Michael Castro
Chapter#4
FOUR
AUNT MERCE
MAY 27, 2008
Pardon the imperfections of this family picture of Aunt Mercedes(Merce) and our cousin Anna posing in front of the Christmas Tree, but then again we never claim on being a “perfect family.” Thanks for asking about my immediately family in your last letter. Everyone is doing well. Liz continues to work very hard as a Scrub Nurse at Fresno Community Hospital during the day. If she’s not too tired, she’ll also work an overtime night shift every now and then when the hospital is shorthanded for one reason or another. We go workout at GB3 at least twice a week, and Liz had already lost weight, while I go because the low impact exercises I do help keep my back strong.
Your niece Alex has just finished her junior year at Sunnyside High School, and plans on attending college after graduating. You know that Liz and I have nurtured Alex with reading ever since she was just a little baby with the expectations she’d one day earn her college degree. I only wished our parents would have pushed us a little more towards staying in school, and attending college. Then again that’s just a “copout” because our two sisters earned their degrees long ago.
I wanted to dedicate a chapter solely to our Aunt Merce because of all the “Love and Good Family Values” she instilled in both of our lives before God called her up to Heaven in 2002. I for one will never forget our Aunt Merce because of the unique, proud person she was. I chose this picture to remind you how she always loved decorating our grandparent’s house around Christmas Time? As that time of the year grew closer and closer Aunt Merce’s enthusiasm escalated as she started contemplating that year’s Christmas Blue Print in her mind.
When December finally arrived, it was just wise to step aside as she quickly began decorating. She’d begin hanging a multitude of colorful Christmas streamers, along with white paper snowflakes all over the high interior of our grandparent’s living room. Each one of those decorations was always precisely spaced-out from one another, as we’d marvel upon high as children. But then again this was only a small part of Aunt Merce’s “Christmas Masterpiece.”
I still remember back then, if you were facing south while standing in the middle of our grandparent’s house at Christmas time, a large Christmas tree always stood in the left corner of their living room. On this “particular year” the tree is covered with multiple strings of clear blinking lights that really stand-out in between the large, glittering, white frosted Christmas bulbs that are again, perfectly spaced-out among several golden trumpeters and drummer boys. But the ornaments that always stood-out to me the most were those Crystal Angels with golden accents because they “Illuminated” each time the Christmas lights would blink-on behind them. I remember thinking to myself, if there were Christmas tree in Heaven, it would look like this.
Besides the Christmas tree and all of its beautiful decorations, do you still remember what was carefully placed around the base while positioned underneath our grandparent’s living-room window? It was Aunt Merce’s “Porcelain Nativity Scene of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus his Mangier.” They were always accompanied by “The Three Wise Men and all of those Farm Animals” precisely spaced-out on a piece of White Christmas Felt Material. This scene sat proudly on top of our grandparent’s long, dark brown coffee table. I even remember that Christmas Felt having different colors of glitter I thought would look like snow up in Heaven.
After a quick breakfast with our grandparents and Aunt Merce that was always filled with so much laugher, our aunt was then really eager to start passing-out the Christmas presents to all of us grandchildren. But after receiving a present in our hands we were then told to “wait until all of the grandchildren also had a gift to open.” When Aunt Merce said it was okay, the sound of ripping paper quickly filled the air. The excitement of discovering fun gifts accompanied by loud laughter seemed to go on for the longest time.
I remember Grandpa Angel always getting some kind of “men’s cologne” like Brut, All Spice, or High Karate. Back then I always thought that High Karate Commercial was pretty cool. Everyone knew grandpa took so much pride in always being cleanly shaved, and smelling so good. Besides all of those colognes grandpa would also get equally excited after opening his favorite variety of Christmas Snacks! Our family knew exactly what he enjoyed the most to make this a special time for him.
It didn’t matter whether it was a box of “Cheese and Crackers, Mixed Nuts, or an assortment of delicious Chocolates” because after Grandpa Angel would quickly open them up, he’d then start sharing those “Sylvester the Cat” big smiles of his. He’d always offer some of his delicious snacks to everyone as he took “the first bite,” and we all thought this was so funny to see. I was always right there seated next to him in order to be the first one accept his gracious offer. Hey, you had the same mindset, so don’t try to deny it?! Ha!
Grandma Petra always seemed to find a really nice outfit after opening her gifts. I remember someone yell-out “Grandma, you can wear that outfit to Church if you want?!” as she lifted her new outfit for everyone to see. Grandma’s sincere smile and warm appreciation always lit-up the room, and she was pleased with no matter what she’d received. After telling everyone “thank you” and how much she loved her gift I personally felt that “Moving Ornamental Angel” on top of the Christmas tree was now “second best to grandma bright smile.”
Back then Aunt Merce always got the best of both worlds because she’d always receive both nice clothes and Christmas snacks. When I was old enough to understand, I remember someone telling me the reason Aunt Merce received her own Christmas snacks was so she wouldn’t eat-up all of grandma and grandpa’s goodies! Ha! Yes, it’s the true! She was something else.
I still remember when Aunt Merce would see one of those “Round Tin Containers” with her name on it she’d quickly opened it, and begin chewing on some “Caramel Coated, Cheese, or Regular Christmas Popcorn!” After showing-off one of her Christmas outfits to everyone she’d then quickly run into her bedroom and throw-on her new clothes. She’d come back to the living room and begin giving everyone a quick “Christmas Fashion Show” while prancing around like a proud little reindeer. Before everyone had a chance to complement her on how nice she looked, she was already sitting in her chair as she continued to eat her popcorn by the fistfuls. Yep, she was too much. Then once again, I was always right there readily offering my assistance just in case she needed it. But I wasn’t about to get into that popcorn without first getting permission.
It was “very common” to find our grandparents dining room table covered with all sort of platters filled with Moist Brownies, Sugar Cookies, and all sort of candy on Christmas Day. Back then Aunt Merce had quite the sweet tooth and was “very territorial,” so I was always careful to ask permission if I could have a little taste of those goodies in order to make sure I didn’t “cross any boundaries.” I did this because I didn’t want to be suddenly chased around the neighborhood because of a little “misunderstanding!” But I was just a little boy who made many mistakes.
One time I tried sneaking an M&M Cookie from one of those large Christmas Platters. Come to think about it, our family had actually brought over that platter to our grandparent’s house for everyone to enjoy. But for some reason Aunt Merce thought those cookies were made just for her. And the way she “reacted upon seeing that platter,” it was clear she had already taken claim.
Why, I was actually the one put in charge of holding that platter of cookies in our car on the way over to our grandparent’s house. I was so tempted to eat one while sitting in the back seat. You know what I’m talking about because you were sitting right next to me. I should have just slipped one down the hatch while no one was looking because it would have been a lot safer than trying to eat one in front of Merce, but you would have just “spilled the beans on me.”
So when we finally arrived and went inside, I placed that Platter of Cookies on top of our grandparent’s big oval dining room table while holding above my head reaching-out. Immediately after Aunt Merce began watching my every move. While I thought she wasn’t looking she then caught me “trying to slip a cookie!” Her big brown eyes where quickly filled with astonishment to see that I’d actually try that sort of thing right in front of her, but I didn’t think it was that big of a deal since those cookies were for everyone.
So after I gained position of that “delicious cookie” while keeping my eyes on our aunt, I then became sort of frighten to see her start “challenge me in getting it back.” My childhood instincts and “athletic background” were then triggered because without even thinking about it, I began position myself in order not to get cornered in the back of our grandparent’s kitchen. I quickly took this offensive position as started holding that M&M Cookie high in the air in my right hand, trying to protect it as if it was “the last cookie here on earth.” Aunt Merce suddenly started yelling “He’s a Cookie Kleptomaniac!” as she started waving her arms in the air trying steal my basketball, I mean “my cookie.”
Her next move was to “man-up” with me, and after she got in her comfortable defensive position by the look in her eyes I knew “It Was On!” Merce then began trying to grab that cookie from my hand as I tried holding it at the highest point of my small stature’s outreached hand. After the first misses our aunt became very upset, and literally began “staring me down to the ground.” When I began “head faking her” it just made her that much more upset because I quickly found myself being chased round our grandparent’s living room. It didn’t matter that we were both surrounded by the rest of our family who were seated because I guess they felt as if someone had purchased a “Big Boxing Event on Cable TV!” Where’s the love?
I remember someone verbally sounding-out the bell with a “ding ding” right before some other wisecracker yelled-out “Bets, I’m taking all bet!" Seeing all of this attention and bets against me was surprising, but not as much seeing Merce begin crouching-down like some Lucha Libre Wrestler! After no one interceded on my behalf she then suddenly began “lunging at me” with those long, large, muscular arms of hers that were at least “ten times the size as a four year old.”
Right then, I just started “ducking for my life” as it became quite clear this wasn’t just about an M&M Cookie I had “borrowed,” this was more about “RESPECT,” and our aunt was out to teach me a lesson. So just tried countering those “Big Muscular Grizzly Swings” by ducking and moving my short chunky little body side to side as quickly as I could. At first my moves were “successful,” but I could start to hear those “Grizzly Swings” getting closer to my little cranium!
I was a lot quicker back then, so I automatically started implementing some of my famous “Pivoting Moves” while keeping my right foot firmly planted on the ground in order not to be called for a “traveling foul.” Ha! Rules?! It didn’t take me long to figure-out that our Aunt Merce wasn’t playing by any “NBA Rules.” Why she quickly became so she then started implementing “Street Rules.” And with that look she gave me I knew she “now really meant business.”
When those “Big Brown Eyes” of hers got even bigger than usual I knew she was about to start chasing me around some more. And if she caught I’d then have to “pay the price” before being released once again into “Population.” When caught, our faces would get pinched really hard by those Big Grizzly Fingers as if she was actually trying to detach our cheeks from our faces! Ouch!
But then again you know that Aunt Merce always chased all of her nieces and nephews around all of the time just because she loved us, and it wasn’t because you “borrow one of her snacks.” Why I remember if she didn’t receive a “proper hello with a kiss” from us when we first arrived, she’d then start chasing us around until we did. Aunt Merce would grab us with one of her famous “Grizzle Bear Hugs,” and she wouldn’t let go until our faces were soon turning “Artic Blue.” Ha!
Do you still remember how strong Aunt Merce use to be back in the day? Do you remember when “still in her prime” how no one in our family could beat her at Arm Wrestling?! Not even our father could beat her! So it’s possible that Merce is now the “Arm Wrestling Champion up in Heaven!” And she’s probably grinning down at us right now as we’re remembering her.
With her God Given Strength while still with us we were pretty lucky to “somehow escape” any of those Polar Bear Hugs because if we didn’t, she’d then give us one of her big, wet, Polar Bear Kisses. Ha! After a while I just learned that it just wasn’t worth all the trouble of being chased around for hours, only to be eventually caught, so I just began giving Aunt Merce the attention she always demanded. After arriving I would just get all of those “Polar Bear Hugs and Wet Kisses Over With,” as I then enjoyed watching you guys being chased all over the place because you were “play hard to get.” Took you awhile until you learned your lesson.
So you see, I still remember all of those Bear Hugs and Headlocks to this very day, Big Brother. It never mattered to me for one second that Aunt Merce was born “mentally challenged” because I knew how much she really loved all of us. Besides all of her personal challenges she must have encountered throughout her life, she was always there for us anytime we needed her.
From the time we were still in grammar school, to the time we began our high school years I thought Aunt Merce speed only seemed to get quicker. Why she was so fast on her feet, if someone would have timed her back then she probably would have been clocked at running the 100 yard dash in under 10 seconds! For real! Ha! You know what I’m talking about. When she was running after you and always seemed to be right on your heels, we could never shake her off!
Now that I think about it, Aunt Merce is the main reason why I gradually became “faster over time” when I was younger, and eventually wound-up making my Elementary School Track Team at Pacific Union. In my last two years of grammar school my speed had improve so much, I actually made the “4x4 Relay Team” and got to travel to different Track Meets all over California, which was a really nice experience for a young teen. I will forever hold-on to many memories of our aunt because you know she was really “Someone Very Special.”
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
John 3:18 RSV