‘Third dream fulfilled and I am sure my Mom is happy.’
I WILL be coming home after a short trip to the US where I needed to fulfill three dreams.
The first is to witness history in the making, in the form of the presidential elections that Americans go through every four years. I was last able to witness the exercise in 2016, when the candidate I favored – and who was favored to win – surprisingly lost in an upset that had major implications on US politics and society, as well as to the global community of nations, particularly the defense alliances that the United States has been a major pillar of since the end of World War 2.
In 2020, in part due to the pandemic, I missed witnessing the elections, only the first time since 2000. And because I missed 2020, I made sure I would be around this cycle.
Now because my trips to the continental US have become few and far between since I left the Atlanta-based beverage giant in 2012, my visit this year became the trigger for a family reunion, my second dream. As far as I know, I only have two brothers, with the elder one living in and is a citizen of Canada, while the younger one is a Jesuit priest assigned to a Jesuit school in Texas. Now (as far as I know again!) I only have one niece from my older brother, Joanna, who was born and grew up in Canada but who recently married a nice young man of Mexican descent; earlier this year they bought a house in Washington state, and we all decided to time the blessing of the house during this visit. It happens tomorrow, Saturday.
Second dream about to be fulfilled.
The third dream is to gift my niece with a small heirloom, a ring with a single diamond that was my mother’s but which was given to me in 1995 or 1996 by my dad: I think he was trying to bribe me to find a wife. Anyway I’ve kept it for years, wondering if I should convert the stone into a stud to wear on my earlobe. But my close friends Mark, Jon, and Lester told me to give it to Joanna.
Which I did, but with a twist.
First I invited her and her husband to dinner. Before the sumptuous steaks arrived, I told them that I was going to continue my dad’s practice of handing out crisp $100 bills for
Christmas. So I took out two bills and said “here is $200. But this goes to Sergio.” Of course my niece reacted. I said I was giving it to Sergio because he was not heading their family. She laughed but you know when a laugh is not a laugh.
You don’t get $200, I said, but you’re getting something from your Lola, who I added I was sure would be happy. That’s when I took out the ring, eliciting wide eyes and a deep long “wow” for my now exulting niece. She took the ring and put it on and what do you know? It fit perfectly.
Oh, I then added, if you prefer $200 we can swap.
Do I need to tell you how she reacted?
Third dream fulfilled and I am sure my Mom is happy.
Despite the election results, I’m happy now, too. Time to save up for 2028!
