Cherish love, because it never gives a warning before its disappearance. I say this out of my experience from when life was free of worry and happiness was unlimited; a time when my Nino was present. He was energetic, cheerful, and the definition of happiness. He was the glue that kept our family bound together, and when he disappeared, so did our tight bond as a family.
However, his words on those summer nights still linger in my head with the scent of the strawberry breeze. “Vámonos para los tacos, monita” (Let’s go to the tacos, little doll). Monita was (and still is) my nickname and was a form of endearment and love. I always anticipated these words and they made me so happy.
It’s the little things in life that I cherish the most. I wish I could have hugged him tighter and longer if I had known he would go away. His absence had a huge impact in my life, and I miss him dearly. I am grateful to him for being so influential in my life and for making my childhood memorable and fun.
When I was small my strongest memories were of the strawberries surrounding our house; the scent brought a soothing feeling not easily forgotten. Along with the sweet scent of berries, I will never forget the evening taco truck visits. Tacos are one of my favorite foods which I am sure is partly due to the wonderful memories that they are attached to.
