Part 3: Meina & Pieno

       When you're young you can't say a lot of words. You mispronounce words. Sometimes, these mishaps turn into life long names. Just like with my godparents. Apparently when I was little and was with my godparents, I couldn't say the words “Madrina” or “Padrino”. The words that left my mouth were a sad attempt. Producing their life long nicknames. “Meina” and “Peino”. I always loved how my Meina would say my nickname she would say “MonKeYY! As she let the Y stretch out at the end. My Peino always had a somber tone when he said it. It was warm.

       Even in my absence these names remained. When I went to go live with my grandparents, I was able to spend so much time with my Meina and Peino. I was like their own child. They took me everywhere, which of course my cousin Isabel (their child) loved. I hope at least. I always looked up to her. She was older than I was so to me, she was so wise.

       I still remember their house. It was a small 2 bedroom house in Annivile, TX. It was off a main road which stayed busy. Although you couldn't tell because you had to drive down about a quarter mile to reach the house. There was only one neighbor. It was their landlord “Goldie” I don't remember her actual name, however, I do remember how nice she was. She always had candy or food for us. When you pulled up to the house there was a small, red concrete porch. On the porch was a bench swing. Where my godparents would sit. Of course sitting in between them was a hell hound! Busgo, was his name. He was a small Yorkie terrier. He didn't like me for some reason and fueled my fear of tiny dogs though adulthood. He would jump off the bench swing and run at anyone who approached. Tiny, yet mighty!

       When walking into the house you could always smell food! My meina was a cook, so she always had food ready if anyone was expected to go over. Word to the wise, don't ever refuse food from a Latina! They don't care if “You just ate” or “You're full”. When you are offered food, it's not a question. It's more like an order!

       The front door was always open to a red, screen door. With holes just big enough for a fly to sneak in every now and then. In the living room were a set of brown, floral print couches which I'm sure every Mexican home had at some point! The carpet was green and had some sort of pattern to it. Directly in front of the living room was a dining room. They had a brown glass dining table with upholstered chairs with wheels. The kitchen to the immediate right. It was a very large kitchen with all sorts of pots and pans everywhere. In the cabinets, the pantry, the stove also of course! Ya lo sabes!

       When you walked back through the dining room there was a hallway that led to the 2 bedrooms. My favorite room in the house was my cousins room. She had it all! Mickey Mouse everything! Her curtains, comforter, telephone, mirror, brush, house shoes and mirror! It was like Mickey had touched everything in that room! In that room we shared so many stories. We talked about life and as young as we were, we talked about how things were when we were younger.

My godparents room had a really big bed. When you're young, everything seems bigger. The dresser and mirror which sat on top were covered in pictures. Plenty of me, my cousins and people who had passed. One thing I always remember from laying on their bed was the ceiling fan. It had three lights which two were always burnt out. I remember my miena always saying “I told your Peino he needs to replace those lights! I can't see in here for shit!” Then she went on to mumble some choice words under her breath as she smiled.

       I got to enjoy the stories from my Peino for a short while before he passed from a brain aneurysm. That day, I will never forget. We were getting ready to leave somewhere. Church I think. Then I hear my Meina scream from the room! I had never heard this cry before! Usually she would cry at the television at some sad novela. This, was different. It was like the sound a heart makes when it's breaking. My Peino was combing his hair when he fainted. I ran to Goldie's house to have her call 911 since I didn't know what to do. My cousin Isabel was in the shower. The ambulance came. They took my Peino to the hospital. I don't remember if he was still alive. My cousin Isabel held me and shielded me from it all in her room. After that moment, my memories just go blank and fast forward to his funeral. If I would have known the last time I would hear my Peino's laugh, I would have walked into their room and sat on the bed while he got ready. Instead of getting up to turn up the tv because I couldn't hear it over his laugh.

       My meina would live the rest of her days unmarried, but looked for the love she had again. She would never forget my birthday or holiday. In her last years, I made it back home to see her. Each time she always kept that same witty attitude. Reliving memoirs of my Peino and my grandparents. Even though she hadn't seen my mom in years or my sister since she was a baby, she always asked about them. She would say “Tell Cherro, I love her”.

I hadn't mourned her passing until writing this. I didn't have a chance, until now. As I type My eyes are welled with tears. It feels good to finally let my heart break for her, for him, for them.

I love you Meina & Peino