To Embrace and to Hold

This year I decided to do a scrapbook titled something like, "Top 10 in '10." And while that's not final yet, most of the details are. Each month, from 10th to 10th , I'll scrap the top ten highlights. I think it's a fun way to chronicle what goes on, and even more exciting, at the end of the year I'll have a family scrapbook done.

Because I don't want to leave out these first ten days, the first page will be titled, "Top 10 in '10...so far." Each day I write something down that's noteworthy to document on January 11.

This morning I called my Nina (Godmother) in Tlaquepaque. It was her birthday on the 3rd but just got to talk to her today. J sang Happy Birthday. I could hear her excitement even though I was standing a little ways away from him. They had a small conversation about who was going to travel to see whom. Then they said their respective I love yous and when I got on the phone she commented on how well he spoke; that he's Fabuloso -- fabulous. The smile in her voice was evident.

This beautiful, selfless, 83-year-old woman battling breast cancer always has the power to make my heart soar. Even in her darkest moments -- and there have been many -- there is a resounding optimism that leaves no doubt that she will once again get up, dress up, and show up. I've seen it over and over and over again.

On the day that she told me that her body had been plagued by this horrible disease and that she had opted to just let it be, I was the one that crumbled, and she, like she'd done so many times before, was the one that consoled me. Her words of wisdom, her strength, and her dignity gave me strength and optimism. And in the days that followed when everything brought me to a memory of her and that same strength and optimism were washed away by tears, I had the overwhelming urge to call her so that she could work her magic once again.

Today's conversation was light and fun. She told me that she had talked to my bro for the first time in years a couple of days ago. She said that he was just running in my mom's house to pick up something and had to get back to the kids so it had been a short dialog in which she said something that prompted a hearty and genuine laugh from him. She described listening to that laugh as "La Gloria." It translates into glorious.

She takes nothing for granted. Unfortunately, life has molded and shaped her to not do so, as it does to some degree all of us; however, not all of us embrace it until it's too late. She's not only embraced it, she's tightened the grip and held on while it still matters.

That's what I hope to do with my book. Not every month is going to be filled with marquee moments, yet each day is a blessing and it's within those days where we have to find the even smaller ones, even if it's nothing more than a hearty laugh.

I'm not planning to do a Letterman-style countdown with my Top Ten list, but if I was, hearing her voice today would take the No. 1 spot by a landslide.

PS: When I hung up with her, she sounded like she was crying. I hope we made her as happy as she made me.