Calaveras y Ofrendas 2012 Calaveras y Ofrendas 2012 - Esperanza

LA VOZ de ESPERANZA • November 2012 Vol. 25 Issue 9•
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It sounds CRAZY—but it all goes together. Let me explain.
First, the molcajete made with natural volcanic stone
offers a grinding surface that is used with the tejolote,
or pestle. A molcajete is a must-have tool for authentic
moles, salsas and fresh guacamole. The molcajete I have
belonged to my mother who passed away in 1999. I found it
when I was cleaning my mother’s house in 2004 after both,
my father and my brother, Dennis died that year. I was going
through boxes in the garage that belonged to my mother filled
with clothes, china, jewelry, a bible that belonged to my father
and coins galore.You can imagine how I felt as I opened each
box. It was like someone did not care about what my parents
had left behind. I felt ashamed of how my mother’s house was
left, but that’s another story.
I opened each box finding cherished items that my mother
loved: a green glass vase that she always had on her bedroom
dresser, several religious statues, my father’s bible with a holder,
and then I saw it –the molcajete. When I unpacked it–it felt like
my mother was in the garage with me.
The molcajete was taken back to my house in Corpus Christi.
We moved several times until we finally moved to Laredo, TX.
The molcajete and other items of my parents had been traveling
with me for 6 years. Now, my molcajete had a place in my kitchen’s
blue counter. Her molcajete is used on a daily basis because I
love salsa. It is surrounded by beautiful Mexican women carrying
baskets and flowers. The green glass vase also has a place in my
dramatic red dining room along with my mother’s dining room
furniture. I see my mother’s items everyday and I think about her
daily. She was the funniest person I knew. She would make the
whole room laugh with her jokes and laughter.
Now, about our dog, Rhino. A west highland white terrier that
we purchased about 12 years ago, Rhino was my husband’s baby
boy who followed Rick everywhere, even to the bathroom. Rick
would take Rhino to his office until he started wandering away.
Rhino would always spend the night on top of our bed. On Sunday
Feb 6, 2011 Rhino was breathing heavily. We knew something
was not right. Rick gave him some medication and he went
to sleep. We agreed we would take him to the vet on Monday
The Super Bowl game was going to start and Rick wanted
a spread of snacks, so I made some tacos, dips and fresh salsa
Epitafio
Junto a mi siempre has estado
Me acompañas al dormir
y tambien al levantar
Eres mi muerte querida.
Aquí te tengo un altar.
La vida ha sido muy hermosa
temiendo siempre morir
pero si has de llegar a mí
alegre me quiero ir.
Con la música en el alma
un arpa, y una jarana
En mi Veracruz querido
ahi me quiero morir.
Pero si de amor muriera
en cualquier parte del mundo
No te preocupes Catrina
entierrame en el mar profundo.
–Lucia Bolanos
El molcajete de mi ma d r e
using fresh chile pequin from my backyard. While I was making
the salsa in the molcajete I felt something/or someone around
me. The salsa’s aroma made me think of my mother and how she
made the same salsa. I felt her presence in my kitchen and felt at
peace. I did not let Rick know how I was feeling about Rhino. I
had been telling Rick that Rhino looked old and tired and that he
needed to be prepared for his death.
The day ended and Rick carried Rhino
up the stairs laying him on our bed. Max,
our 125 lb dog, and Henry, my rescued
one-eyed cat, followed up the stairs. We all
went to sleep. Around 2ish, I felt Rhino
jump off the bed. I woke up and woke
up Rick. He carried Rhino downstairs to
go outside and do his thing. When Rhino
walked back into the living room, he collapsed. Rick picked him
up and carried him up the stairs turning on my bedside lamp. He
told me Rhino was dying. We covered him with a towel and Rick
held him like a baby. We both started to cry. Rhino died that
night in Rick’s arms as I held on to Rick…
Max and Henry were also awake and knew something had
happened. We laid Rhino next to Max in his bed and Max put his
head next to Rhino’s body. He seemed to know what had happened.
Max laid his head down and moaned. Now, I think about
that day and how it ended----with my mother’s presence. She was
here to comfort me and to take our dog with her.
– Dolores González Jarvis