A Love Story

For as long as I can remember, my dad has always told us that we need to have a plan.  For some reason he's totally against just flying by the seat of your pants.  I don't know what that reason is.  I just have drilled in my head that I.must.have.a.plan.  Well, Dad, I've always tried to plan, but it never really happens that way.  Once in a while you get a twist, or turn, or maybe a giant explosion.  Maybe a massacre.  I've just learned to expect the unexpected. 

 Take for example; In 1988, on this day, a baby boy was born to an un-wed mother in an off the map pueblito in El Salvador. At the age of 4 his mother was killed.  Raised by his grandparents on a ranchito, he rarely attended school and when he did he was a bully and a troublemaker.  As a teenager he was a heartbreaker and raised a lot of hell.  At the age of 17 he decided to go on an adventure to the United States with full intention of returning to El Salvador.  He never made it back.  Why?  Because at age 19 he met a girl.  A still somewhat naive 17-year-old country girl, fascinated by the Latino culture, and trying to teach herself Spanish by just diving in.  She had dreams of traveling the world.....well.....the world South of the United States. Always the last one picked at school, she liked the attention she got from Hispanic boys because of her green eyes and blonde-red hair.  They met at a 24-hour Mexican food restaurant at 2 o clock in the morning after a dance.  He asked her for her number.....for his friend.  She was very taken by his lengthy eye lashes and mischievous grin (and she always had a thing for guys with great hair).  A little disappointed, she gave up her digits figuring if she hung out with his friend, that they would at least see each other around.  He couldn't ignore her bright green eyes, her rosy cheeks, and her awkward confidence, but he was loyal to his friend.

After 2 years of being friends (and after she dated two of his) she was pregnant with someone else's baby.  Heartbroken and somewhat abandoned, she looked for advice from the guy that had always been there for her.  He promised to love the baby as if it were his and to take on all the responsibilities that came with being a father, but being confused, she pushed him away.  A few more disappointing months (for both of them) went by and a beautiful baby girl was born.  After realizing what would be best for her and her daughter, she figured out what she had been missing for all this time.

22 years in the making, here we are baby.  I love you Cangrejo.  Happy 22nd birthday.