Leaving Things Open

I have a bad habit of leaving stories open ended. I tell someone about a certain situation with the idea that future details will eventually surface, the problem being that I never fill those people in when those details do eventually turn up. I must admit I am terrible at this in person, and have noticed that I do the same  here on this blog.

I shall correct that.

For the entirety of my trip to the Dominican Republic I learnt new, sometimes exciting – sometimes embarrassing, facts about my family history and its present. Upon my return to New York I gave my maternal Grandmother, Mama, a complete history of our family tree in book form for Mother’s Day. I must state that once I opened the tree up to the entire family new facts, photos, and births have been added and so although the issue I gave to Mama is the First Edition it has now been outdated.

There was a big question of whether I would return to the Dominican Republic with her, or if I would stay here in New York while I figure out what is to happen next on this journey I call life. Well to keep things short and to the point Mama Ysabel left for Bonao last Thursday (19 May 2011) and I did not go with her. I have my reasons, which I can not get into right now (there I am leaving things open again – but I promise I shall close this thought at a later date). My Tío Joel and Tía Olimpia escorted her on the trip home.

And so to you Mama, I bid farewell for I do not know when I will see you again. You want to die in your own home and have come back from your stroke stronger than ever just to make sure that you do. I hope you are happy basking in the sun on your front yard and am eternally grateful for the fact that I got to spend this time with you, and of course that you allowed me your house when you so desperately wanted to be in it as well.

“Yo soy Fuerte”
~ Ysabel Peña

Mama Ysabel getting ready to head to JFK Airport. This is the only photo taken within the last 10 years where she is standing.