Because of You
by
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The smell greets me at the door— Chiles roasting— Teasing my taste buds. You are hand-deep in masa— Specks of its saltiness cover your shirt— As you turn your cheek For a kiss hello. I pull out the chair across from you— Anxious to help— Sneaking in just a taste, Here and there, Of what’s to come. I watch as you take the first husk, Spread the masa evenly— Not too thick, not too thin— And listen as you begin to Relate the day’s gossip. Family happenings, Who’s mad at whom and why, What the neighbors are up to— Not missing a beat, as you Continue to coat the husk And add the filling of red chile. Smell of roasting still lingering Above our heads— Not forgetting the black olive That centers its flavor. You pass it to me to wrap, And I take it gently— Careful not to release its essence— As you go on to report Your recent finds at local yard sales, JC Penney’s and the dollar store, And how much tata has eaten that day. All the while, inspecting my work And nodding silently in approval— Never missing a beat. And I have to smile softly to myself, Smile at my nana— It’s the small things, the little moments That make a family— Because this is the only way I know, The only way I would have it. This is how we make tamales.
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About the Book
Although family and friends can make us feel like that old adage, “You can’t live with them; you can’t live without them,” we cannot run from them, as much as we would like to or may have tried many times before. In an imperfect world, we cannot expect perfection and, unfortunately, there are those whose families are a lot less perfect than others. But, no matter the family we belong to or the friends we have, we cannot deny their impact on our lives.
Because of You follows a young woman’s experiences with family and friends and the influence they have had on her life—some for the better, some for the worse—and how their guidance and direction helped define her and the woman she strives to be. In reading this book, you will find yourself reliving and sharing the same gifts of love, joy, pain and strength that only your family and friends can inspire.
About the Author
Natalie is a native and current resident of
Natalie married Scott McClearn in 1998. She enjoys watching and dancing in the rain, reading, crossword puzzles and anything made of chocolate. She also likes traveling, photography and sleeping in.