My name is Trish. I am Crystal's cousin. Actually we are more than cousins. Crystal is more like a sister and a best friend wrapped up into one. She left me behind, sad and brokenhearted, in California 9 years 4 months ago (I won't bore you with the days, minutes and seconds). We don't get to see each other that often but we keep in close contact on the phone and over snapfish. When the phone rings at 6 am a smile overcomes my face because I know it's my girl. She knows I get up early so she never hesitates to call me on her commute to work. I ALWAYS look forward to these calls!!
She called me last Monday to tell me about the cancer. I never imagined how one phone call could change my life. I sat in California feeling so far away and absolutely powerless. Within hours of finding out of her prognosis, I booked a flight to Colorado. All I knew is that I needed to hug my girl. By the next day the crowd of people who also felt the need to hug Crystal had grown: Miguel, Crystal's Dad/Cindy, Crystal's Sister/Michael, Crystal's Brother/Alex Crystal's Brother/Arturo and Vivina, My mom and dad and Crystal's Aunt & Uncle/Art, my brother and Crystal's Cousin/Scotty, Crystal's Cousin/Gilbert my husband and Crystal's Cousin in law and I were on our way to Denver. Since Crystal's mom, Alma, has been here for several months caring for Rylee, we would all be together with Crystal, Jason, Gaven, Aiden and Rylee. There was a total of 15 of us!! I couldn't think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving!!
Usually we feast and overindulge on Thanksgiving. Oh boy, did we feast!! As a matter of fact, we feasted for four days straight. Remember the movie Soul Food, we had Mexican Soul Food. Comfort food, like chicken enchiladas, tacos, beans and rice. We had it all. We also had another special occasion. It was Crystal's mom, Alma's Birthday on Saturday. My mom came up with a great idea to make Tamales for her. You all know that making Tamales for Christmas is a HUGE Mexican tradition. It is no different for our family. The tamales turned our fabulous, they were so delicious. Over two days we finished every last one of them.
Crystal's brother made a birthday cake for Alma, but something went wrong. The cake didn't cook right. It was actually concave. This was the source of lots and lots of laughter throughout the day. Even little Aiden said "What happened?" We tried to make Michael feel better by telling him that it must have been the altitude!?!?! In the end the cake tasted just fine, it was made with lots of love and that is all that matters!!
We had such a wonderful weekend. We reminisced about old times, we laughed and we cried but most of all we relished this unforeseen opportunity to be together. Except for going to church, we locked ourselves up in Casa LaGrange and simply enjoyed each others company.
I am THANKFUL for this long Thanksgiving weekend!!
I guess it doesn't need to be said that I am a Chatty Cathy or to personalize it a Talking Trish!! I always have alot to say. My grammar and my spelling may not be the best but I love to write. I still have so many stories to share. I plan on sharing them all (ok, maybe not the ones from our single days...hahaha). I own a Scrapbook Store in California. Crystal has asked me to create scrapbooks for her children. I plan on posting lots of photos and scrapbook pages too. Please make sure to email Dee at deesoicher@msn and/or ellenmcv@comcast.net with all your stories so I can include them in the scrapbooks that we create for Crystal.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Trish
By the way, Crystal goes for her second Chemo treatment tomorrow and another round of radiation. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!!
She called me last Monday to tell me about the cancer. I never imagined how one phone call could change my life. I sat in California feeling so far away and absolutely powerless. Within hours of finding out of her prognosis, I booked a flight to Colorado. All I knew is that I needed to hug my girl. By the next day the crowd of people who also felt the need to hug Crystal had grown: Miguel, Crystal's Dad/Cindy, Crystal's Sister/Michael, Crystal's Brother/Alex Crystal's Brother/Arturo and Vivina, My mom and dad and Crystal's Aunt & Uncle/Art, my brother and Crystal's Cousin/Scotty, Crystal's Cousin/Gilbert my husband and Crystal's Cousin in law and I were on our way to Denver. Since Crystal's mom, Alma, has been here for several months caring for Rylee, we would all be together with Crystal, Jason, Gaven, Aiden and Rylee. There was a total of 15 of us!! I couldn't think of a better way to spend Thanksgiving!!
Usually we feast and overindulge on Thanksgiving. Oh boy, did we feast!! As a matter of fact, we feasted for four days straight. Remember the movie Soul Food, we had Mexican Soul Food. Comfort food, like chicken enchiladas, tacos, beans and rice. We had it all. We also had another special occasion. It was Crystal's mom, Alma's Birthday on Saturday. My mom came up with a great idea to make Tamales for her. You all know that making Tamales for Christmas is a HUGE Mexican tradition. It is no different for our family. The tamales turned our fabulous, they were so delicious. Over two days we finished every last one of them.
Crystal's brother made a birthday cake for Alma, but something went wrong. The cake didn't cook right. It was actually concave. This was the source of lots and lots of laughter throughout the day. Even little Aiden said "What happened?" We tried to make Michael feel better by telling him that it must have been the altitude!?!?! In the end the cake tasted just fine, it was made with lots of love and that is all that matters!!We had such a wonderful weekend. We reminisced about old times, we laughed and we cried but most of all we relished this unforeseen opportunity to be together. Except for going to church, we locked ourselves up in Casa LaGrange and simply enjoyed each others company.
I am THANKFUL for this long Thanksgiving weekend!!
I guess it doesn't need to be said that I am a Chatty Cathy or to personalize it a Talking Trish!! I always have alot to say. My grammar and my spelling may not be the best but I love to write. I still have so many stories to share. I plan on sharing them all (ok, maybe not the ones from our single days...hahaha). I own a Scrapbook Store in California. Crystal has asked me to create scrapbooks for her children. I plan on posting lots of photos and scrapbook pages too. Please make sure to email Dee at deesoicher@msn and/or ellenmcv@comcast.net with all your stories so I can include them in the scrapbooks that we create for Crystal.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Trish
By the way, Crystal goes for her second Chemo treatment tomorrow and another round of radiation. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers!!
Praying for strength for ALL of you!!!
ReplyDeleteTrish,
ReplyDeleteThanks for being our guest blogger! We appreciate your caring and upbeat words. Crystal is so blessed to have such a big loving family. We feel like her Denver family, and I want you to know that we love her very much and will watch over your girl.
Crystal and family, know that you are in my thoughts and prayers everyday. Working with you over the last 5 years as been a pleasure, but sharing with you the joys and stories of motherhood, over the last few years, as we both had our babies, has been a special experience. You are a wonderful nurse and a more amazing mom. Please know you can call me anytime for anything....
ReplyDeleteDear Trish,
ReplyDeleteIt is so hard not to be with Crystal now, but I realize that this is her time with family. Thank you for sharing your Thanksgiving with us of us who sit and pray and wonder how all is going. I am so thrilled you are there to be with Crystal and her family. Thank you! Please know, however, that whe you need to leave - we will be here for Crystal, Jason, Gavin, Aiden , and Rylee.
With hugs, (can't wait to meet you!)
Ellen
Hello Trish, I too look forward to Crystal's phone calls very much as well. Crystal and Jason, I am constantly thinking of you both and your family all my prayers and strength are with you.
ReplyDeleteLove Teri
XOXO