For those that we have lost
Death is an inevitable truth that most people are respectfully uncomfortable with. We understand that it 
will come, but even knowing that, we still do not seem to come to terms with death. To answer the question as to why this is what I am writing about and not certain events that has affected our people? The reason is that one of my cousins has died. The only way I know how to grieve is by writing, so I apologize for my selfish decision for those that read my column.
As we all mourn over the loss of any family member, I cannot help but think that while yes that person’s physical body may still not be here but the memories are still there, the impact he/she has made on our lives, the laughs, the cries, their names will live on in our hearts and those that knew them. I recall years ago when I was in high school, countless nights where he and I would speak for hours (technically I would just be listening rather than speaking) about our history, the dictatorship of Trujillo and his lust for power and women, the man that he looked up to El Che Guevara because of his tenacity and willingness to die for a cause, the Cuban Revolution and what it represented at the time. Looking back I understand now that he became a reason as to why I was so invested in learning about our history, I was captivated by those figures but more of his knowledge of those figures. The same way a wolf would go on ends to finally capture the moon, I became that. A wolf that would be stuck on his desktop looking up our history and others as well, so that I would speak and he would listen.
Eventually it wasn’t up until college that I was able to have such a conversation with him. The best moments were definitely seen at the Domino table. I smirk as those nights come rolling into my mind and they seem as the night sky, endless. The domino table was always for me a gateway to prove myself against my older cousins. Being seventh youngest of at least 20 cousins and being socially timid the domino table was where I showed my relevancy. We did not just play regular domino’s we played a game Dominicans like to call Pin Tin Tin (the origin of the name, I have no clue) where basically every time a person would ‘Knock’ (Skip my turn because the person would not go) that person would have to pay a dollar to the one that made him not go. In any game that involves money and drinks there will be no end, so those nights I cherish because at the end of every match he would always point out what I or any person should have done in order to win. The things that he taught me made me who I am today and I will teach my kids and his kids
They will get to know you out of the memories that we have made, my dear cousin. Your family will always remember you as being the strongest, proudest, and defender of our family, I will never forget you and neither shall my future children; you will be immortalized and will always live in our hearts. It’s never a goodbye but rather until next time. Again I apologize to my readers for my selfishness, may we never forget those that we have lost. May they Rest in Peace.
