Ah, autumn. A time of spooks, a time of thanksgiving, a time of Pumpkin Spice Lattes, a time of... Communing with your long-dead ancestors? Yes, folks, here in South Texas, the Day of the Dead is a festival worth talking about. Oddly enough, my Latina family has never been very traditional, so unfortunately, I've had to explore my heritage all on my own -- but in no way does that make it any less fun! On November 2, I took the time to consider my great-great-grandmother, Trinidad Gonzales de Moreno. Even though I've never known her, I've heard so many bad*ss stories about her, I might as well do what I can to respect her. So, right after school, I convinced my mom to take me to Wal-Mart so I could buy some masa to make a delicious, hearty drink called atole, a holiday drink flavored with cinnamon and vanilla. Once I got home, I immediately put that pot of heavenly goodness on the stove and plopped down to watch "The Book of Life" (arguably one of the best animated movies of all time if I do say so myself). Afterwards, however, when it was time for bed, I decided to take a more sentimental approach before I hit the hay by setting out pillows and a blanket for the spirit of my feisty gran bisabuela. Of course, I knew she wouldn't really arrive from beyond the grave, but just the thought of honoring someone so important in my family brought comfort to me as I shut my eyes.
So, everyone, next year, I would recommend reconnecting with your family members who have since passed on -- even if you aren't Mexican. This is a celebration for everyone, and without reaching across cultural bounds, how can we ever come together as one human race?
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I was going to post about the Day of the Dead -- that post may still come later -- but something so tragic has happened just half an hour away from where I live, I had to put everything on hold and decided to focus on this. Four days ago, on November 5th, a lone gunman walked into the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs and began firing upon the congregation, killing 26 people -- a fourth of the town's population -- and injuring over 20 more.
All I can ask is that you please pray for my brothers and sisters. Many of our first responders and pastors from right here in San Antonio have already gone down there to assist in the recovery and grieving process, but oftentimes, a prayer is all one can give. And at this point, it's one of the most valuable things they can receive. There is so much evil in this world, and although there will be much pain and anger, if we come together in love and faith, we can stand against any wicked thing that comes our way. |
AuthorMy name is Dani Slaughter. I am a university student from San Antonio, musing about what I see and how I see it. Archives
October 2020
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