Down the grapevine

A short conversation over the tin cans and string,

Stephanie- hello hello,
Jessie Montero- yes yes I can hear you no need to yell.
S-would you do me the honor of walking me down the isle?
J- cough cough cough, what!!!

A refreshed memory

As I thought of the Tulare County Fair grounds and how many times I had been there. Once was for Emerald, over the microphone I had heard "come dance this is a girls dream." I had told Emerge Listen I would like to be a Gogo, I can dance and all I need is a D.J., I had set it up that I would come out with my name Patience. Emerge came up to me near the watering hole and trie to get my attention, I gave him a pause finger as I walked away and fixed my dress. I turned around and he was gone. After I walked to the side of the stage and saw this painting of the Emerlad city of Oz. Not done by star gaze mafia(loser name) but Gabriel himself. We bother looked at it and he said he ddnt like it. I said "it doesn't even look like your style."

So, the night went on and I finally ran out of energy. I meet Carlos and James and then of course my ride Vincent was waiting to take me to the after party. So, there I was again. This time with Cherry and Josh and the older Welch sister and her man. I walked up to Gabriel again and looked at his painting and ask where the lion was.

If you remember from the movie and book why the lion went to the great wizard in the first place, for a red badge of courage.

So, while at the after party Gabe started painting his version of that lion, over the Emerald
city to where it could be no long visible. Now, if you look at the original painting, look at it in a different light. Not the one that was recreated behind mooney ink but the one I was there for and the one I love. The one that was painted while I danced the night away.

A Forwarding Address: To Santo Cruz Subject: One Family Reunion Coming Right Up

I can't stop thinking about my vacation, who will be next to me as I travel the world? Yes, miss lily but who else? When we took the trip to pebble beach it was my mother and uncle. Since then, I have out grown them. I think of Angel and how she was needing help in English class when she was in high school. I gave her some of my owl hand outs from my class, the year I also took my intro the teaching class. After helping her she came home with a better grade. I was unknowingly tutoring back then. I think of Jessica and how she had gotten such good grades in high school even was offered the opportunity to travel with an honors class for the summer but her mother couldn't afford it. So, she didn't go. I think of Jimmy who called me "devil woman" on thanks giving because I read the bible to him (such a jerk). I was like dude why don't you ride the bus to school instead of someone driving all the way across town to pick you up? I also think of Gabriel that doesn't give Lily candy. I was washing dishes one day and heard him singing to Lily, it was way to cute. I think of Joel who is old enough to drink and also turning 25 this year.

I would say "hey Santos wanna go?" because he does so much for me, like pay my bills and clean the yard. Technically I have two who take care of Lily and I. Its only because I took care of them first that I am able to do whatever the hell i want and they foot the bill. But, there is one thing missing and I have every right to be angry about, A lack of communication. See, when you asked to marry me you had no idea what family you were marrying into. 

There is the Mendoza's, Montero's, Waits, and Moreno.  Your not my first family, because you are the best I have saved you for last. 

         Stephanie Victoria Cruz