Q has been asking what ancestors are. I explained that ancestors are those people in our family who lived before us. The topic seems to make its way into many of our conversations these days.

 

This morning Q asked what comes after fall. I said winter.

 

“Papi,” he asked, “why doesn’t it snow here in the winter?”

 

“Because it’s too warm here,” I answered.

 

“Why did you want to live here,” he asked.

 

“This is where your grandparents came to live,” I said.

 

“Why?” he asked.

 

I went on to tell him a simplified story about...

how my father came here to the United States from Mexico. 

 

“Our ancestors came from Mexico and some from parts of Europe and even Asia,” I said. 

 

I went on about how my Father went from Mexico to Texas first and eventually made his way to California. After going back to Mexico to marry my Mom he came back to California and started his family. I told Q about my siblings and how I met and married his mother and had two wonderful boys. Q laughed. 

 

“That’s just my side of the family,” I said, “I’ll tell you about Mami’s side of our family another time.”

 

Q laughed again and said, “Papi, we have a big family.”

 

“We do,” I said.

 

“But Papi,” Q said, “Our house isn’t big enough for all our family,”

 

“No it isn’t. But family doesn’t have to live in the same house,” I said. “But we'll always family.”