Hello world-wide-web,
Thank you Heavenly Father for choosing me. It has made all the difference in the world. Prayers for all marriage, parents, children, healing in the gulf, singles, addicts and anyone else who needs a prayer said for them. In Your Name, Amen.
My Aunt Rosa, on my mother's side of the family, was my hero growing up in El Paso. My family moved around a lot when I was little, but no matter where we were, my Aunt Rosa came to visit. It was awesome. It meant new clothes, a new hair do and just pampering in general.
I cried for three days straight when she died.
She taught me about credit, have I told this story before? Well I'll stop now and tell you that I'm mentioning her b/c I 'invoke' her spirit sometimes when I have chores to do: she was an expert at wrapping gifts..and diplomacy. As Catholics, this is what I believe the "Communion of Saints," means to us; our connection to our ancestors, those who have passed. I was reminded of the times my Aunt Rosa used to water the front lawn at our house on Hawthorne Street. I used to sit on the magnificent, bricked, sturdy, front porch and watch her wave the magic wand that was the water hose. It was as if the elements were at her command. Immediately after turning on the water hose a cool breeze appeared and tousled the tall evergreen trees that were on either side of the path to the entrance of my grandmother's house. My Aunt took her time as she watered each and every plot of earth. It was an act of love.
So tonight as I turned on the water to the hose at my house, and the wind kicked up joyously, I thought of her and asked her to be with me as I watered each and every part of my yard. I could feel her presence as I am facing my house and beginning on the left hand side, by the front window. There are a few plants, but mostly dirt, which I drench because this land is important to the health of my foundation. I relax as the water flows out of the nozzle, thanking each and every plant for being in my yard and growing. I make sure I soak each area thoroughly, just like my tia (Spanish word for 'aunt') did. It's fun to watch the geckos run out from their hiding places, or the occasional surprised flutter of a butterfly as the water chases it. The neighbors to the right of my house are in their upper years so I water their bushes as well. I see no boundaries, really, between our two yards. I have a rather large fern plant growing towards the front of the lawn and all its spikes nod in agreement as the water pours over them lovingly. I notice that some of the water's muscles are creating a 'dark chocolate with Carmel in the middle' dirt affect, in the symbol of a "V". The darker section engulfing the lighter portion.This tells me I am not soaking enough, so I go over the same place until the affect is made no more. When I am on the other side of my house, at the corner where my bedroom is, there is a precious, tiny, frog 'sitting' and watching me as I water the surface around him, careful not to flood him out of his wonderful perch. Whenever I come to a tree, I thank it's tough, thick bark and strong roots, sloshing the water as if I were washing a pet elephant. I love it's shade and how pretty it makes the front of my house appear. It took me about an hour to do the 'water ritual'. I thank Rosa for accompanying me around my house. A simple act of giving glory to God's creations appointed to my care. I hope I am doing them justice.
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." Mother Theresa
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