I’m sure this ‘Thank You’ note seems quite contrary to my persona, but it’s no-less sincere.
I’ve realized how my past ungrateful behaviors have hurt you. I apologize for it all.
The incredible gala you created for my marriage to Harry left me breathless.
As I’m sitting on the balcony with this magical view of Portofino, I’m tearful of the years we’ve missed together. Milestone celebrations; each lost along the way.
Your description of our honeymoon get-a-way was on target, to the last detail.
***** Bullying is the use of force, threat, exclusion or coercion to abuse, or intimidate aggressively toward others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual in an event to overpower another.
***** Although I attended a Catholic parochial school which should have made bullying null and void, it did not. As the only Latino child in an all anglo school, my ethnic difference provided a great deal for students to use against me. Bullying comes in many colors and ethnic backgrounds; perhaps, one day it will be erradicated.
Adults held children while running and screaming in all directions.
Horror on their faces signaled an unmistakable accident.
Uniformed fair staff and guards gathered everyone to safe zones.
A day of carnival treats and rides; now, the scene of a devastating tragedy.
Shock and terror paralyzed me.
I’d declined my friends request that morning to chaperone her son, my daughter’s friend, to the fair. With six kids to monitor, I couldn’t manage more.
A round-a-bout chair ride suddenly stopped causing the chain to sever her sons’ leg.
Amusement parks were off our activities list from that day forward.
*****Paugua – Taino Indian name for Paula. My great grandmothers name.
*****Eduvije – Taino Indian name for Vincent. My great grandfathers name.
*****Taino Indians – The original inhabitants of Puerto Rico are the Taíno Indians, who called the island Borikén; however, as in other parts of the Americas, the native people soon diminished in number after the arrival of European settlers. It was estimated that the majority of all the Taino Indian inhabitants of the New World perished due to contact and contamination with Old World diseases, while those that survived were killed by warfare with each other and with Europeans.
Mrs. Goodman cleaned her home and windows all the time; a cleaning cloth always in her hand.
Ella and I played on the floor with our barbie dolls. If we didn’t wake William, we could have candy. The colorful candy was tempting. I couldn’t believe Ella never took one.
When Ella left to get her dollhouse, Mr. Goodman walked into the room.
He was tall, thin with a chalky wry face.
“Do you like candy?” he asked.
I just stared.
He pointed to his zipper saying, “I have candy, if you’d like.”
On Hayward Street, everyone walked on the opposite street when passing ‘The Seidel’s’.
Wille lived there with his mother. He had mental and physical abnormalities. His head would tilt just so as he dragged his club foot and balanced his deformed hand on his chest.
Mrs. Seidel would raise her fist and yell at the boys who’d tease him. Everyone wondered where he’d go if something happened to her.
In time, he was taken to a psychiatric facility; his mother taken to a senior home.
