Alters and Alterations

Alters.

I was born and raised in San Antonio, TX and oddly enough it wasn't until after leaving home did I begin to celebrate Dia De Los Muertos. Why? I'm not quite sure, although I bet it has something to do with the fact that I'm extremely stubborn and don't like being told what to do. ("Mandy embrace your culture!" 15-year-old Mandy responds, "LEAVE ME ALONE, I DO WHAT I WANT!")


Anywho, yesterday (11/2/11) was Dia De Los Muertos and although I celebrated this holiday over the weekend with some special friends,  yesterday I took several moments throughout the day to remember those I've loved and also lost...

Our alter from Sunday night's Dia De Los Muertos Dinner.

 My grandfathers, both of which I barely knew. One was a fire fighter and the other had the most awesome hat collection you will ever find....he also smuggled moonshine back in the day. (Rumor has it for Bonnie and Clyde.) 


 My Aunt Dee - she made me lay in the middle of the street with her in Las Vegas and told me when I was 15 that she didn't know what I was going to be,  but she knew I was going to be "somebody". I still don't know exactly what she meant, but I hope she's happy with this "somebody"....... and the "somebody" who has salsa stains and bad manners at all the wrong times. 


My sweet cousin Noxah. He lived across the country and worlds apart from me. I can only hope to be as brave as him one day. He was a warrior in every sense of the word and had the most beautiful smile in the world.  So much of what I do is for you, Noxah. 

The person I thought of most was my Grandma Dorothy, my Grand. 

I used to think that I was the only person who knew how special she was, that we had a special connection or a secret that no one else knew - but everyone who knew her felt the exact same way as me. I spent summers in her garden making mud pies and looked forward to spending the night at her house more than I did my friends. We told each other secrets, danced in her kitchen like no one was watching, and sang as loud as we could together. And then, after all that, we'd recite the rosary with the TV and watch her "stories". It was impossible not to feel her love, and when I say feel I mean you fellllt it. I can go on and on about how she lifted my spirits or how she sang to me through heartbreaks no one else knew about. Not a day goes by that I don't think of her, hear her voice, and wish I could just smile at her from across the room and convince her to have a tea party with me. "Pal,  let's have a chat."

"Together again" ;-)

Alterations. 

I've said this before and I'll say it a million times again I'm sure - this year something in me changed. Today someone told me "With change come opportunity, embrace it." I agree 100%. I'd also like to add  that changing does not mean forgetting. People change, relationships change, but this isn't something to fear. You don't have to create an alter to remember people from your past, and just because you may not be making new memories with someone does not mean the old ones fade. Bring flowers when everyone can still smell them. Honor your alters and embrace your alterations.

~ A Charlie Gal