I went to a friend’s gathering at his home this weekend. It’s a home that I consider to be a magical place. Every corner of the house is decorated with an artistic eye, which my friend most definitely has. It’s like walking into a place where you feel safe expressing your dreams and perhaps you will discover new dreams that you never knew existed within you. Such is how I feel when I’ve entered the home of my dear friend Jesus.
“You remember how to get here, right? It’s the only house with a Virgen de Guadalupe at the door,” he said. And sure enough,when I was driving down his street, I immediately spotted the beautiful virgen morena. As I walked up the steps, I felt peaceful and welcomed. It’s not often that one gets welcomed by La Virgen de Guadalupe herself. The door was open and through the doorway, I saw a beyond beautiful altar in her honor. As I walked in, I stopped and looked at the virgen at the door and then turned and said a little prayer at the altar. “Thank you, “I said. “Thank you for not giving up on me,” I told her. I am a believer of Our Holy Mother and I don’t think I could have received a better welcome as I did that day.
I enjoyed hours of conversation with some of the most wonderful persons. It’s as if each one of their personalities had a different light that lit up the room. Everyone was genuine and happy. There were conversations on the patio and talk about art, life and happiness and general as the sun was shining. I couldn’t think of a more perfect afternoon. I wished for more afternoons like this. When we receive a social invitation from someone we love and care about, I think it’s most definitely worth the effort to go. Moments like these are not often every day occurrences, so when they present themselves, we must take them. They are blessings.Just like we feel the need for human contact and companionship, so does everybody else. We need our friends and our friends need us. I write this as a reminder to not take friends/loved ones for granted. I sound like a broken record when I say that all relationships need to be fed, nourished and given the necessary attention they need to grow and for us to grow too.
My friend Jesus and I have been friends for many years and I can safely say that our friendship has stood the test of time. He’s been there for me in my different stages of life – both good and bad, and yet he’s still around. That’s a real friend. When someone has seen you at your best and worst and has decided that you are worthy to keep in their lives, that’s a true blue friend. I’m thankful for people like Jesus that have chosen me to be their friend.
As I left, Jesus (being the gentleman that he is) walked me out the door and stood in the doorway. He and La Virgen Morena stood there and sent me good wishes. I turned and looked back one time because I wasn’t ready to go, but had to take care of other responsibilities. I held back tears of happiness and I kept walking. Thank you for being there always Jesus – standing in the doorway, welcoming me in.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
“You remember how to get here, right? It’s the only house with a Virgen de Guadalupe at the door,” he said. And sure enough,when I was driving down his street, I immediately spotted the beautiful virgen morena. As I walked up the steps, I felt peaceful and welcomed. It’s not often that one gets welcomed by La Virgen de Guadalupe herself. The door was open and through the doorway, I saw a beyond beautiful altar in her honor. As I walked in, I stopped and looked at the virgen at the door and then turned and said a little prayer at the altar. “Thank you, “I said. “Thank you for not giving up on me,” I told her. I am a believer of Our Holy Mother and I don’t think I could have received a better welcome as I did that day.
Just like we feel the need for human contact and companionship, so does everybody else. We need our friends and our friends need us. I write this as a reminder to not take friends/loved ones for granted. I sound like a broken record when I say that all relationships need to be fed, nourished and given the necessary attention they need to grow and for us to grow too.
My friend Jesus and I have been friends for many years and I can safely say that our friendship has stood the test of time. He’s been there for me in my different stages of life – both good and bad, and yet he’s still around. That’s a real friend. When someone has seen you at your best and worst and has decided that you are worthy to keep in their lives, that’s a true blue friend. I’m thankful for people like Jesus that have chosen me to be their friend.
As I left, Jesus (being the gentleman that he is) walked me out the door and stood in the doorway. He and La Virgen Morena stood there and sent me good wishes. I turned and looked back one time because I wasn’t ready to go, but had to take care of other responsibilities. I held back tears of happiness and I kept walking. Thank you for being there always Jesus – standing in the doorway, welcoming me in.
Priscilla Rice is an actor, poet, mother and aspiring samba dancer. She studied Broadcast Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked as a radio news/traffic reporter and assignment editor for various television stations. She currently works as an interpreter/translator. She is originally from Crystal City, TX and resides in Dallas with her son, Leo.
