A Traveler's Diary

During my visit with my Grandma and Grandpa Espinoza this March, I was not only basking in the warmth of the San Diego weather, but the light that is my family! Although the visit was short, it was wonderful to be able to sit down with my Grandfather that weekend and talk about life, filling him in on what Rob and I are doing and reminiscing with him about past adventures.

We fell easily into conversation and came to a simultaneous agreement on the importance of learning in one's life. I found myself talking to my Grandpa Noah about Rob's new job in D.C. and the week's wait in order to see each other on the weekend. Thank you Rob for sacrificing one of our weekends**** Anyway.....Grandpa Noah asked me how it was going: "It's really not that bad," I said to him ..... "because we both have an understanding of each other, a comfort level ..... when we are together we are so rewarded because we love each other's company, we love to talk, we love to debate, and we love to learn." This struck a chord in my Grandpa, I could tell. He told me how vitally important that was in some one's life, and how wonderful and happy it made to him to hear that Rob and I shared our love of learning. Thank you Parents for instilling this in us and thank you Bowdoin for doing a bit of refinement!***

For all of my life I have seen the way my Grandfather celebrates life and above all, loves to learn. Among the many hats he puts on, my Grandpa has always been an avid traveler, an adventurer. My grandparents used to spend a lot of time between various homes in Mexico, Hawaii, the States, and other travel spots. Grandpa Noah participated in road rallies, one of which took him from Cartegena, Venezuala to the tip of South America. My Mom laughed about Grandpa Noah taking yoga early on, before it became the sensation it is today...."He was always doing or trying something out before everyone else," my Mom said. I personally have fond memories of hiking the mountain overlooking lake Chapala in Ajijic with Grandpa Noah and struggling to keep up! What a wonderful blessing it was that Rob and I were able to spend our honeymoon there in the home that Grandpa Noah the architect designed. Now it has been donated to a group of elderly women and I hope it serves them well.

Me with Grandma and Grandpa at Maderas eating lunch

The rest of my trip to San Diego was filled with a visit to Uncle Mark and Aunt Vickie's new home near the water, north of the San Diego area; dinner with Uncle Mark and Aunt Vickie at my grandparent's house (Thank you Grandma for your delicious cooking); Sunday church; and a beautiful lunch out at Maderas Golf Course before taking off. I was also able to share this trip with my Mom and together we visited Tita, Lenny, Gracie, and Racheal. That was great and as usual, we all got to chatting and laughing right away as if no time had passed. I feel so at home when around them.

Aunt Vickie, Uncle Mark, Grandpa Noah, Grandma Jeanie, and Mom

Intertwined with all this activity and running around was of course my ongoing conversation with Grandpa Noah about 'life' a couple of them half in and half out of Spanish ..... Sitting in the filtered sun under their backyard porch, I was reminded yet again what a beautiful language Spanish is, especially when I hear my Grandpa speak...I used to try and emulate his accent when I was younger and just learning the language. Grandma and Grandpa's home is so inviting and it was wonderful to just relax and take it all in.

Mom and Grandpa in the Espinoza back yard

In closing, I want to thank my Grandparents for having Me! I also want to thank Uncle Mark and Aunt Vickie for having us in their new home and thank you Tita, Lenny, Gracie, and Racheal for visiting! It was soooo wonderful to see you all again.

Mom, Lenny, and Tita

Racheal and Gracie

I am going to quote my Uncle Mark Espinoza, who said so succinctly and without hesitation on our last day, that there is No better company then his Family and no group of people he would rather be with than his Family! I enthusiastically agreed, as I feel the same way! The family I have grown up with and now my new Mandle family are the people I would gladly spend all of my time with!

Hasta mi correspondencia proximo!

~Maria aka...Duende by my Grandpa Noah

Maderas Golf Club, Poway, California

From Me to You

It seems like our first year of marriage is flying by. This time last year we were preoccupied with planning our wedding, moving, starting new jobs, meeting new people and planning for a long life together.

In our first year of marriage thus far, what have we learned? How will we remember each other as we are now? What goals do we make and how can we reach those goals together? Are we preparing for our future with enough foresight? Can we remember to take time to just relax and enjoy each other?

In our walk through life together we must never forget to count our blessings ..... I make a point in my daily walk to work and before I fall asleep at night to think on this and to pray and thank God for what I've been given.

What a wonder it is to know such love, and to know a love rather than feel a love is a mighty thing indeed, as feelings come and go like the ebb and flow of a tide, subservient to the changing orbit of the Moon. But to know a love is like the constant and steadfast nature of a mighty rock. Immovable and sturdy, steadfast and unchanging.

In our life together I foresee many things. Challenges will come our way and we will overcome those challenges together. This reminds me of a saying I've often heard from Aunt Leslie and Uncle Time: "Troubles Shared are Troubles Halved."

What a wonderful quote that is to take with us as we move through life together. We both made a promise to support and uplift each other no matter what else is going on around us in the world. This is the promise we we made to each other at our wedding. To this we hold true.

Sleep well Rob.

Love always, Me.