Nando & His Parents

On my way home yesterday, I called my parents in Odessa, TX to check up on them. My father's been having health issues and has been in and out of the hospital for the past few months. My mother just avoided major eye surgery by having a large needle inserted into her pupil to clear out some type of build-up. These are two strong individuals who keep me going on a daily basis when the days become long and my troubles seems to pile up like a stack of unpaid credit card bills. They have shown me love, acceptance and support from the day they adopted me. And last night was no different.

Nando: Hi dad, how are you?
Dad: What? Who is this?
Nando: It's me dad.
Dad: I can't hear you, let me turn the TV down. Who is this again?
Nando: YOUR SON! YOUR SON. IT'S YOUR EVER-LOVING SON!
Dad: You mean Junior?
Nando: Yes, father.
Dad: Oh, how are you mijo?
Nando: Good, and you?
Dad: I've been better--but right now I'm in the middle of watching my Spanish soap opera, wanna speak to your mom?
Nando: Sure.

I hear them in the back arguing. "You speak to him, I spoke to him last time he called during the novela." Then I heard, "Why does he call us at this hour? Didn't we tell him last time to call earlier?" Then it went into, "Well, I'll do it this time, but who ever picks up will HAVE to speak to him all the way through next time."

Mom: Hi sweetie, how are you?
Nando: Mom, why are you guys fighting? I'll just call another time.
Mom: Oh, no! We love it when you call. (Yelling at my dad) HE HEARD YOU!
Dad: (In the background) YOU'RE THE ONE WHO LIKES THIS NOVELA MORE THAN ME.
Mom: (To my dad) IF YOU KNOW THAT...WHY DO I HAVE TO SPEAK TO HIM? HERE, YOU TALK!
Nando: Mom, stop yelling in my ear. I can hear you and dad talking.
Mom: Oh...what was that? Wait, your dad wants to talk to you. Hold on.

I then hear, "Here, and go to the other room, I can't hear the TV." Then he responded with, "Well, if I talk to him, you have to let me eat some chocolate cake." She said, "The doctors won't allow it--they say you will die, do you want to die?" His response, "Well it's better than being interrupted while watching Mujer de Madera."


Dad: Hello? Is this still Junior?
Nando: Dad, I'll call another time.
Dad: Oh okay, we'll be looking forward to your call! Love you.

As I said, they are my rock.