My abuelita

My abuelita (grandma) is awesome! When my mom was pregnant with me, she came from Bolivia for my birth and helped my mom out. Since then, she has come to this country to visit us only a handful of times. She never wanted to live here, even though her daughters and grand daughters have always encouraged her to. She is set in her ways, I guess, and rightfully so. She has only ever lived in Bolivia and has her home and all her extended family and friends there. My sisters know her a lot better than I, especially because they spent a portion of their childhood with her before coming to the States. But what I do know of her is plenty enough to realize what a rich heritage I have; not because of her social status or any other privilege she may or may not have had, but because of her strength, dignity, and character. Good thing too, because my grandfather passed away before I was born, and I never knew my grandparents on my dad's side. In a way, she makes up for this because she is so great!!

My abuelita did not have the best childhood. She suffered abuse and lack. But you wouldn't even know or imagine it by talking to her. She is full of joy and peace and forgiveness. Mind you, living in a 3rd world country, the abuse I speak of is none like you could fathom; it is truly heart-wrenching. However, my abuelita was still able to rise above and create a legacy of love and faith to leave behind whenever our Father God decides to take her home. At 90 years of age, she still stands upright with impeccable posture and impressive stamina. She walks energetically confident with an "I can do it myself" determination. She has a cheerful disposition and a hearty contagious laughter. She is a prayer warrior, my favorite of her traits and the one I wish to take after. She wakes up early in the morning to read her Bible and pray for her loved ones. She has a victorious attitude and never a victim's mentality. She is full of life and vitality, more than some people half her age. And she hopes to the end.

When she would visit me as a child, we used to play a finger pinching game. My abuelita has much physical strength. She would put up a slightly clenched hand and lift up her thumb under which I would reluctantly, but with masochistic defiance, place my finger. Then she would trap it with her thumb and squeeze it against her index finger, gradually harder and harder, until I squealed in surrendering pain. It was kind of a battle of wills and challenging to see how far I could resist. I remember smiling and denying that it hurt, even though I was squirming inside until I just couldn't take it anymore! LOL! Another fun memory is playing "Loba" with her, which is a Bolivian version of the card game Rummy. She takes her Loba very seriously, and if you take too long on your turn or don't pay attention, she gets extremely irritated. It's cute; she's so competitive about it. She also is very proper... most of the time, ha! But every now and then, she'll let one rip and begin to laugh and carry on hysterically about it!!

My abuelita is brave. People get mugged all the time in Bolivia. She has herself many times. I assume people are used to it, but I'm a wimp about stuff like that. She walks everyday regardless. She is so healthy and alert. I hope to be that way too as I grow older. She has lived a full life, and I believe she has made it meaningful. Distance separates us, but she has given me and my sisters her spirit and her example. She is a devoted human being... devoted to things of substance and of eternal value. Even through temporary trials, she remains anchored in the promise of her salvation; and she has mastered the art of enjoying the goodness of daily life as well.

Te quiero mucho Abuelita. Te admiro. Eres un lindo ejemplo de fe y amor y de esperanza. Cuando me siento sola o desalientada, pienso en todas las veces que oras por mi y me siento protegida. Gracias. Besos y muchas bendiciones.