I regret not getting together before with my family. I have a few relatives close by and for some reason, I never made time to plan something and see them. It’s been years…10, 15, 20?

The concert

Something like that, perhaps. It was a treat. It was great catching up and seeing everyone’s faces after so many years, talk about memories and re-learning them, at least a little. What’s pretty amazing is that everyone looks exactly the same to me, but maybe it’s because we’ve been looking at facebook pictures for quite sometime??? hmmm….

There was a party for one of my aunts. We had such a good time with everyone. It was so fun to laugh with family, relate, and talk about things we remembered, about our family, and how much different is living in this country, if we would like to go back or not, and how comfortable we are here, etc. I know we’re going to see each other more often, at least I really want to. They’re the closest family I have here and it’s really great to reconnect. What a nice weekend I had. The best part is that I felt so comfortable, not like a stranger. Thank you family!!! You guys are so awesome.

Sunday we met at my uncle’s concert (Carlos Mejia Godoy). I got to see my dad since our wedding and we hung out with some of the family, singing and watching the crazy crowd. Man, those people never got tired of dancing! We were up in this room, melting away (heat) but having a good time. I took some pictures, some a little blurry…I don’t have the best lens for such events, but it works. It was great, so fun. It was Ryan’s first time seeing my uncle and seeing how many people love him and his music. Although there were some complications with the group, layovers and luggage, the concert went on. My cousin Sylvia ended up doing background vocals to help. The show would have been very different if all the band members hadn’t been stuck in L.A. Nevertheless, he never fails to put in a good show and entertain the crowd with his stories, jokes, and joyful songs that give much pride to any Nicaraguan.

Here’s a little about him from wikipedia:

Carlos Mejía Godoy (born June 27, 1943) is a Nicaraguan musician, composer and singer. He was born in Somoto, Madriz. Son of Carlos Mejía Fajardo and María Elsa Godoy, his brother Luis Enrique Mejía Godoy, three years younger than him, is also an acclaimed and much-loved musician. Carlos and Luis Enrique were pivotal in the New Song Movement in Central America beginning in the 1970s. They were both recently honored with Nicaragua’s highest cultural distinction, the Order of Rubén Darío. Many of his songs, performed with his band los de Palacagüina, became associated with the Sandinista movement as songs of the workers and revolutionaries. He even composed a Mass for the working class, the Misa Campesina Nicaragüense.

So this week we get to hang out with my dad…something that never happens. It’s good that he’s here and we can show him around a little bit and talk a little bit. Yay. Well, enjoy the pik-chas.