Cha Cha Cha

It seems like just yesterday that I was a teenage parent/guardian to this little 9 year old boy and filling out forms for school. Half lost on a lot of the things required for him to go to school like his shots and emergency contacts if I wasn’t around. Filling out his name and mine about 8 times on tri-colored sheets of white, pink and blue. My hand cramped a few times from so many forms to fill out. Oh my… my mother did it with six kids every year for 5 years. What the hell was I complaining about? Looking back now it’s not so bad. But it really does only seem like yesterday. And today I filled the last of the few forms to come for Sancho… His Cap & Gown forms…. 

Has it really been 10 years? Has this little bratty, tantrum throwing, soccer loving, ball of never ending energy, grown up? Is it possible that I feel a little emotion and a a bit teary eye at the thought of my little brother all grown up? 

Yes. He has indeed.

I’m not kidding when I say I am teary eye. Teddy even thinks it’s funny. Although we all know he’s probably all big cry baby. Don’t let his loud startling yell fool you. 

10 years. Gosh I can’t imagine the overwhelming emotion of a parent with more years or one who had a child in her womb. What they must feel… I am proud, no doubt. Sancho has grown to be a terrific young adult. I am happy to see him graduate because he will be the only of the boys to graduate of my siblings. I am jealous because he has the options and choices that I and my other siblings did not, be by circumstance or bad judgement. I am prepared for his decisions to come, like the fact that he wants to take a trip to Rio with his friends for the summer this year. How can I make this happen and should I still be part of that parent/guardian responsibility. I am many feelings all wrapped up in my little head. But mostly I’m just plain proud. 

I’ll admit when I first asked Teddy if my brother could live with us, 10 years ago, I really thought it would temporary. Then it was to become a permanent thing, I was scared I would screw up the kid, or forget him at the store, or something like that.

Then Teddy became more involved and played the bad cop… That helped. Even now, we still play the roles, but I think it’s reversed. I play the bad cop. Sancho got the best of both worlds with Teddy and me. He can be artsy and creative, act goofy and dance in public and not care about what people say… just like me. He feels the need to volunteer and shows empathy with no hesitation. But he’s also a critical thinker and plans situations ahead of time, something I never do but Teddy practical lives like that. He’s a leader… I see at all the time when he’s hanging out with his friends or communicating to his team mates at a soccer game. He’s loud you can hear him clear as day in the stands. He’s hard working and learns the tricks of the trade super fast. He started driving a forklift when he was 16! I think that’s pretty awesome. Sancho has cooked when he’s hungry and has done his own laundry since he was 13. Just because he could. He never stayed past his bedtime when he was younger and we never had to tell him to go to bed. He’s very kind to all animals. He can rock climb like he weighs 10 pounds. He’s super fast for a kid with short legs and his laugh is contagious. 

I hope the last 10 years he’s live with us have served a purpose for his future. 

My name is Thelma Faglie and I am proud to have Andres Arturo Ruiz as my brother.

Thank you for reading.
Luna