By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER, Joyful Musings
As a Spanish Teacher, I muse joyfully on Día de Los Muertos, Day of the Dead. This is the Mexican holiday where families delight in and welcome back the souls of their relatives who have passed on, died, expired, kicked the bucket. Families celebrate, often in cemeteries, and provide food, drink and música. My favorite part is the ofrenda.
The ofrenda is an altar devoted to a particular soul, a loved one, a relation or friend missed but remembered with food, with things they loved. One year a student remembered her grandmother with a can of Frito cheese dip on her ofrenda; I’ve never had Frito cheese dip but think of that grandmother every time I see it in in the chip aisle. I love that whisper of a memory, that moment of connection to a soul – even one I did not know.
When I make an ofrenda, I like to bring my dad back as it’s been over 40 years since I’ve seen him. I’ll put Chesterfield cigarettes on his altar, a copy of The New York Times, his library card and black rosary beads. I’ll open a can of paint as that is the aroma (in addition to the Chesterfields) that brings him back.
I’ll have the Irish tune, “A Mother’s Love’s a Blessing” playing, as that song glistened his deep brown eyes with love and tears for his old Ma. It’ll be nice to have him in the casa – if only for a night. Even if he would have no clue what an ofrenda is, and for that matter, anything about Día de Los Muertos, I’d like to think he’s evolved above, learned about different cultures and traditions.
But, who cares, really. He’ll be here.
And, let’s face it, death will be here for all of us sooner or later. Who knows? My oldest daughter does not listen to my voicemails, she says she’ll listen to them when I’m dead. I text more often than not but when I do blab on and on, I begin each message with, “Hello, I’m dead.”
And perhaps she will create an ofrenda for me when I go – ideally putting whoopie pies, Irish tea, and mustard on there for my return. And maybe some toenail fungus cream. I would not put it past her.
Anyway, as you trudge this road of life and death, dear musers, perhaps you’ll invite a friend, a relative, or even a pet to return on November 1st and 2nd. Why not? It’ll be good to have them back in the house and to remember why you miss them, loved them and welcome them back.
Susan Dromey Heeter is a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards.
