December 10, 2011 Year 18! The Debut

The 18th Birthday Celebration:
My American Egalitarianism (as cultural books call it) balked at this event... I "suspended judgement" and tried to go with an open mind.

The invitation included the program, listing all her sponsors. These are just the center pages. There were several others pages.  Each person is chosen as someone special and close. Above each column of names is the gift being bestowed by them.  Mam Rachiel was a sponsor and she invited me as her guest.

Presenting Ghelyn, in one of the four gowns she donned throughout the evening.

Now, I submit to you, does this look like the smile of a spoiled brat? She was smiling at Rachiel, happy to see her and including me in her welcome. Her parents were just as warm and welcoming.

Ghelyn sat on the stage and an MC announced each person conferring a gift. That person then stepped to the microphone to speak. It reminded me so much "Sleeping Beauty" and all the fairies bestowing their wishes. No evil fairies here, though.   

    

  It was like a rather grand wedding reception. The venue (a word commonly used here) was beautiful and the food was delectable and I was with Rachiel and Mare Bibe who were explaining each step. It was lovely! There was a very choreographed progression through the events. Along with the formal presentation of gifts, there were dances, very old-world Spanish dances, which is, of course, where this whole tradition started. I kept feeling as though I was glimpsing an event happening hundreds of years ago, and I kept wondering what traditions it displaced.

 As it happened, the story of Ghelyn's parents is important to this tale. There was a young widow with two children. She lived as a single, devoted mother, working hard to provide for her little family. A kind man, much younger than she, fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. She wasn't sure. She'd been a self-sufficient widow for 12 years. But he was determined and patient and so good to her and the children that she finally gave in. They married and he was a loving, kind husband and father to her two children. But imagine his joy when he and his wife had a baby girl! 

Now flash forward 18 years.

As a kind of culminating moment, the family members each gave his or her wishes and thoughts. The older sister "Ate" told of how, as a high schooler, she was so thrilled when her mother told her she was going to have a baby sister or brother. She said her little baby sister was so precious to her and has never stopped being her precious baby sister. As she spoke, her voice broke and she couldn't go on for a moment. It was wonderful to witness this love. Ate works abroad and had flown across the world to be here for her sister.

Throughout the evening I was watching the parents and family. (Shoot- I'm always watching everyone!)  And I was glad to catch this expression on her father's face as he watched Ghelyn.

Daddy watching his little girl.

If we are called to see beyond filth and poverty then we are also called to see beyond opulence and wealth and look into a person's eyes. Look at those eyes.