Who Remembers? Part VI

[Italia_Lena]

Hello to all of the family...

How is everyone doing? Jenn it was so nice to talk to you Friday night
I'll email you with some details!

Lety, I no longer have yahoo messenger. I got a new computer at work and I can't download it...

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was busy...Friday I babysat, Saturday did some running around with friends, then saw a movie later on and had dinner. Got home late and I was so tired!
Yesterday visited my father and Elliot's father for "father's day"......

Well I just wanted to check in and say "hi"

Love to all
Jennifer

[Italia_Lena]

Where is everyone



Jenn

[cjsam2]

To everyone in our little house of memories, greetings from Australia… I hope that things are going very well for all of you, as it seems to be from what I’ve read… Come; let’s go to el mirador and sit for a while. I hope that the mosquitoes do not bother us so much tonight, but it is so nice and fresh outside that being in the living room seems like a sin! It is indeed good to be able to come home once in a while… I think I will fix myself a rum and coke and enjoy some of the empanadillas that I found in the kitchen… I so love these empanadillas de cangrejo! Make yourselves comfortable, as this may take a while.

You know, last night as I walked down the streets of Sydney on my way to the hotel, I contemplated the scenery and pondered as how it seems that I am the only stranger in this land. Couples walked by in each other’s arms, smiling gently at each other, obviously partaking of the love for each other. Busy businesspeople went here and there, briefcase in hand, perhaps after a very good day, or not such a good one. And older ladies walked home with perhaps a bag of groceries, going home to what I assume would be a perfect dinner. Later on I sat alone in a fancy restaurant that overlooked the Sydney Harbor. A few tables away sat another man, like me, alone and in a strange land. After a while of doing this you get to pick them up from a distance, those that travel for a living. After dinner I stood in front of the harbor enjoying the view, smoking a cigarette and wishing that Susan were here with me. So many times of this… I guess that being apart from Susan is the greatest price I pay for the work I do, but being without her sends shivers of loneliness up and down my body sometimes. There will be a time when we will be here together, perhaps on vacation… Then all dreams will come true…

It is at times like these that I wonder just who remembers. Sometimes it seems like an eternity from the time I was a teenager and walked down the streets of Mayaguez in the company of my friends, and yet sometimes if feels like it was only yesterday. I am glad that I remember, and I am glad that I have put those memories on paper, so that others may remember also, or perhaps find out how life once was for me. And as I stood in front of that magnificent harbor I felt proud of who I am, proud of where I come from, and proud of the things I have accomplished. From those balmy nights in Mayaguez, held in my mother’s arms as an infant, to standing in front of the Sydney Harbor as a 57 year-old man. There is a lot that has happened in between those two scenes. A lot to be told about a Puerto Rican that will never stop being Puerto Rican, and that will never stop remembering our roots.

You know, this house where we come and visit with each other from time to time has become a place for sharing good and bad feelings, good and bad experiences. Just listen to Leticia talk about her experiences in our island, and how she experienced things that took her back to some enchanted time in life… It is what life is all about. When my father died several years ago he did not leave a wealth of material things to me; but he did leave a world of wonderful memories and instilled in me the knowledge and appreciation for those wild toronjas that still grow in the mountains of Maricao. He showed me the smell of a carbonera and showed me the wonderful taste of a freshly brewed cup of Puerto Rican coffee. It is not what you have when you leave this world; it’s whether or not you lived life in happiness and whether or not you have instilled in those that follow you the wonderfulness of life…

Although I love to visit and tell you lots of stories, I would like for at least one of you to read my book and let me know what you think. If you go to http://www.authorhouse.com, click on Book Store, you will find a search bar. You will see “Author.” Click the arrow next to it and select “Title” from the drop down menu. Type in “Streets of Honey” and click search. This will take you to a screen that allows you to buy the book. If you click on the title you will be taken to another screen that talks a little bit about the book, a little bit about me, and finally a preview of one of the stories in the book. You can do likewise at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, but the prices at Authorhouse are more reasonable. (I had nothing to do with the price!)

The usual reader will not know about this, but I will tell you a little bit about the preview…

We had graduated from High School and our minds were full of questions as we marched into an uncertain future. Many times we had been camping at El Monte del Estado near Maricao, where we used to spook ourselves in the evening fog talking about spirits and legends of the area. In this story, “The Last Camping Trip,” I talk about a conversation that my dear friend and I had while we camped for what was to be the last time, even as we did not know it.

“Jedd” is not his real name. I had to change it, as I changed everyone’s name in the book, on the advise of the reviewers. But Jedd was nearly my brother, and we were worried and concerned about the future. We dreamt about adult life and we wondered what that would be like. Now in College, the nuns and priests were gone and something had let go of our hands. Now we needed to exercise self-discipline, and I was having a tough time with that. Loren was an American girl that had gone to High School with us and had returned to the States after graduation. We had been sort of close during High School, but it never went past that. Then Loren and I started writing to each other, and lo and behold I felt as though I had fallen in love with her, and she corresponded. It was crazy. Claribel was my sweetheart, and someone I am still in love with, although I have not seen her in 40 years. It was confusing…

So Jedd and I talked about life and the future, both scared of what may lie ahead. And as the camping trip ebbed the things of youth remained there, among the mountains of Maricao. It was getting to be the time for me to make a decision, and that decision was to join the US Navy, a decision that would take me away from Puerto Rico for the rest of my life, even though I did not know it then…

Please take a look and let me know what you think, although I warn you, the book is very down to earth… In the meantime, here I sit contemplating the view of the Sydney Harbor…

Bendicion,

C J Sam

[nachos1965]

Hi Italia-Lena:
Just wanted to wish you and Elliot well on your upcoming marriage. Have a fun time and enjoy the Dominican Republic.

Nachos.

[Italia_Lena]

Cjsam2, How sweet reading of your time in Sydney!!! Oh and I love empanadillas so much also!!!!! Elliot's mom makes the best! YUMMMMMM

Nachos1965, thanks for the wishes.....we are looking forward to our honeymoon there.

[JENI]

Hello everyone.

Good morning to you all, as I sit here eating my waffles and coffee. Yummy, I added some bananas. If anyone would like some, I have them on the counter.

Jenn...the wedding is going to be wonderful and your dress, well it is going to be beautiful as well. Don't you worry about anything mama, you will see that it will all be great. Love ya!

Cjsma...I believe that you said we can get the book at Barn's and Nobles? I will go and buy it today. I am not worried about the price, this book is well worth it and we have been waiting so long. I will be honored to have it in my arms. It is also nice to see you here again and to hear of your time in Australia. I know that Susan is waiting to see your face walk through that door, so take good care of yourself and let us know when you are home. I made you an extra Rum and coke for you.

Leticia... I hope that things are well with you. You are thought of always!


nachos...it is good to see you here again. how are you?

Everyone, I am making a little journey myself. I will be going to NY with my love Joe on the 9th of this month. I have never been there and I will meet some family for the first time. Joe's dad lives in the Bronx as well as my family, so I will have a story to tell when I get back. I can't wait for this trip, because I will be meeting my granfathers brothers and some cousins I have. As all of you know, my grandfather is my inspiration and the reason for me knowing who I am as a Puerto Rican. I am so blessed and can't wait to meet my great uncles Pancho and Rafael Garcia. Wish me luck and I will be sure to tell you all about it.

I will get off to work now, but I love you all.

Jennifer

[JENI]

Cjsam...just wondering, can we buy the book anywhere else but the computer? I wanted to know if it would be in stores. Please let me know.

Jenn