Being A Guest Of Honor, 6/9/13

Anne and I were invited by Benny Salgado to attend a big family celebration for Benny, Jr.'s 6th birthday, held at Alondra Park on a beautiful sunny day. We have known Benny and his two older brothers, Edgar and Javier since shortly after each one arrived from Mexico.

We knew Benny and Edgar when they spoke little English, and as they became fluent in the language, we spoke to the ownership of Chicago for Ribs, a restaurant we frequent, to help get them promoted from busboys to food servers, and eventually each rose into management.

All three brothers are bright and personable and they are succeeding here as husbands, fathers and in their careers. They are immigrants any nation would be proud to have.

Anne bought the birthday gifts for little Benny, Jr. and I attended the party. This was a chance not only to be with Edgar, Javier and Benny, but with their wives and children. It was also a chance to meet their parents, who were visiting from Mexico.

And what a joy it was. Benny greeted me in the parking lot and walked me into the party, introducing me and then setting me up in a place of honor, next to his parents. And as other people arrived they were introduced to me.

Benny's parents do not speak English, as was true of some of the other family members but one or more of the sons were present at all times to translate, and I used my extremely limited Spanish to attempt to communicate directly. It was fun for everyone.

Their father is 72 years of age and he is a retired school teacher who taught for 31 years, 25 of which were 4th grade and the other six years were college prep classes. Today, he and his wife are supposedly retired but he isn't retired as he owns and runs a ranchero.

Their sons had informed them about me, and although I did not seek attention, I was treated as a guest of honor as various people gathered to speak with me and share in my company. It made me thankful to celebrate with a family whose sons Anne and I have long respected and enjoyed and I was very pleased to have attended.

Dick