Well it’s been some months since I have written anything but there have been a few things keeping me busy. So, now we begin again.

Lately I have had my great aunt on my mind. Pepita was my dad’s aunt. Unusual for Puerto Rican women in the 30’s she was a professional (teacher) when well brought up  upper class women  did nothing but get married and raise kids. She never married and kept her farms running and earned her own way as a teacher until her retirement. She even bought some farms from my grandfather, her brother, when the properties were in danger of going out of the family’s hands.

My Dad admired her and I adored her.  Even though we met only when she visited N.Y. or I was back in our home town of Naranjito.   She was way ahead of her time, proud, independent , and self reliant. She was the only person I ever met that had her own pre-dieu  in her house. Very devout.

As most Morales were,  she was a great card player. I mean she could have been a pro. I never played poker with her but I did make the mistake of playing bridge with her, her companion, and my Aunt Zoraida. Lord in heaven the woman knew who had what card after the first bid.  I prayed to be the dummy and God heard me. I was able to escape with my self respect intact. Of course the dummy doesn’t do anything but lay out their cards.

They played  for pennies and she managed to donate $300 to $400 to the parish every year from her winnings.  Now  remember she played against her niece who was a really good card player. All the Morales relatives were good at cards.  My uncle Jorge  made his living that way. Really, he was a bartender at a San Juan  hotel but made more money in card games. American tourists were a real revenue stream for him. I really miss him as well. Always funny, and with a smile that hid a really pessimistic world view. Another Morales characteristic.

Well that’s all for now, I hope to be better at this from now on.