#love is stored in grandma's albondigas | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

canelainnyc · 7 years

Text

“What does it feel like being back home for the first time since you moved across the country?”

It wasn’t until the second day that I realized I felt the same way I did when I would visit my grandma in Los Angeles. Long weekends or holidays were always spent at my grandma’s and going back to my Tia Nancy’s room, to grab something from my suitcase was a daily routine. I didn’t have a room or space to call my own but didn’t mind sharing a room with a relative. I always loved the feeling of a packed house and something always cooking on the stove. I’ve been living out of a suitcase the past seven days and sharing a room with my 6-year-old nephew. No complaints at all. If anything, I’ve enjoyed every single minute. From picking him up from school, making sure he does his homework, calling dibs on the bottom bunk, to dancing/dabbing to Ugly God’s “Water” more times than I should be allowed to let him listen to that song.

My mom’s hospitality is the same as my grandma’s—she’s been making every meal known to man and my cheeks are proof. She started off with tacos a la parrilla, then sopes, albondigas, caldo de res, ceviche, and soon to come a big ol’ pot of pozole. On Tuesday morning, my mother drove to the store to buy cold medicine because I woke up with THE worst fever known to man–ladies and gents, I’m 31 years old. I didn’t have much time to reflect on what was happening then, but now that I’m at the tail end of this wretched/welcome home-cold I’ve realized how much she’s missed me. God, I love that woman.

My father too, he’s been the one driving to the store and buying all of the ingredients for every meal and then some. God, I love these two.

“Were you nervous coming into town for the first time since your big move to NYC?”

If crying on the plane right before landing is any indication of nerves, then yes. Deep down I was nervous of feeling as though I would want to move back to California after seeing my family. The answer is pretty simple, I don’t want to move back. At least not anytime soon. I’ve enjoyed every waking moment these last seven days (minus the cold and fever), and look forward to the next seven days I will get to spend in SF for my new job’s training and then a few more days in Salinas after that. But I am without a doubt also looking forward to starting my two new jobs in Manhattan and going back to my Brooklyn studio.

“What have you done so far during your visit?”

· Hiked my favorite trails—Point Lobos in Carmel and Badger Hills in the outskirts of Salinas

· Reunited with old coworkers and loved hearing all about their new beginnings (SO many exciting new adventures!)

· Enjoyed evenings with old friends in old town Salinas; “I couldn’t help but admire you four ladies the past couple hours and see how much you all share the sweetest camaraderie. I felt the need to come up and tell you. It just made my heart smile.”–sweet stranger lady at sushi restaurant

· Picked up my nephew from school almost every day since I’ve been here

· Shared a bag of Hot Cheetos with my nephew while sitting on my parents’ big ol’ trampoline

· Had lunch with one of the greatest jefas (bosses) I’ll ever have

· Every morning I’ve had breakfast and coffee with my mom and dad

· Savoring every beautiful new day because the weather in California right now is my favorite

I have definitely missed a lot of people I love dearly who live in California, but I don’t regret making the move. Brooklyn, I’m only getting started.

p.s. here is why I love Point Lobos SO much (all taken by yours truly):

0 notes