Volume I: Rummikub and Texting

Abuelito laughing at Robert's tebow.

I've been meaning to do this for a long time.  

That's generally what I can say about a lot of good ideas I've had over the years.  I am definitely an ideas person and sometimes it takes a little push for me to get going on an idea.  What pushed me to start this blog on what I anticipate will cover everything from cute puppies to urban policy?  Well, last week, my family laid my grandfather to rest.  He was a man who brought his family to this country in hopes of giving his children and his grandchildren a shot at a better life.   My grandfather, or Abuelito, always had a smile on his face and a joke up his sleeve.  He enjoyed the simple things, like playing rummikub.  He was pretty hip (as in he had a facebook page, an email and was a texter).  And he loved the Lord, meaning he snuck his way into to seeing Pope John Paul II so the Pope could give his blessing to the Familia Torres.  It's been hard to think about how I'll never be able to get a hug from him again, but it made me think about living my life in a way that  would make him most happy, or as Father Seamus said at my grandfather cemetery service, to carry on the Torres family flag for his legacy.  So, I've decided to just to start doing some things that I've always wanted to do.  One of which was starting a blog.  Another of which was trying new recipes (I baked a peach pie tonight, which was delish).  I also read that writing about the loss of a love one helps with the healing.  So, here I am kicking off the blogging.

         But, back to carrying on my grandfather's legacy.  

       I really remembered how much I wanted to write about my grandfather     on my new blog after listening to Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC.  She reminded me about how I am where I am today because of those who have come before me.  I am not in my fortunate circumstances today just because of what I have done.  No, I am where I am today because "unflinching sacrifices" from my family.  I stand on the shoulders of my grandparents who took risks to come to a new country where our family had a chance at good jobs and education.  I wish I had asked my grandfather more about what it was like coming to the US and what it meant for him to be here.  Still, I go forward knowing that my talents and education don't just below to me.  They belong just as much to my grandfather as they do my future grandchildren.  They belong to the past and to the future.  I shoulder that responsibility to lead a meaningful life because of those sacrifices.  But to also remember to enjoy the simple things and to, of course, stay hip.