My parents got engaged on Halloween.
Scary, no?
They were married just over a month and a half later.
Some would say that is a quick engagement. But they had known each other since they were eleven years old. My dad was best friends with my mother’s brother. My mom was best friends with my dad’s sister.
So the half Spaniard Catalan married the beautiful Mexican senorita five days before Christmas in 1976.
Eleven months later I made my debut. My mother wanted to name me Alexis. My father insisted on Montserrat (read that whole thing here and how to pronounce it here).
I am the oldest of five children. I have two sisters and two brothers. And, in case you want to know, most of them have fairly normal names: Vanessa, Jonathan, and Rebecca. The oldest boy, like me, was given a Catalan name, Pere (pronounced Peda) which means Peter, my father’s name. Funny enough, though both Pere and I have the Catalan names we bear the Mexican features and skin the most. Our other siblings are lighter with features more like the Mediterranean Spanish side.
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I suppose I just always thought you were older than me, but based on this, you are less than a year older than me and have been much, much, much busier and several more children than I will ever get to dream of! I know this sounds terrible, but I am astounded! I guess that’s what I get for waiting so long to have my babies! I marvel and awe – well done! I applaud you.
LOL so, is this where the chocolate came from? My great SIL is of Mexican descent and we asre sure what else, though a gal in our ward says his features look very Mayan, as in Central American, where she is from.
He and my blonde, green eyed daughter just had their 4th child and each one is a different hue. It’s so fun to see what they come up with next. #3 is very blonde and this 4th one, the first girl, is the most olive skinned so far. So fun!
If it makes you feel any better my parents were married in ’77. my mom planned the whole reception because, like most men, my dad didn’t really care. He picked out a brown tux at the rental place because it was on sale. Fortunately for him, it tied in with the color scheme perfectly. Funny ol’ world, isn’t it?
I love it…Your mother is beautiful! No wonder where you get your looks! 🙂 Lovely family…can’t wait to hear more! Oh and happy birthday…coming up! I forgot to say that in my comment yesterday!
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What an attractive family–both generations! That mauve tuxedo is the best.
Your mom looks guapísima (gorgeous) in the picture with the mexican dress!!! Oh! And your father was also a Spaniard, besides being ‘catalán’. 😉
My parents were engaged 3 whole months, married 6 days before Christmas 1975, and I was born 9 months later.
Love the old pictures. Can’t wait to hear more about your growing up years.
I am totally geeking over that beautiful crochet layette. I love sweet stitches on tiny people. The story is awesome! And the swing picture? I see some Special Dark in those features.
Irene,
Crossing out the Spaniard is a family joke. My grandfather who was born and raised in Barcelona, would ALWAYS say he was Catalan not a Spaniard. So we like to tease about that.
Although, I have a neighbor who farms down the valley who also claims “I am NOT a Spaniard, I am Catalan!” He too was raised outside of Barcelona so I think that’s their fierce Catalonian heritage coming out.
your mum is gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Lucky genes for you all there!!
I too was engaged after two weeks of dating :0 and we got married 2 and half months later! We did know eachother for about a year or so before hand, so we hadnt just met (that was our justification to my parents who were freaked out cause I was only 20! and he was 7 years older than me)