2008 actually started with a very special moment Christmas Eve, 2007. We were visiting our friend Father Edd Salazar, S.J., at Ignatius House in Atlanta when we were pleasantly surprised to be asked to celebrate mass with him and the other three priests in residence… A very special moment indeed.
January and February brought some cold weather. We’d rather not remember, so there are no pixs.
Geraldina went to India* yet again, as Reemberto and his brother built the Caja China to roast pigs in the festivities to come later in the year. (*And of course, the people of India are in our hearts in a very special way this year.)
Baseball continues to be 'life'.
Opening Day with the Nationals Baseball Team was a treat, especially seing Ryan Zimmerman win it – against the Braves (much to Iggy's dismay)! – in the bottom of the tenth.
Rembe Jr., continues being an integral part of the Nationals, working every home game.
Rembe, Jr. also had the opportunity of going to the All-Star game in New York (and going to the World Series in Philly, where the worst team won.)
Iggy finished at St. John’s and then pitched in summer ball with the local American Legion Post.
The Pope visit to DC was truly exceptional. Rembe, Jr., had the opportunity to 'guard' the Pope Mobile, and Iggy visited the White House for the momentous meeting of the Pope and the Prez. Reemberto accompanied Iggy to the mass at Nationals Stadium.
Iggy’s high school graduation was celebrated with multiple pigs, many friends, and family visits... And the prom!... And then he turned legal - just in time to vote in November and drink in Jamaica.
…then Iggy left us for Swarthmore College… (Trivia: President-Elect Obama was rejected at Swarthmore. He ended up being accepted at Occidental College and then transferred to Columbia University… Dukakis DID graduate from Swarthmore – don’t know what THAT says!)
Now Geraldina and Reemberto are empty nesters!!!
So, it is time to celebrate...
But, we remain committed to vacationing with the guys, like our trip to Jamaica.
And family and friend visits keep us very very busy – and connected... We love it when they visit! That way we get to 'discover' rare monuments in Washington like the Cuban Urn, a gift from the Cuban government to the Us government given in 1932!... and of course, attend yet another Nats game with Geraldina's sister and familia.
We also visited Atlanta no less than 10 times - or was it 20? – where we celebrated Reemberto’s mother 81st birthday (here pictured with his brothers.)... And below are a couple of sassy relatives, also from Atlanta.
We also trekked to Miami to join the celebration of our aunt & uncle’s 50th wedding anniversary, where we had a blast – including witnessing the First Annual Family Wheelchair Race. We had the unfortunate
loss of one of the 'octarians',
Tia Elena, who passed away
December 3rd.
…And, can we finish ANY letter recapping ’08 without a reference to the exhilarating excitement generated by the election of our President-Elect?... (Reemberto dropped out of the race early and endorsed him, along with – at that time – the other 5 Cuban-Americans willing to do the same… But, after the final numbers were in, Obama did win 55% of the under-35 Cuban-American vote!)
And, can any Cuban-American finish a recap of ANY year without wishing, hoping, and praying that NEXT year we’ll see a free Cuba?... Here's a scene we'd love to see next time we look out to the ocean:
So, from our Familia to yours, enJoy '09!
