III

    The single most important person who has greatly affected not only who I am today, but who I want to be is; my dad. A great, stern , and stubbly man who was always creating amazing meals in the kitchen or whistling a soft tune while fixing his bike. When I was little me and my  “papi” would wake up super early on weekend mornings and scope out the local yard sales in the neighborhood. My dad was also very fond of herbal remedies, which is something I am slowly getting into. He always told me to stand up for myself and never let anyone get me down and I am doing so to this day.
    I remember the first time I saw her, she was sixteen, tall and blonde (not naturally btw) and I was merely five years old. She had just gotten of the Amtrak and we were picking her up so she could spend the weekend with us. Her name was Lydia and she is my older sister who lives in LA. Ever since I can remember I have always looked up to her. Lydia had to grow up without my father or her mother around, she kind of raised herself. To this day she is doing great in her life working as a nurse and raising her three children. My sister has overcome so many obstacles and challenges, she became a teen mother way before it was a cool show on MTV. Me and my sister keep in touch and I try really hard to visit her, I take comfort in knowing that I can text her whenever I am having a bad day or when I am having a really good one.
    In my wallet I carry a small photo booth sized picture of this powerful looking woman wearing an army uniform. This woman is my aunt Hortencia who I love so much. She enrolled in the Mexican armed forces and served her country for many years. She faced a lot of adversity when she was in the service for being one of the few woman in the army. My aunt not only served her country but she did it up until the day she was asked to retire. After working for her country for so long my aunt discovered she had cancer. She has been going through bouts of chemotherapy and various other methods and medicines to cure her of her sickness it as an everyday struggle for my aunt as she is not ready to leave this earth. I believe she will get through this as she had many more things to accomplish.