"This is OUR Year, I promise!"

Written at 2:37am, Mountain Standard Time, January 1, 2011.

My Auntie Sharon said it tonight on the dance floor, and I'm inclined to believe it.

WHAT A NIGHT!!! My cousin Rosie's daughter, Alegra, had her quincenera tonight, or rather, yesterday. It was such an amazing way to ring in the new year, surrounded by loving family. I had a number of incredible moments I'd like to share. My brother, Dave, and his dear wife Kelley, son Aaron, daughter Lauren and I all went to the party together. It was a wonderful drive over, lots of laughs accompanying my rendition of Over the River and Through the Woods which mentions the Rio Grande, cemented feet, and never making it to grandmother's house. Once we arrived we stepped into the gorgeous room, decked in black, white, and silver; roses, calla lilies, candles, chandeliers, sheer draping from ceiling to floor, towering cake, incredible tables, full brass band. But it would only get better.

Our family was together! Alegra came in wearing a stunning crimson gown. Her dress was absolutely amazing but the girl in the dress made everything around her shine. She is a precious jewel, a rarity. As is her darling sister, Sophia. Radiant doesn't even being to describe it! It isn't hard to understand where these girls get this glow. They are lucky to have the most precious parents imaginable: my cousin Rosana and her sweet husband Rene. They have always been living examples of loveliness to me and they've passed that on to the next generation. Everyone seemed to be shining tonight. My Auntie Vicky and Auntie Sharon were dazzling to behold in their long gowns and resplendent countenances. My brother and his wife and children were too wonderful for words. They make everything fun and amazing and sacred somehow. Just being near them is divinity. My little brother, Bryan was there with Sol. They just had a baby three months ago. Baby Amina is our newest little miracle. They looked so beautiful together. It was really something to see. Sol reminds me of Regina Spektor; poignant, pure beauty. My sister, Wendy and her jovial and effervescent Lee came in looking like Hollywood itself. My cousins, Melanie and Victoria, are exquisite beauties with hearts of gold and eyes that prove it. And I sat there, looking around at my relatives, far too many to mention in great detail, and I just tried to take it all in.

The women in my family scream when they see each other. It's a distinct sounding out pour of emotion, one I wish I could spell out but I can't think of the letter combination I would use to do so. But suffice it to say they scream, the most loving, adoring, joyous scream one could ever imagine. That is what my aunties, cousins, sister, and nieces do. And of course I do it, too. Our great aunts and grandmother did it before us and our little girls will do it, too. The sound put and exploding bliss into my heart that I had almost forgotten. If I had to put it into words I might say it was like coming home after a long journey in a wonky wasteland. Not that life has been too unkind but, truth be told, 2010 kicked my trash in ways I prefer to forget, so I'll spare the mentioning of any tedious detail on that note. But that noise, that feminine shriek of adoring, it healed me a little. It just did.

Dinner was fantastic. Dessert was interesting. I ate a sparkling, silver, glittery cake ball. My face was awash in fairy dust the rest of the night.

The music was intoxicating. I danced like a banshee on a date with a bewitched pirate. Make of that what you will. I like how it sounds and it felt even better. Everyone was dancing! Even the shiest members of our family made it to the floor eventually. I loved it! I loved seeing my sweet siblings and their significant others so joyful. I was full of gratitude for it. We've been through so much it sometimes seems unfair and ridiculous but tonight there was this feeling of balance, like everything was in God's hands, safe from injurious variables and unexpected capers of any kind. It was simply, I don't know how else to say it, miraculous. Everyone was so beautiful and yet silly and yet poised and just ridiculously wonderful. It filled my guts with awe and inspiration. How did I end up deserving these guys? How? How? How? How did God know we belonged together more than any other souls?

When the countdown was over and the white balloons descended, we toasted, kissed, hugged, and cried. Yes. I cried a little. Don't act surprised. It was a sacred little moment in time. I looked up in a sort of amazed state, said a little prayer of thanks and made a few wishes, too. Something seemed to wash over me, warm and tingling at the same time, like being doused in a magic elixir. My Auntie Sharon saw me in that little trance, motioned me to her, embraced me and said it, "This is our year, babe. I promise!" We sneaked out in a dancey little way. The valet brought round the car. We hopped in, in our crowns, hats, blowing our horns and spinning our noise makers; everything right with the world. If this is any indicator of how 2011 will be, I'll ask you to stay tuned. I think this is about to get interesting. Happy New Year!