Member-only story
THE WIND PHONE
The Silence of Having Nobody
Flying blind without a safety net
Growing up, my cousins and I played together every holiday. My birthday is also Cinco de Mayo (5th of May), a pretty big holiday for the Hispanic branch of the family — and Arizona in general. There were celebrations everywhere, it seemed, and my birthday always felt festive and happy.
After swimming all morning, we’d have parties with my friends and giant family birthday picnics in the park. We’d run around, laughing like loons, hit the piñata, eat from half-melted tubs of ice cream, and the birthday kid got to call the coveted corner piece of the cake.
The change of season is here, along with the promise of cooler weather (finally—Arizona seemed to have a permanent summer with no end). Mild but chilly days, cozy sweaters, hot chocolate with marshmallows, and family gatherings come to mind. It’s my favorite season.
Thanksgiving and Christmas were massive feasts attended by my mom’s side of the family —along with extra guests. My Mom and I always seemed to attract those I thought of as “strays” — people with nowhere else to go for the holidays. I used to feel for them and wonder where their families were.
I never, ever considered that I would be the stray someday.
