It’s been a little over two months since we lost Amanda, the oldest in our clan. It was an unexpected passing. She was at the proverbial wrong place at the wrong time. The vehicle she was driving was hit by an oncoming car whose driver had lost control after suffering a heart seizure. It was a sad end to a wonderful life and a tragic end for a sister who sometimes played mom when we were growing up.
Unfortunately, more bad news have come our way. We just lost another sister. Her name is Rosa. Rosa Carmina to be more exact. I mention the Carmina part because she wasn’t too fond of it. But as far as I’m concerned, Carmina is really a pretty name. About as pretty as Rosa.
Just like most of us in our clan, Rosa Carmina was born in Mexicali, in Colonia Cuauhtémoc. She was a playful kid, about as playful as they come. She was a good-looking kid, too. Had a mix of Sonora and Michoacán traces, stuff from both our parents. Some Purépecha, some Yaquí, some Spaniard features. She also had a big smile. Rosa Carmina probably inherited that trait from our grandpa on our mother’s side. He was a happy man, about as happy as they come.
I’m the second in the clan, by the way, and five years older than Rosa. That’s why I’ve lately taken the responsibility to write about these heart-wrenching news. Besides, I’ve been told that I kind of know a little bit about the ins and outs of our brothers and sisters. And about our now late sister Rosa Carmina. Being the oldest boy in the clan helps some. But having to write about our recent losses ain’t no fun.
Rosa Carmina is the fourth sister we lose over the years. The first one was an almost still-born. She was five days old when she died. She followed me in age and would have been a year younger. The next one to pass was Herlinda. She was only seven when she was struck by meningitis. She eventually became a vegetable and was taken care at a California state hospital in Porterville and lived for close to twenty years after getting that disease. It was another sad ending.
Herlinda was smart; she was probably the smartest in our clan. After living on this side of the border for less than a year, she learned English and other learning stuff that is usually acquired much later by kids in first grade. But Herlinda done it. Oh, she was so smart. Unfortunately, tragedy struck and in an irreversible way we lost her little by little. Eventually, she was completely gone.
We also lost a brother. His name was Julio, Julio César to be more exact. He died in a motorcycle accident in the summer of 1977. He was only 24. I was still in the Air Force then, stationed in Spain. I flew home for his funeral. It wasn’t a fun trip. Our family was devastated by the loss. Me too.
And now we lose Rosa, Rosa Carmina, a sister still full of life and still brandishing her beautiful features, her Purépecha traits, her Sonoran smile. She will be buried next Tuesday, July 11, in Stockton, California. It won’t be a happy time.
Not for me or for anyone else who knew Rosa Carmina.
I will miss her dearly. Especially her sincere smile.
AUTHOR: Pedro Chávez