what he made selling vegetables.
My Papito held my mom's hand as she passed away and assured her that I would be taken care of. He taught me how to read in spanish, how to do simple math, he showed me the value of had work and saving money. He even taught me how to ride a bike, bought me my first car and computer. He did everything a father would do and he was the only dad that I ever knew. I am just grateful that through the unfortunate circumstances of my life I was blessed enough to have had my grandparents raise me. I have had such a wonderful childhood because of them. Te amo Papito lindo y siempre te voy a llever en un lugar muy especial en mi corazon.

Apiadate de mi, si tienes corazon, escucha en sus latidos la voz de mi dolor. Pero regresa para llenar el vacio que dejaste al irte. Regresa aunque sea para despedirte. No dejes que muera sin decirte adios.

Halloween and Fall

Monday, November 2, 2009

Since I've been back from California I've been enjoying the beautiful fall trees in the parks . We've been really ecited about this Halloween because its our last in the area and we really wanted to go to some neat Sleepy Hollow events. Unfortunately we didn't get to do all the ones I wanted but we did go to The Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor which was awesome! Here are pictures from the last two weeks.

Linvilla Farms ( not as fun as last year, it was a bit chilly and rainy

Pennypack Park

Ward Halloween Party and Halloween. Max in his friendly skeleton costume and in his scary skeleton costume.

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The Blaze at Van Cortlandt Manor in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Over 4000 individually carved pumpkins. They carve about 500 pumpkins a week to maintain the displays. Displays included dinosaurs, stonehenge, giant spiderweb, beehive with bees. It was truly a fun experience. Max loved it!

Back from California

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Our California trip was awesome. Everytime I go back it just makes me miss being there with all my family and friends. When I come back to Philly I just feel so lonely and boring. What I miss the most is ese sabor latino (latino flavor): the food, the family reunions every weekend, spanish!, music, the fights over my famous Alfajores (peruvian cookies), the inside jokes, the drama and gossip, and above all mis Papitos. They are my grandparents who practically raised me since I was born. After they sent my mother and me to NY we reunited again after 1 year. Its very hard for me to be away from them since I have always been su mano derecha (their right hand). I hope Max and Isela will have a chance to grow up with a fraction of what I had as little girl. All the parties, dancing till 6 am. Tio Raul and Papito on the guitar. All the cousins complaining about why we always have to listen to huaynos. Now I understand why because they make you think of Peru or in my case the little bit of Peru my Papitos brought with them to the states. Viva Peru!

Max wanted to wear a bow just like Isela. Isela looooves Sra. Griselda because she spoils her!

Max and Tio George at Disneyland.

Max is loving the Tea cups.

Max and Tia Teresa

Carving pumpkins.

Eating In n Out after we carved our pumpkins.

Escondido Children's Museum
Spending a day with my friend Diana and her son Derek at Irvine Park. Max and the conductor who kept calling Max Derek. Max and Martin Me, Lizbeth, Teresita

This was a couple days before I left. My Mamita didn't even want to smile for the camera. She gets so sad when its time for us to leave. She's 98 years old. Sometimes I don't know whether to tell her not to cry or cry with her. Its so hard to say goodbye.

P.S. I potty trained Max while I was there. Yupi! No more stinky diapers.