Traditions...

This season of holidays and traditions is one of my favorites. I get to mix Mexican and American traditions, new and old traditions. When my family first came to the states, they brought not much but the clothes they had and the excitement of a new land with new opportunities. They embraced everything American and immediately sought to learn the language and customs. They made the trek every year back to Mexico to visit family and once my sisters and I were old enough, we began to go at Christmas time as well. The Christmas customs and celebrations were unlike anything we had seen before. There were no Christmas trees, Santa Claus or even gifts, just a deep respect and joy for celebrating the birth of Jesus.
As I grew and had my own family I wanted my children to experience and learn the true meaning of the season and that it’s not all about material gifts. Although they have experienced a Christmas in Mexico, I have incorporated some of the traditions and customs I witnessed on our visits with family. In addition to a Christmas tree we also have a statue of baby Jesus in our living room and pray the rosary on Christmas Eve. My children have grown up with two cultures and the traditions of each. As they get older and we all get busier some traditions have had to fall by the wayside or adjusted due to time constraints or dietary restrictions. As others have experienced, in this economy the tradition of presents has been cut back and the focus is more on family time and the religious aspect as it should be. There will be one family gift this year (the much sought after Wii) that will hopefully have us playing and spending more time together all through the year. As I have incorporated these traditions into my family, I have received feedback that some of them are not followed through as should be….are the “tradition” rules set in stone? Who makes these rules? For instance this year we all gathered at mom’s to celebrate Christmas and I forgot to bring my baby Jesus for when we prayed the rosary. My mom insists I must now pray the rosary to it. Mind you I was the one who brought this tradition back into our family as she and my dad did not carry this on in all the years I lived at home. What happens if I don’t end up praying the rosary, will lightning strike me, am I condemned to the fires of hell for eternity? Who is to say - and whether I follow the tradition by the letter or have some slip ups along the way my goal is to create a special Christmas memory for my children and family regardless if tradition was strictly followed. This is probably why some traditions are no longer done. I’m curious as to what other families have done. Have they changed up their traditions due to time, new customs, etc? What are the favorites? Please share your thoughts, experiences.

A Winner….in more ways than one.

Last night’s Biggest Loser found Michelle Aguilar as the Season 6 winner. In all she lost a total of 110 pounds beating out the others percentage wise to take home the big money. Michelle entered the contest with her mom. The two had gone through some tough times and Michelle barely knew her mom and hadn’t spoken to her in years. As the show progressed they were able to get to know each other and clarify misunderstandings and come to terms with hurt feelings from past actions. Michelle not only gained her health back through the weight loss and some money, but most importantly she gained back that relationship with her mom. This local girl did good! I’d say this Christmas will be the best ever for Michelle and her family. She is a winner in more ways than one.

Tamales…and Navidad

It’s not Christmas without tamales…and not just any tamales but the ones made with Mom’s recipe. The last couple of years I’ve been writing down the steps and trying to get all the steps of this painstaking process down. Mom is getting up in years and I’ve got to this down, because tamales made by others or store bought will just NOT do! Plus I want my kids to learn and know this tradition even though we’ve changed it up slightly (thank goodness for modern conveniences). As usual, I took a vacation day from work to begin the process and it took me all of Friday to just purchase the ingredients and supplies needed for this annual tamalada and to pre-cook and shred the meat. Early Saturday we made the mole sauce from scratch and the masa and then began putting them together. Although my girls and I took care of the heavier workload (kneading the masa, frying the ingredients for the mole, soaking and cleaning the corn husks, etc.), mom was nearby, tasting and gently guiding us in the steps. Once we get to the point of putting them together, the whole thing goes smoothly with an assembly line of one of us putting the masa on the hoja (corn husk), passing it down for the next person to add the meat (which has been mixed in with the red mole sauce), and then passed down to the next person to carefully put into the cooking pot. The whole time everyone is talking, catching up on the family gossip and happenings. Once the pot is full, water is added and we set them to cook. While they are cooking we have a few snacks but nothing that would spoil our appetite as we anxiously await the first tamales of the season – an hour or two later (depending on the size of the pot), we have our first succulent batch of fresh tamales – delicioso! It just isn’t Christmas without a tamalada – a time to celebrate the bond of family.

Memories.....

I recently learned that the IHOP a couple of blocks from closed its doors for the last time. We went there often for Sunday brunch. We used to go to Denny’s until they closed it down. Denny’s has fond memories for us.

Growing up my family traveled every summer as most families do to visit grandparents and family. My parents had emigrated from Mexico in 1962 as newlyweds looking for better opportunities. They had both left parents and many siblings behind to embark on a new life together and each year made the pilgrimage back to visit and relate tales of life in the country they now called home. On the last stop before crossing the U.S. and Mexican border we always ate “our last meal” at Denny’s. Back in those days, once you crossed over into Mexico there were no casual restaurants to stop in for a quick bite and there were no fast food chains in Laredo, Texas. It was either stopping at a very fancy restaurant or taking our chances with a roadside taco stand and putting us at risk for Montezuma’s revenge.

We’d eat hearty because our next good meal would not be until we arrived at grandma’s house. All week long we’d have our fill of fresh, authentic Mexican food – quesadillas, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, tamales, rice, beans and lots and lots of tortillas.

Once our week long “vacation” was over we’d begin the long drive home and crossing back over into the states, we would stop at Denny’s again – we couldn’t wait to have a familiar meal of a coke, burger and fries! As children, a week felt like forever and by the end of it we longed for the comforts of home. A hot, juicy burger with melted cheese and the crisp crunch of pickles, lettuce and tomatoes tasted heavenly! It was torture waiting for the ketchup as it slowly poured out of the bottle onto the crisp, slightly greasy french fries – it was almost too much to bear. The meal was finished off with an icy cold coke.

This simplest and satisfying of meals was one we eagerly looked forward to and missed more than anything. Not the television shows, friends or toys. Although we would still have another eight hours of travel, a hamburger meal at Denny’s was all it took to make us feel at home again. It was not only a familiar landmark but a comforting ritual on our journey.

Today my family consists of my husband and three children. We continue to travel to México to visit our families and use the same route. The city of Laredo, Texas has grown extensively and now has many, MANY drive-through and quick stop restaurants. There are also many new casual restaurants on the Southern side of the border. That same Denny’s restaurant is still in Laredo in the same spot. Although there are now many options from which to eat a hamburger meal, it has become a family tradition to stop at Denny’s no matter what time of day it might be to make it our “last meal” and to stop there again first thing on our way back home. It just wouldn’t be the same anywhere else. My kids look forward to this just as much as my sisters and I did those many years ago.

16 de septiembre.....

Although celebretions have been going on all weekend for Mexican Independence Day, today Sept. 15, marks the eve of the start of the Mexican revolution against Spain in 1810. To commemorate the occasion, tonight at midnight Mexico's president, Felipe Calderon, will come out on the balcony of the Palacio de gobierno and address the crowd with the Grito de Independencia - Viva la Independencia, Viva Mexico, Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe! This same traditional celebration takes place simultaneously throughout Mexico and in many cities across the U.S. where there is a large Mexican population. These celebrations are huge with mariachis, bailables, speeches from local dignitaries and of course GREAT food! Upon gaining its independence from Spain, Mexico had a vast territory including a large part of the U.S. - Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, California and others. There is still much debate on how the U.S. acquired the territory from Mexico. But what is done is done and the past cannot be changed, we can only learn from it and try not to repeat its mistakes. It is great that we can now carry out and celebrate the traditions of our ancestors and past generations from Mexico so that we can remember and honor what they went through so we can be where we are today and move forward. Perhaps modifying some of these traditions to fit our lives today and making our own history for the generations to come. Click on http://www.inside-mexico.com/featureindep.htm to learn more. Viva Mexico, Viva America!

Machismo.....

As much as i've put in every effort for my son NOT to have that stereotypical characteristic of the latin male - it has done no good. For he is more "macho" than his father ever was....(or used to be). Webster defines machismo as "a strong sense of masculine pride. An exaggerated sense of power and strength." At 22 the boy only thinks he knows the meaning of manhood - unfortunately we can only control what they learn and live at home and not the additional knowledge and experiences he "gains" from those he chooses to hang out with and befriend. In additon I am an Aries and he is Taurus, we constantly lock horns on many issues but most especially in the treatment of his sisters, and other female family members. This is causing great stress and conflict with his girlfriend. Last night we may have had a breakthrough and hopefully he will begin counseling to learn to change. I think he may finally understand how his attitude and relationships can make or break his future.....

Ignorance......

I attended a seminar the other day where the speakers where the top earners at a leading wholesale distribution company - one lady proceeded to speak of how she expanded her business in mexico and the people she helped there. She then proceeded to mimic a mexican accent (to everyone else's amusement), explain how she had to remove all her jewelry while traveling to avoid being mugged (like we have no muggers here in u.s.a.) and that the person she sponsored had to conduct business literally under a table at a restaraunt while the rebels were invading oaxaca! She also went on to say that she had been offered pidgeon or iguana to eat and was surprised when she tasted a dish to find that it was worms and grasshoppers.....all this "hardship" she had to endure to grow her business to where it is today and be the success that she had become....Her tale was not done respectfully but in jest to get a laugh out of the audience. Why do people feel they have to make fun of what they do not know or understand? if mexico is such a third world country as she made it out to be, with rebellions and the like then why are their immigrants denied help and legal status when it is given to other countries such as el salvador, certain places from africa, etc. (of course this is another topic, i digress.) Her speech gave only emphasized that she helped that person for her own monetary gain and not out of the kindness of her heart, which is what she would have everyone believe. If only that person knew how she had been mocked and made fun of in front of thousands of people....this woman also showed how ignorant she really is and lacking of understanding for the culture and environment of others. I recently came across a wonderful web site (www.postcrossing.com) where you can exchange postcards with others from all over the world!! Through this site you can communicate and learn about others, their likes, dislikes, hobbies, their cities, families....it is such a wonderful endeavor....i equate this effort to be what perhaps those that started the olympics wanted for their endeavor - to learn about others, communicate and have others go away with new understanding and friendships.....check it out....

Trust....

Ok, my youngest is almost 17. I've trusted her enough to allow her to go out with friends to movies, out to eat, etc. Last night i get the feeling she went to a club instead of out to eat and a movie with friends which is what she told us.....How to find out the truth without being accusatory? How to approach without breaking that trust? And today she was out all afternoon and not answering her phone....i've grounded her for that. Growing up in my family, my sisters and i were NEVER allowed to go anywhere. Not even to a sleepover NEXT Door. My parents were unfamiliar with this American custom of slumber parties and didn't trust us out of their sight...or as my mom explained it, it's not that they didn't trust us, they didn't trust what might happen or other people. Regardless if they had been our neighbors for years...i didn't want my kids to grow up suffocated and gave them the freedom to experience much more than my sisters and i ever did. They were in scouts, went to sleepaway camp, slumber parties, even went on school trips (band, etc.). I think i did well in not giving them too much freedom, but definitely more than we had. The older ones (now 24 and 21) did good and have not become "a statistic" (i.e. high school dropouts, teenage pregnancy, single parenthood). Both have graduated high school, are still single and attending college, one has a full time job, the other part time....both on the road to becoming mature and hopefully well rounded individuals. And at 46 i've yet to become a grandmother and that's fine by me. They have plenty of time for these responsibilities. Back to this youngest child....she will be a senior in high school this year, we'll have to buckle down to keep her on the straight and narrow.....I pray for strength to say no and stick to it and for all our teachings to come to her mind when we are not around her....

Always Learning....

Today I created this blog! More technical but not as hard as I thought it would be thanks to Blogspot....I don't know if I'll ever get up to date with all the technology but I believe in always learning...even my mom who is 70+ took a computer class this past summer. She still works part-time because otherwise ..."que voy a hacer en la casa?" She is a school lunch lady and they have done away with time cards and employees have to submit and track their time on computers. So even she has to get with the times....she has come a long way for someone who had never experienced anything new when she first came to this country with my dad as newlyweds back in '62, not knowing the language or what would happen in this new country away from what they were familiar with and their loved ones. She is stronger and more adventurous than she gives herself credit for....