My Roller Skates

When I was little I used to like playing with my friends, like everybody else. However, my favorite time of the day was, indeed, when we all got together, and put on our roller skates!

What a blessing back then, when children could just go outside and enjoy a good time roller skating. My mom used to say-“Silvana, you would sleep with your roller skates, if I let you, ugh?-“And I agreed! She never let me do that, but I would put my pair under my bed, or close enough to see them, first thing in the morning!

My mom knew how much I liked roller skates that she sent me to take classes. I was seven years old. I did not enjoy the class very much. It was more learning about figure skating and how to jump in the air, type of class. Anyhow, my favorite part of my “patín” day, was when I came back from it and we went with my friends skating across our neighborhood.

Every Christmas, for five years, Santa would bring me a pair of roller skates.  I never got the once I really liked but, I was super happy, JUST by receiving any kind of skates! My dream of owning a pair of white leather with red wheels roller skates became a reality much later; when I became a mother and started playing with my children. One day, as I was driving my kids to school, and by accident, I saw them. There they were in a garage sale! They were sitting on a table,   they were shining like a star and, I could hear them calling me-“come and get me-“And that was, exactly, what I did. I couldn’t believe that I was holding in my hand my dream roller skates, after so many years.

I still have my roller skates. They look so old, but I love them. They bring me good memories. Once in a while I put on my roller skates and they make me feel, like a child all over again!

I Believe…

I was born in Argentina in 1970 in a middle class family, I have two younger sisters, Cynthia and Veronica.

We grew up in a very conservative society, where catholic church was the domain church. We went to church every Sunday in a  small town where my dad grew up, very pretty, there is a beautiful lake in the middle of downtown surrounded by old buildings and museums and a big clock, which is the main attraction. The catholic church was one if the old buildings across the clock.

We did go every Sunday as a family, but in 1885 things changed. The economy situation in Argentina started to decay leaving a great part of the population without employment things were very difficult for a middle class families. Without mentioning the poor class. My father decided to come here, to the United States for better future for his daughters.

Time goes by and mom had to start working full time jobs including Sundays. So, even though she couldn’t come with us anymore, still, she sent us to church every Sunday and she will put us in Christians organizations for good causes.

When my mom had to stop going with us to church because she had to work on Sundays, it made us sad, but we went anyway. We prayed for her and my dad, so that we could be together some day as it was before.

When I saw my mom working hard and my dad sending us money to keep up with things we need it at that time, it made me sad.

 I was 19 years old, I started to go to the University. I couldn’t go full time because of the transportation. It was expensive and had to copy most of the books and notes. I saved the money only to to campus and give the tests and all my Hospital practices.

 One day I was on my way to a hospital to do my practices, I used to wait for a church to open its doors very early in the morning, I always liked to go and pray before I start my day working or studying, well, while I was waiting I had this special feeling, it was hard to describe at that time, but I felt like I wasn’t alone, and that there was something else about Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ that I had to discover or find it. Immediately after that I had this special feeling with me all the time.

Time went by I earned my degree as a Physical Therapy in April 1993, I was 23 years old.  In 1995 my Dad invited me to come to this country. He was leaving in New York, I liked it, I wanted to stay with him, but things changed, a friend of mine, who is from Argentina was living in Salt Lake City, Utah at the time I was visiting with my dad. She invited me to stay with her for a week.

While I was there, her nephew worked with three young men, ex-missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. Two of them went to Argentina as full time missionaries. My friend invited them over, we had mate (a very popular drink in Argentina)we talked, we listened to music, we had a great time.

 Later that week Sergio called me to invite me to an activity they were having with the singles adults of the church. They were going to Temple Square. That was the first time I heard of Temple Square.

When we arrived I was astonished by the beautiful sight and the magnificent view of the Salt Lake City Temple. I felt so humble and like a flash I remember that special feeling I had back in Argentina while I was praying in that church.

Everything was so clear, so pure I felt tranquility that everything was going to alright. It was like Jesus grabbed my hand and helped me to do whatever needed to do at that time. I went and I fill out a form for the missionaries in a Spanish branch, becasue I could not speak english when I came to this country. So, the missionaries taught me the discussions and after they finish teaching me I dicided to get baptized.

When I called my mom, she supported me, she was happy and she said; if that is what you feel I am with you.

 The next day, back in Argentina, my mom saw the missionaries riding their bikes, she stopped them and told them;” My daughter is getting baptized in your church, and I need to know more about it”

So they went to my mom’s house and they starting to read the Book of Mormon that my mom had it for a long time, but she never paid much attention to it,and two weeks later my two sisters got baptized and mom wanted to get baptized here.

 Meanwhile, Sergio and I started dating,(Sergio was one of the three ex-missionaries I met that night at my friend’s house) and in August 1996 we got married.

 My dad left everything in New York and my mom and two sisters left everything behind as well. They all came to Utah for our wedding and they were reunited after ten years. Sergio, my husband baptized my mom and my dad waited a little bit longer and he joined the church six months later.

Being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints has been a great blessing in my life. I can feel the Savior’s love stronger everyday. His company it has been in my life always.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share this special part of my life with you.

Carnaval…what I remember

Once upon a time was a great time to remember in this far, far away country. This country had many, many towns. Every one of them had its own culture and unique ways of expressing itself. However, there was a few things that the habitants of these unique towns celebrated the same way, and at the same time. One of those things was….the Carnaval!

The Carnaval was a time to share with family and friends. It was celebrated  during summer time and around January and February. Even with only the sound of the word Carnaval, anyone in the country would feel happy and full of joy. It was truly a time to enjoy family, friends and good food. Extended family members would travel from far away distances to join the festivities. During the Carnaval; the main attractions were the Carrozas, Costumes, Corso and Parade.

The Carrozas were one of the main attractions during this event. The Carrozas resembled big stages on wheels, or, some times, they would be tied to pick up trucks. Either way people would get very creative when building these big floats. The Carrozas were built based on different themes. For instance, book characters, important people at the time, nature, countries around the world, etc. One time the theme of the entire Carnaval was “Around the World” so the designers of the floats got very creative and excited about this theme. Every float had a country to represent and it was a magnificent sight to behold.

There were many elaborate costumes worn by the direct participants of the Carnaval. When the theme was “Around the World”, every town had its own country to represent, and the people and color and songs and everything was exclusive of the country the town was representing g at that time. The costumes were super elaborate, and usually the family members had hand-made these costumes from scratch. It would take them an entire year to finish. Usually the children within the family were involved and mothers were the ones making these extraordinary pieces of clothing. I am talking about a time when sophisticated sewing machines did not exist, and if they did, these talented and creative people could not afford them, and yet the sight was breath taking.

Corso was always at night and it was during this time when the host in each town would give the big opening and with loud music, controlled traffic and families gathering, he would open the Corso! At the same time, and with one goal, the hosts around this far, far away country would give opening to the Carnaval! Before the Carrozas and colorful clothes of the people would start the parade, there was always some important and famous singer invited to the event to make the evening sparkle even more! People that were not on the stage were eating in the restaurants along the traffic controlled streets. Children would be playing with water or with foam. It was the custom during Corso , among children, and sometimes adults, to play with water and/or foam. When the parade started it was a delightful sight. It always began with the Fire Department, with the loud sirens along with the police on horses.  There were feathers, shiny clothes, big hats with different colors, clowns, ballerinas, smiling faces and children everywhere. There was music and dances they choreographed themselves and had practiced all year long. The whole feast would last for hours and even more.

Everybody knew that the parade was ending when the kids would shout, “I can hear the Firemen’s siren, mom!” Nobody wanted that time to come. But, it did. While the Firemen were leaving, the little children followed it running, trying to touch the Fire truck. It was the sign that everything was over. Each family  started to head home thinking about next year’s Carnaval, where the magic would come around again!

There was a land…

…the land was what we, now know, as the South part of Argentina, Patagonia, to be precise. This desolate part of the world was occupied by only a small group of humans, they were nomad. Nomadic are a group of people who move from one place to another. Patagonia was also occupied by big animals who were hunted by these nomadic communities. Among other animals there were Mylodons , Hyppidions, guanacos, llamas and ñandúes everywhere!

These animals were hunted by the nomads to eat and to protect themselves from the cruel climate of the zone. Patagonia is the coldest part of Argentina. Mylodon lived in Patagonia, South part of Argentina. Mylodons were like big gigantic grizzly bears! They were pacific animals and they ate only plants, and tree leaves. These gigantic teddy bears were not aggressive, therefore, they had no enemies except humans who would chase and hunt them for its fur.

Hyppidions were horses and they were the first horses in Argentina, it is too bad there are no longer in existence. Every time I read stories about horses I think about my father, who was very fond of horses. He did not only owned a few horses himself, but he knows a lot about them and when you listen to him talking about horses, it is impossible for you not to love them they way he does! llamas, guanacos and ñandúes are part of Argentina’s fauna today. The history and amazing discoveries about Patagonian animals and nomads are found today in Santa Cruz, Argentina province in Patagonia; precisely in a cave called Museo de Piedra. However another historical site was found 100 kilometers north from Museo de Piedra called Los Toldos where another group of people, apparently, lived in this part of the region. The animals and the few people who lived in this part of the world were mysterious and full of life as the animals and people living today.

Knowing the past of the land I come from helps me understand better, my future and my children’s future. I understand that we are not individual people without a past, without history. Taking time to understand our history prepares to be better humans.

Brainstorming

As I was lying on my bed this morning. I was thinking about my commitment to the challenge of writing everyday. I thought of writing about something for my children, and about something that will keep teaching me, and my children for ever. While I was thinking about that, a lot of  ideas came to my mind and, voilá, my brainstorming began!

However,  Nothing sounded interesting to me. Everything seemed boring. This always happens to me, and for this reason, I couldn’t keep up with my “post a Day” challenge in 2011.

It would make me very sad if it happens to me again. Then…the light came! You see, I am originally from Argentina. I have always told stories about my home country to my kids; my own father is a story teller himself, and I remember him telling stories to us about family members and events in Argentina. I have always enjoyed them. I  enjoy preserving family history in a special way.  Last month we have declared Arts and Crafts Fridays as part of  our homeschool  curriculum, and it has been great!  It really inspired me in so many ways.

I think it is very important to keep personal stories, and stories of the place you grew up, alive. I hope I don’t bore you to death and you want to keep coming back for more! I is my hope you enjoy my facts mixed with fantasy about the country to which I own, the respect of knowing its history and part of who I am =i=

Writing Honestly

Writing Honestly is after all something that I have always wanted to do. This is why; I still keep trying this fascinating craft. I find myself writing, and re-writing, editing, and never publishing. This article really struck me, as I read it, it seems that the writer knew me deep inside!

I am all about doing the challenge this year more than before. English is my second language, but the idea of practicing it right always fascinated me . My husband and children are from North America, and my desire to learn it is great. I am a homeschool mother and we spend a lot of our time working on grammar and writing.

As I write on my blog this morning, I am constantly thinking about “writing honestly” I truly need to stop myself from thinking negatively, it is really and exercise, like any other exercise; it is amazing! It is my hope to keep writing honestly and someday my words would come very articulated and in a gracious way. I hope =i=