11 - Tio Roberto and Tia Mora

I don't know if you have read some of the facts about the Chile earthquake. I have mentioned a few in previous posts but here are few additional facts that drove home the power and energy it exerted. Additionally, it shows how truly insignificant we are and the importance of coming together in times of global peril.

• The city of Concepcion was "literally" moved west by ten feet.
• The Capital city of Santiago, hundreds of miles to the north, was moved eleven inches.
• The city of Buenos Aires in Argentina, hundreds of miles to the east, was moved one inch.

During the inauguration of the new President of Chile, there were several additional earthquakes, although lower in magnitude. The strongest to date was 7.2, although less in force but still more powerful than the one that struck Haiti.

Turkey, has also been hit by a powerful earthquake, I'm just now beginning to acquire information so I can share it with you.

I'm beginning to get a foreboding sense of dread. WE can't wait on our leaders to come together as a worldwide community, because we just don't know where the next disaster will occur - they are interested in politics, we should be interested in humanity. I don't want to be a preacher of gloom and doom. But, when will we take a decisive step, as humankind, and come together as one. We depict worldwide unity in literature, movies and song - when will we do it in real life?

Back to our story:

In Spanish the word for uncle is Tio – just say the word "tea" than add a long "O" following it. The word Aunt is Tia – again say the word "tea" and this time add a short "A" following it.
Something important to note; in the Spanish language there are many nouns that have a male and female version of the word. Tio and Tia is a perfect example of this.

So, following Uncle Cirilo, is Uncle Roberto. Out of all the Uncles, he would prove to be my favorite and the most important in my life.

Uncle Roberto is and always has been a true family man; he married young and is still married to the same woman now for over fifty years. He and my Aunt Mora, would become my surrogate parents and to a large degree I have modeled my life after theirs.

Uncle Roberto has a countless supply of energy, even at the age of eighty-six. I have always said that if I were able to bottle his energy and sell it, I would be the wealthiest man in the world. He was always a hard worker and would do anything; I repeat anything, for the family.
He has always been exemplary in all his dealings and that he instilled, at times with a good beating, into his two children and by extension me.

His daughter is the oldest and a beautiful woman – her name is Suny short for Sunilda. His son, an incredibly intelligent man – his name is Robert Junior but everyone calls him Bob. Bob and I are similar in age and to some degree we actually look alike; in the end, though, I'm better looking. I couldn't resist that jab – sorry Bob.

As we grew up, Suny and I couldn't stand each other; why I couldn't say. We went to the same school – a private catholic school in Prospect Park, New Jersey. One day, as I was playing out in the schoolyard, I ran into a light pole with a metal spike and split my head open. When they took me to the nurse's office, Suny saw me and fainted. Well, I was not hurt badly but since that day on, Suny and I have gotten along just fine. I love her and Bobby like if they were my Brother and Sister.

I tell my Tia, that it has been years since Suny and I have fought. However, upon their death, the only thing I want them to bequeath to me is a painting she has hanging in her living room – I have admired that painting since I was a kid. But Tia tells me that Suny loves that painting as well; you know what I say to that, don't you? "Suny, I love you but get ready for the fight of your life."

I remember with great fondness the countless summers I spent with them in their various activities. One of the most memorable was the visit to the lake or "al lago." We would get a place up on a hill that overlooked the entire lake and Tia would set up the entire picnic. Bob and I would swim the entire day with only allowing enough time to woof down a burger. In fact, I really can't remember many of the lunch items but I do remember they were all good. Sometimes, late in the afternoon, Bob and I would rent a row boat and spend a few hours horsing around on a boat.

When Suny decided to get married, I came to the realization that she was getting engaged to the brother of my mortal Nemesis. I blew up telling her, "I can't believe you're doing this to me." Well, I quickly got over it and in spite of my extreme reservation, she has had an incredibly successful and happy marriage.

Years later, I'm convinced, they got even with me. During Tio and Tia's 25th wedding anniversary celebration, I got stinking drunk. Suny's husband, Ed, was bar-tending and allowed me - since I boasted of being able to drink anything they gave me - to drink myself into a tremendous stooper. They poured me what they called, "eye-winkers." I'm still not sure what it was but let me tell you, over 35 years later, I'm still winking.

I look upon and think often, with fondness, my days with them all and how much I miss that attention and their company. My cousins and I have grown apart in our old age, mostly my fault for allowing life to draw me away from them. There is nothing like fond childhood memories, they do last a lifetime. Like the saying goes, "let's make some memories."