Familia

Rachel has raised her children and now she is a grandmother. Two years ago, Rachel’s mother passed away and her father was left alone at his ranch in a small town in Mexico. He was not doing well, physically, or emotionally, so she brought him to her home here in Brownsville, and set him up in the back bedroom. He doesn’t sleep well and often becomes confused at night, wandering throughout the house. Rachel loses her sleep caring for him, but he is, after all her father.

Sara is Rachel’s niece. Sara was born in the USA, but raised in the same small town as Rachel’s father. A couple of years ago, Sara entered the third grade. Sara’s father discovered that, for the third time, Sara was going to have the same teacher and the same books. He sent her north, to Rachel. Rachel set Sara up in the front bedroom, and sent her off to a real third grade class.

Sara require a bit of attention. But Rachel cares for her. She is, after all, family.

The lessons for me in this are too many to count, although startling to contemplate.