Warrior pose meets guilt trip
Twenty minutes into what was supposed to be a peaceful Saturday afternoon yoga session when my phone rings. Abuela Rosa's name on the screen, and we all know I can't let that go t…
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20 entries tagged #family.
Conference call chaos
Sunday afternoon family calls hit different when you're both homesick at the same time. Jake's sister called from Portland right as Abuela Rosa was calling from San Antonio, so we…
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Questions I should have asked sooner
Going through that box of family stuff again, and this time I found something that stopped me cold. Questions I should have asked sooner Tucked behind Abuela Rosa's recipe cards w…
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Archive mode activated
Started going through that corner where I've been stashing random family stuff, and wow. Three more handwritten recipe cards from Abuela Rosa were hiding behind my old anatomy tex…
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Long distance warmth
Thursday nights are for calling Abuela Rosa. Has been since I moved out, really, but especially since becoming the family heritage keeper. Tonight she spent twenty minutes telling…
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Sunday phone marathons
Started today with the best intentions. Had all my meal prep ingredients lined up on the counter, chicken thawed, vegetables chopped. Then Abuela Rosa called. Sunday phone maratho…
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Departure scheduled
Flight confirmation email arrived at 2:47 PM. March 15th to El Paso, returning the 22nd. Seven days with Abuela Rosa learning everything I should have learned years ago. Departure…
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Distance measured in time zones
Mom called right when I was getting ready for bed, which means it was breakfast time for them. Distance measured in time zones One of those conversations that starts with 'how are…
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Weight of inheritance
Been sitting here for two hours now, going through everything Abuela Rosa gave me. Weight of inheritance Not just recipes - this whole system she created. Stories written in the m…
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Keeper of stories
Spread everything out on the coffee table this afternoon - all the recipe cards, photographs, and notes Abuela Rosa gave me last month. Keeper of stories I keep thinking I should…
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Lost in translation
Abuela Rosa's recipe cards arrived yesterday in a manila envelope with my name written in her careful cursive. I spread them across the kitchen counter this afternoon, expecting t…
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Three hours and counting
Mom called this afternoon while I was folding laundry, and somehow we ended up talking for three hours straight. Three hours and counting I can't remember the last time we had a c…
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Pages from the past
Three hours into sorting through Abuela's recipe collection and I'm realizing this project is way bigger than I thought. Pages from the past What started as "just organizing a few…
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Long distance
Mom called right after dinner and somehow three hours just disappeared. Long distance Started out catching up on the usual stuff - work drama, neighbor gossip, what she's making f…
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Sunday check-in
Mom called right as I was settling in with my anatomy flashcards this afternoon. Three hours later, the flashcards are exactly where I left them and my face hurts from laughing. S…
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When support changes everything
Been thinking a lot today about that phone call with my parents last week. When support changes everything You know when you're bracing yourself for disappointment and instead get…
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Making it official
Just walked out of the advisor's office with my major declaration form signed and submitted. Elena Rodriguez, nursing major. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Making it official…
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Thanksgiving breakthrough
Had dinner with my parents tonight and something shifted. Dad asked me about my anatomy class struggles and instead of launching into his usual "maybe you should consider business…
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Finding my voice at the dinner table
Tonight's family dinner took an unexpected turn when my dad asked how I'm really feeling about starting nursing prerequisites next week. Instead of my usual vague 'fine' response,…
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Processing and planning
Just got off a two-hour phone call with my parents about the whole nursing thing. Processing and planning They're still processing, but I can tell they're trying to be supportive…
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