My cousin Jerome and I are exactly
two weeks apart (I’m the older one) and we have grown up and spent just about
every single vacation together. Growing up, he lived in Laredo, and I lived in
Brownsville so we really could only see each other on holidays.
Our adventures start way way way
back when we would go to Candela, Coahuila for Easter. All of our other cousins
are at least five years older, so we pretty much just had each other. Candela
is a tiny little Podunk town in Mexico where our grandmama is from. Every year
for Easter our whole family would get together there. As the older kids were
off doing their shenanigans whether it be playing horse or poker, Jerome and I
would beg our grandmama for pesos, walk on over to the town plaza and buy
“bolis” (Mexican popsicles).
Jerome’s culinary interest grew
right around our freshman year in high school. One summer, we were at his house
and I was hungry, so who better to make me food than chef Jerome, right?....
WRONG! We ended up almost setting the kitchen on fire. Jerome had to throw the
skillet in the pool and the smoke was so bad I couldn’t see two feet in front
of me. We got lucky we cleaned up before his parents got back! (They still don’t
know to this day!)
Our senior year in high school we
participated in the Society of Martha Washington. This is where young men and
women are presented to society as they portray an important person in history.
The girls wear a gigantic eighty-pound colonial dress, as the escorts (in my
case, Jerome) wear men’s colonial wear as well.
Jerome
now goes to St. Edwards in Austin, however, we talk all the time. He truly is
one of my best friends and has been by my side every step of the way. I do
believe that the fact that the rest of my family is extremely close plays a
huge role on how close we have grown to each other. I love him to death, and
honestly don’t know where I would be without him.
It's amazing how you have that one particular person in your family that you are extremely close with and also how you and your family in general are close. I can really relate to this because my family and I are very close as well. There is not a major holiday that passes by that we don't all gather in one place and celebrate. Even when there isn't a holiday, we find a way to come together and enjoy each others' company. I think this play's such an important role in culture because family is where it starts.
ReplyDeleteJerome is my best friend and I don't know where I would be without him. You are very lucky to have grown up with someone so influential to your life by your side. Family is an extremely important aspect of Mexican culture so I take pride in being very close to my cousins.
ReplyDeleteIt is very interesting to see how you both grew up together as well as come from a family oriented household! Excellent read.
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