October 18, 2006

• Stephanie posted this today from Tepic.  We had a fantastic conversation last night.  One of her friend's mother overdosed on prescription medication recently and, ultimately, was declared brain dead -- so that her friend had to make the decision of whether or not to pull the plug.  Stephanie, understandably, was really torn up about it.  The friend (who is Steph's age) was the one who discovered his mother unconscious and struggling desperately to breathe.  She said, "He turned his mother's head and all this liquid came out.  Hearing that gave me a horrible flashback about Mom."  My little girl, and far too many other kids, are having to grow up far too fast and deal with things that most adults have never had to deal with.  She is doing great, though.  Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

  Now, for something far more enjoyable.  Here is Stephanie's post about Mexican parties that she finds very apropos...  [The notes will be mine.]

  These are 15 ways you can tell if it is a Mexican party:
  
  1. Some of the guests didn't bring a gift - but they brought extra uninvited guests.
  
  2. The part is separated into women cooking, men drinking, and kids playing.
  
  3. The party is at Chuck E. Cheese, but they brought their own food, cake, and a piñata.
  
  4. It's a child's party, but there are more grown ups than children.
  
  5. It's Mijo's 1st birthday ,and the party food consists of carne asada [grilled steak], arroz [rice], frijoles [beans], -- and 10 cases of beer.
  
  6. For entertainment, instead of playing pin the tail on the donkey, there is usually a televised baseball or futbol [soccer]game, or a live fight.
  
  7. The party was supposed to be over at 5:00 pm, but it's 7:30pm, and the party is just starting.
  
  8. The host calls someone who's on their way and tells them to stop and get some tortillas and ice.
  
  9. You hear someone go up to the birthday child and say, "Mira, que lindo. [Look how pretty.]  I'm going to have to get you something next week when I get paid."
  
  10. The party is Saturday, and you get a call from the hostess Friday night saying,"I'm giving Mijo a birthday party tomorrow at 3:00 pm."
  
  11. Some guests bring gifts that are still in the Wal-Mart bag.  [That would be ME -- and I am not even Mexican!!!]
  
  12. The cake didn't come from the store; it came from the mother of the comadre of your best friend's sister who makes really good cakes.
  
  13. You are told you have to save your plate and the fork you ate your food with -- so you can eat your cake.
  
  14. Guests automatically wrap up a plate of food and cake to take home.
  
  15. I t's Mijo's birthday, but since his cousin Maria is there and her birthday is in a few days, it becomes Mijo's and Maria's party.

  [I will even add some more:

  16.  Ultimately, a huge crowd of kids are in the patio or the carport, drowning out all conversation, by frantically screaming, loudly singing "Dale, dale, dale" (the piñata song), swatting at a piñata, or scrabbling for candy from the piñata -- as a couple of adults try to keep someone from getting brained by the broom handle being used to break the piñata.

  17.  Someone gets bonked by the broom handle amid great crying and gnashing of teeth.

  18.  Someone's face will get crammed down into the cake as everyone chants, "Mordita!  Mordita!"  ["Little bite!"]

  19.  A mini food fight will result, or someone will get kissed with a face full of cake icing.
  

  : )

  so true..  [And memories revived of some wonderful times...]

   

  -stephanie

  [Thanks, Darlin'.  I love you.  Give Mom my love...]

  • 11:06 pm
  • 2 Comments