contents - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New York ...

Amanda RodriguezAn Angel Without Wingshaving my abuela raise my brother and me felt just like having a momand dad around. We were no different from any other kids. She alwaysprovided for us and gave us the love a parent would give a child. Abuela’s love wasmore special, though. Grandparents tend to have a different kind of love that’smore unique and strong.With the little bit of money she earned from babysitting, all of the billswere always paid on time. She always lectured us on how we should act in life.Abuela often spoke of how to save money and how going to school was important.Looking back now, she was giving us secrets to success.We often went shopping on Saturday mornings. Before that could takeplace, though, the house had to be spanking clean. From just one look at theapartment, anyone would be able to tell that we were Puerto Rican. We hadplastic covers on our sofas; when it was summer, anyone who sat on the sofawith shorts or a t-shirt would get stuck to the cover from how hot it was outside.There were also figurines on the wall, such as small porcelain elephants, andwedding, sweet sixteen and baby shower souvenirs. Three things that couldalways be found in the house were Bustelo coffee, Goya food products andVicks VapoRub.When it was time to clean, Abuela would wake us up early. She alwayswore her typical Puerto Rican uniform when cleaning. This outfit consisted of abata (night gown), chancletas (flip flops) and rollers in her hair. She would blastSpanish music as she shimmied her way around the house, cleaning. My brother,Jonathan, and I hated this; all we wanted to do was be lazy and watch televisionin our pajamas. Some of our favorite television shows were Recess, Courage theCowardly Dog, Pinky and the Brain and Animaniacs.After the morning madness of cleaning was over, Jonathan wouldusually complain to Abuela and say he didn’t want to go out. “Avanas que tenemosque ir de compras,” she would say, which meant, “Hurry up, we need to goPassing Down55AMANDA RODRIgUEZ