Growing up in a large extended family as a young child
Some memorable Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties come to mind.
The first thing, of course, all the good stuff my Tias would all bring; boy, that sure brings a smile,
From the best home-made tamales of all kinds; to the hottest salsa’s; all kind of Mexican food intertwined,
To the best empanadas with most and best sugar unrefined.
The only time a year you wouldn’t get your hand slapped for eating too much food,
My brothers, cousins and I, we would see who could eat the most; at times pretty crude,
No one dared to fall behind.
As my brothers, cousins, and I got older, these parties at my brother Frank’s and Cousin Charlie now grow louder & louder.
From the Rock & Roll/Mexican music of our parents to the Tejano/Pop music being played now; but still recall those long ago parties getting sips of beer from our dads playing poker,
To all the carne asada you wanted from the pit and the smoker.
Then, who could forget that New Year’s party when my Tia Bula starting having contractions?
Remembering Tio Raul trying to put on his wife’s coat; to almost forgetting his pregnant wife, all panicky and what a reaction; combined with all the family’s commotion!
Then after, the lighting of firecrackers celebrating the new baby & New Year on the front lawn.
I bet not one Collazo in San Antonio from that time doesn’t recall the great times we have shared as a family,
The grand old times we have all undergone!
Robert Collazo, 12/20/08; [Tio = Uncle; Tia = Aunt; Carne Asada = BBQ]
