We Meet Again
The Decision
To be perfectly honest, attending the reunion was never something seriously considered. The reason was simple: unresolved tension with a younger sister. Both hearts were still wounded — more time was needed to work through the differences that had driven a quiet wedge between us.
The Funeral
When word came that she would be at Tía María’s funeral, a quiet apprehension settled in. Not knowing what to expect, a rosary was prayed on the way to the service. But the moment our eyes met, something wordless passed between us — and we both simply 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 attending began to carry real weight. Mike and the decision were talked over — and in the end, going felt right.
Cousin Nellie
Growing up, there was always a sense of being the odd one out. Each sibling had a cousin their age — but not here. The younger cousins thought the age gap too wide in one direction; the older ones, in the other. Cousin Ricky was close in age, but he’s a boy. So for a lifetime, Nellie has belonged to younger sister Norma as her closest friend — and whenever the three of us gather, the invisible “chopped liver” sign goes right up.
Nellie and I are cut from the same cloth. Both are leaders, and both are locked in a not-so-quiet, ongoing competition for Norma’s affection. Norma, for her part, absolutely relishes every bit of it. When the three of us get together, it becomes 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 this off. 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 tender display honoring the family members no longer with us.
The Opening Prayer
Ours is a God-fearing family, and inviting the Lord to bless the reunion was the only way to properly begin the celebration. With God in the midst, His love is known and felt by all. Thank you, cousin Eric, for the wonderful prayer. When we pray, the peace of God surrounds us.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there in their midst.” — Matthew 18:20, New Catholic Bible
The Mariachis
Nothing is more festive than the sound of a Mariachi band playing “El Son de la Negra.” That tune never fails to call to mind the old upbringing — the world that shaped us all. The mothers loved Mariachi music, and as much as it pains to admit it, they brought a special joy to every celebration. It’s still hard to 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
Grateful to the Lord for brothers like George and Mike. What joy it was to see them and their families gathered together. Always a source of great wisdom and steady counsel for the whole family — their presence is a gift. But the best surprise of all was getting to visit with sister-in-law Angie. Years had passed since the last time those two had seen 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.
