There's a time to dance

It's been months since I was in the room I last saw my brother in. 

Heavenly Grace funeral home held their annual candlelight vigil Dec. 11 for the families of those who are buried at the park. 

About 50 people showed - some were smiles, others had more somber looks on their faces, but all held the faux candles lit by lightbulbs, in honor of their loved ones.

There was a choir made up of kids anywhere from 6 years old to 13, who sang a variety of spiritual Christmas songs. 

There was a pastor who spoke, consoling the attendees and reminding them that our loved ones live on through us.

While he spoke, the tears trickled down my cheek as I played back 20 years worth of memories with my big brother. 

"There's a time to cry, a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance," he said.

The candlelight glowed on people's faces, revealing the reflection of the tears rolling down their cheeks. 

In that moment I cried and I mourned, but every day I smile as I'm reminded about the wonderful person my brother was.

Icepocalypse

The trip to Dallas for the National Association of Hispanic Journalists conference had been in the making since the summer. It's a chance for journalists to network and for young journalists like myself to land jobs.

It wasn't until two days before the conference that we heard the weather was going to take a turn for the cold - the really, really cold. 

We left on a Thursday morning, but the weather wasn't supposed to be bad until Thursday night. The four of us (myself, Norma, Susan and Elva) arrived safe and sound. But the next morning we woke to the shimmering white, icy streets.

Buildings, cars, plants and all were covered in ice. The sidewalks were slippery and all but one of us was accustomed to this icy terrain, but we ventured off into winter wonderland anyways, and it was beautiful. 

Everything was stock still, not only frozen in ice but almost frozen in time. The ground crunched beneath our feet, cracking with the heels of our boots.

My clothed seemed ill equipped for the icepocalypse as the wind chill stung my body. But the city sights were enough to make me forget how cold I was.