|
by Luis Miranda The year 2009 is leaving us at the same speed it arrived but it has served up a series of unparalleled events in my life. 2009 brought me, at long last, a new kitchen for my house – this, after 28 years of living with the original kitchen from when my house was constructed back in 1929. Luz and I thought that we would also live with the old kitchen and its lone cupboard. But in one of my now-famous bouts of impulsiveness, brought on by a conversation with my long-time radio-producer, Diego Olivé, who had just completed a kitchen renovation of his own, I hired a kitchen contractor and will now have a kitchen with a gorgeous mosaic at its center that will be illuminated by a beautiful chandelier we purchased in Murano, Italy. A new grandson was the great gift of the first half of 2009. The arrival of yet another boy put an end to my daughter's (and our) search for a little girl. Cita handed over all of the dresses and outfits she had worn over the years and that I had kept in anticipation that maybe another little Miranda would wear them. It was not to be. Luisito, Alejandro, and our newest addition, with his hybrid Anglo-Spanish name, Dylan Javier, are now the triumvirate of the Miranda Crespo family. Towards the end of 2009, Lin-Manuel returned from Spain and told us that Vanessa was the woman with whom he wanted to share the rest of his life. My job was to find the jeweler who would help him find the special diamond to seal their commitment. As someone who is respectful of our traditions and values, Lin-Manuel went to visit the Nadal family and asked for their daughter’s hand in marriage. He called us soon after returning to Spain to let us know that she had accepted his proposal and that soon enough there would be a wedding. This year, thanks to my nephew Miguel’s weekly catechism classes, I have also returned to Church. Let me explain. It isn't that I'll be receiving First Communion again it's that as part of his catechism Miguel must attend mass every Sunday. So each Sunday, Miguel and I have our routine: we wake-up early, go to Target or McDonald’s and then head over to the 8:30 a.m. mass. His intelligent comments, his contagious laugh and his loving self have been a shining light during 2009. And as we close out these last days of the first decade of the new century, Miguel and I are planning his ninth birthday party, which he wants to be “the best of his life.” In 2009, as in the last 33 years of my life, I have benefitted from the cement that keeps my head together and the line that keeps my life in balance - my partner in life, Luz. Luz is the person with whom I can share everything – the good and the bad. This year, Luz left her job at a local hospital in order to spend more time being a grandmother. I'm thrilled that she has more time for us and especially for Lucecita’s triumvirate. The year would have been perfect had not Mundi – our family nanny, mother, and grandmother to all – fallen and fractured her ankle during a recent trip to Puerto Rico. The aftermath of the fracture has been hospitals, and doctors and much sadness at seeing her bed-ridden when she wanted to walk as she had done for the past 84 years. For now she is recovering at Isabella Geriatric Center, a spectacular place in our community. Oh well, I guess it can’t all be perfect. When my daughter was married in 2003, I offered a toast that asked God to continue blessing us. And every time I think I have enough, He gives me more. In 2009, it was a new kitchen, a new grandson, an engagement, another year of marriage, and thousands of memorable moments with the special people in my life. To 2009 I say...a thousand thanks.
|
