We meet again.
The Decision
To be perfectly honest, attending the reunion was never really on my radar. The reason? Unresolved tensions between me and my younger sister. Our hearts were still wounded, and we both needed more time to work through our differences.
The Funeral
When I heard my sister would be at Tia Maria’s funeral, I felt a little apprehensive. Not knowing what to expect, I prayed a rosary on the way to the service. But the moment our eyes met, we both just knew — everything was settled. We embraced, and just like that, the Enemy’s plans crumbled.
The Reunion
After speaking with several cousins, their case for the reunion started making a lot more sense. Mike and I talked it over and made the decision to go.
Cousin Nellie
Growing up, I was always the odd one out. My siblings each had cousins their age — but not me. The younger cousins thought I was too old, and the older ones thought I was too young. My cousin Ricky was my age, but he’s a boy. So for my entire life, Nellie has been my younger sister Norma’s best friend — and whenever we’re all together, I’m treated like chopped liver.
Nellie and I are cut from the same cloth. We’re both leaders, and we’re always not so quietly competing for Norma’s affection. Norma, for her part, absolutely relishes every bit of the attention. So when the three of us get together, it turns into a hilarious performance — the child in each of us rising right to the surface.
Organizing the Event
The Lord gave Nellie special graces to pull off this event. From the draped chairs tied with yellow bows to the dinner itself, every detail was arranged with genuine love. The planning even included a beautiful ancestry board and a display honoring the family members no longer with us.
The Opening Prayer
We are a God-fearing family, and inviting the Lord to bless our reunion was the only way to properly start the celebration. With God in our midst, we all know and feel His love. Thank you, cousin Eric, for the wonderful prayer. When we pray, the peace of God surrounds us.
There is nothing more festive than the sound of a Mariachi band playing “El Son de la Negra.” That tune never fails to remind me of our upbringing. Our mothers loved Mariachi music, and as much as I hate to admit it, they brought a special joy to every celebration. I still can’t believe Nellie pulled off hiring the Mariachis — how she managed to secure the extra funding for such a large group was truly impressive.
My Brothers
I thank the Lord for my brothers. What joy it was to see George, Mike, and their families. My brothers are always a source of great wisdom and advice for our family. But the best surprise of all was getting to visit with my sister-in-law Angie — it had been years since we last saw each other.
The Sorta Karaoke
Nellie had a not-so-brilliant idea: lip sync to The Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love.” I was immediately in, and so was Norma — though we had to do a little convincing to get the other Nellie on board. If it hasn’t been mentioned, there are five cousins named Nellie, all named after our grandmother Manuela — Nellie for short. There was just one big problem: we all thought we knew the song, but in reality, we only knew the chorus. It was a disaster before we even got started. We did our best and saved face by getting very animated whenever the chorus came around.
The Dance Contest
We had a dance contest to Chubby Checker’s “The Twist.” At one time in my life I could really shake a leg, and “The Twist” was a no-brainer. I carefully selected Nellie’s daughter Maggita as my partner for two reasons: she is a great dancer, and her mother happened to be the main judge. Something very unusual happened to me that night — my upper body was twisting, but my feet were cemented to the dance floor. We were quickly eliminated, but whether from disbelief or sheer confidence that we were the champions, we refused to leave the dance floor. We quickly declared ourselves the winners.
Mass
The following morning, Mike and I attended Mass at Saint Francis of Assisi in La Quinta. This beautiful church is designed to mirror the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi in Italy and is stunningly set against the majestic Santa Rosa Mountains.
Breakfast
A large group of us — as many as 40 — gathered for breakfast. Nellie instructed us to keep tabs on our own meals and pay our share when the check arrived. Our share, tip included, came to a little over $60 for just the two of us. As we finished our meals, the Lord placed it on my brother Eric’s heart to pick up the entire tab. What a blessing for us all. Eric is my half-brother — he and his family live in Washington State.
President for Life
It has been official for years now — I am the President of the Lopez Family. So what if it is a self-appointed office; I have humbly accepted the role. At every gathering there is always a coup, my husband Mike included, attempting to take over my position — but in the end… I will always be the President for Life!
My Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for the legacy of the Lopez family. May You continue to guide us on the path You have chosen for us. May we always seek Your holy face. Amen.
