P.S. I Love You

Dear Deej, (Daniel, Brother)

     I have been having these weird thoughts lately... like is any of this for real or not? Just kidding, Kingdom Hearts references are always needed when talking to you! I think that you should smile more often darling! Your smile is so genuine and uplifting and whenever I have a bad day, I know that you will be right there next to me cheering me up by bringing up something stupid you did before. Most of the time, you remind me of how you did not punch me in the face, and how I "ran into your fist." It was an accident, and I totally forget about it until you bring it up again. There is no excuse for the time you sprained my fingers though. I really wish we got to spend more time together, but we both know how complicated that is. I love playing Ratchet and Clank, Sly Cooper, The Legend of Zelda, and every other game we have with you, even though you never win. It is hilarious how we have been playing Ratchet and Clank since we were kids and now teens use "ratchet" as an insult! I especially love when we play any game as a team, because we know each other so well that we win every time. That is probably the reason why mom will not let us play on a team anymore. I am so excited that you have your license, so now you can take me places so that I do not have to be bored at home. Even though we do not have a certain place to go, I know that we will have fun because whenever we are together we cannot help but have fun. I love you and I really miss you, more than you know! I hope to beat you at Ratchet and Clank this weekend!

-Your Sister,

Yours in Eternity

Bri 

Spanglish 'Spirations

     My abuela, Ruth Rivera, is the person who inspires me the most. She was born on January 2, 1943 in Panamá. She was the youngest of eight, all with the initials R.E.B. She lived in Panamá for twenty five years and growing up her family did not have much money. I love hearing stories about when she was younger like how much food you could get for forty cents, and  how the apartment rent was thirty five dollars "back then." She first moved to the United States when she was twenty six years old, and she lived in Louisiana after marrying my abuelo, who was stationed there for the military. They moved to Ohio eight months later so my abuelo could be closer to his family. After having two children, Ruth and Raquel, she started working at a greenhouse to help my abuelo with money. She started learning English when she was twenty eight years old, but she has always preferred to speak Spanish. My abuela really enjoys looking back on her past and realizing how far she has come. Presently, she will be seventy soon and she is one of the strongest women I know. She inspires me to love what I have, and for that I am grateful. I love her with all my heart.


         Mi abuela, Ruth Rivera, es la persona que me inspira. Ella nació el 2 de enero de 1943 en Panamá. Ella era la menor de ocho en una familia en la que todos sus iniciales eran R.E.B. Ella vivía en Panamá por veinticinco años y su familia no tenía mucho dinero. Me encanta escuchar historias de cuando mi abuela era joven, al igual que cuánta comida se podía conseguir por cuarenta centavos, y como la renta de apartamentos tenía treinta y cinco dólares "en aquel entonces". Ella se mudó a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 26 años y vivía en Louisiana después de casarse con mi abuelo, Jorge, que fue colocado allí por los militares. Se mudaron a Ohio ocho meses después, por lo que mi abuelo puede estar más cerca de su familia. Ya que ella tenía dos hijas, Ruth y Raquel, ella comenzó a trabajar en un invernadero para ayudar a mi abuelo con el dinero, y aun con ese trabajo ella tenían un mal rato. Ella comenzó a aprender Inglés cuando ella tenía veintiocho años pero ella siempre preferí hablar español. Mi abuela le encanta mirar hacia atrás en su pasado y darse cuenta de lo lejos que ha llegado. Actualmente, ella será de setenta años jóvenes, y ella es todavía una de las mujeres más fuertes que conozco. Ella me inspira a encanta lo que tengo, y por eso estoy agradecido. Quiero con todo mi corazón.