sv evi

Luz and I flew back to Washington State in June for my mom’s 70th birthday party, while Riki held down the fort in Cuenca with Tomu and Jade. Have I mentioned what a rockstar of a partner and father Riki is? My Ecuadorian friends are so impressed with Riki’s ease, ability, and willingness to take care of the kids, cook dinner, clean the house, and do all things domestic. I know, I’m really lucky.

It was a quick trip: 8 days in the U.S, and also a long way to go with a 14 month old. We were 24 hours en route from Cuenca to Seattle (3 flights). But it was so worth it!

I got to see my closest friends in Tacoma & Olympia, spend the weekend with my sibs, nephew, sister-in-law & my mom in Port Townsend, and hang with my cousins and aunts & uncles the last night in Seattle.  I also did a culinary tour of food that you can’t get here (well, you can, but not near the same quality of food): we went to dim sum twice, Chinese food at Little Chengdu in Seattle, and sushi. Yum!

Four sibs at Finn River, Chimacum WA

My mom’s party was amazing—so many people from different eras of her life, old and newer friends, family, Buddhist members, and Y-WE (Young Women Empowered) fellow volunteers, employees, and board members. I was struck by the number of my mom’s friends who are in their 20’s and 30’s, as well as by the cultural diversity of her friends. There was a time for sharing stories, and it was touching to hear how important mom is to so many people. One friend, who is from India, said that mom is grandma to her kids, since her own parents are far away. Susha asked everyone to raise their hand if they had ever received a bag, or a rice sack, or had clothing mended, or a meal cooked by my mom, and more than half the people raised their hands. Mom’s friend Devin said, “We all know how Candace loves the queers…” and told a story about how mom has always been a great ally and a strong support for her. Weston aka DJ Lunch Lady made sure the dance floor was hopping!

I’m proud to be my mother’s daughter, and I hope that when I am old, I am as young at heart as she is with such a marvelous and gorgeous collection of human beings to call my friends.