Early June Memories

 June 6. A date that always seems to come so easily to my mind. It brings forth memories from different years.

 10 years ago, was when my dear sister flew off to Italy to be an au pair for the summer. I took her job and started the same day she left. It was a surreal, bittersweet moment to take her place, as well as see her leave. That summer was full of transitions! We kept in touch via email throughout those months, and it was easy to think of her when I was at the job. But I missed her presence at home. In my emails, she would detail her time in Rome and later on with her second host family. I would describe and at times lament to her about all of the hard or annoying parts of my new job which she knew so well and had familiarity with. Though her memory may not had been so crisp due to full immersion in Italia, the schedule, the demands, the beauty, the seemingly familiarity and novelty it provided.

 I remember I would sometimes walk to work, and just enjoy the slowness and nice weather. I was not driving yet (late bloomer) and wasn't always able to get a ride or just wanted to savor the time before work and walk. I would listen to my iPod, and enjoy the scenery of the plants and flowers and passing by the Century House and envisioning a wedding reception there. Those summer days were nice to take slow, and even enjoy going to Nations with my mom before work. I went to Berkeley for circle and social functions with other catholic girls and was ultimately finding my grove after my first year in Junior college. 

2 years ago, my dear sister was pregnant with her sweet baby boy, Ignacio. He would be due any day, but sometime in the month of June (happened to be on my birthday! :)) My sister, brother, parents and I were taking care of Santiago for the month while my sister and brother-in-law stayed nearby to hospital in Palo Alto. We visited them there on June 6th, and it was glorious summer's day, with many people out and enjoying the sunshine and having a picnic on the lawn. It felt as if Covid was over with all those many people. It was a beautiful day to be together, for them to see their son Santiago, and continue to support them while they endured the difficulty and unknown of what was to come with Ignacio's heart condition; we would keep praying.

In 2017, I started my summer gig of working at summer camp/after school enrichment program. I was following in my sister Susie's footsteps since she had worked there 2 school years and summers prior. It felt like a breath of fresh air for me. I was just graduating college and was also actively volunteering at the local senior center serving meals. I was so in need of being busy after an open school year and one that was written in my mind as challenging and lonely. I was so excited to serve and be in charge of a classroom- for the first time! It was a fulfilling summer and one that led me to continue with tutoring more, and fully figure out what I wanted to do whether that was in or outside the classroom. 

Last year, I came home from the busy, amazing, special, exhausting, epic road trip with my brother. We drove from California all the way to Houston, Texas in a matter of 4 stretched days. It was so cool to see so much open land, and states I had never seen before or step foot in. It was the perfect time to go, as I had just finished my school year for work, and it had never happened that my brother and I had that much time together on a road trip. I felt like it was meant to be. And what better way to end the school year and start the summer with a bang. 

It was bittersweet to say goodbye to him as he dropped me off at the airport, and we went our separate ways, him starting out his new life and job, and me continuing with a lot to process, time to reflect, and rejuvenate back home. New roads, adventure, experiences were beautiful to bestow on that trip, so much of what I felt was lacking throughout the entirety of that school year for me. Wonderful quality time, laughs, talking, excursions with my brother as well that will not be forgotten!