Roatan Campbells' Connection: August 2016

We all have those moments in time that we treasure. We call up those memories and suddenly a normal day takes on a glow of joy. We were honoured on Thursday evening to be a part of one of these never-to-be-forgotten occasions for a special young lady and her family as we celebrated Karla's quineañera - Karla's fifteenth birthday.

The word quinceañera refers to a girl who is fifteen years old. The word has also come to refer to the celebration recognizing a young girl's passage from childhood to adulthood. Such a rite of passage was likely much more significant in early Latin cultures where the young girl was then presented as a woman ready to be the mother of young warriors. (that's what my research said - don't shoot the author!)

We have known Karla and her family for five or six years. She is the oldest of Carlos and Suyapa's four kids. Suyapa is a strong, assertive woman. Shortly after she met us, she encouraged us to help her two school-aged kids into a private school. She assured us that Karla and brother Carlos were "muy inteligente". And, yes they are! After five years in bilingual school, supported by a special sponsor, Karla has become fluently bilingual and is recognized as one of the top students in her class. One of her teachers describes her as a "firecracker" and this describes Karla perfectly. Karla makes things happen. When Karla decided she really, really wanted a quinceañera, there was no stopping her. She made it happen and it was magical!

Our part in this event? We shared our yard, deck, and apartment kitchen and bathroom. When Karla asked if we would "lend" her our house, she told us her guest list included 18 family. Early in the week it became apparent we didn't have enough tables and chairs. "Karla, how many people have you invited?!" I asked. "I don't know. I just gave out the cards," was her reply. A new idea was quickly presented to Karla - the guest list. Once the list was completed there were somewhere between 50 to 60 people invited to the party!

The Moya family and extended family handled everything. It was amazing to see how everything came together. You can google Quinceañera to see how extravagant this affair can become, rivaling weddings with traditions and expense. Happily, this family managed a very elegant event with the help of family and friends.

Much of the preparation happened the day before - grocery shopping and ordering the cake. At home that night, Suyapa prepared Karla's curly hair with straws and aluminum foil to hold the curls until party time.

The morning of the party, Karla and her friend Leidy, her aunt and an assortment of younger siblings and cousins arrived to decorate. Karla had a vision of how she would decorate and before she left for home later that afternoon, her vision was realized. With palms, balloons, and tissue paper flowers, she created her quinceañera wonderland.

Perhaps the most pressing crisis involved "the dress". Two dresses were available to Karla and tried on, for the first time, that morning as the decorating was beginning. One of the dresses had been made for a tinier relative and despite anxious pleas by the aunt, there was no way alterations could be made to make the dress fit Karla. The other dress was perfect! It was one of Karla's favourite colours and in a style fitting a princess such as Karla. But, it was strapless and backless and her protective father (and older Canadian friend) felt this was inappropriate for a proper young lady. Nearby Coxen Hole has no Fabricland, but in the second (and other) small fabric store, we located fabric that was a match. Hurray! Balloon shopping proved a bit more challenging - why buy balloons ahead of time? - but within an hour we were again on the way home - Karla to decorate and I up to the loft with the dress, fabric and sewing machine.

The evening WAS magical! Here, nearer the equator, it is dark by 6:30, so it was a beautiful full-moon, starry-skied evening. In typical Honduran style, the 6:30 start-time was just a suggestion. Rosinda and her sister Liseth prepared a fabulous feast. No one would go away hungry!

Karla's parents had arranged for a cake decorator to prepare a special cake for the event. With five layers it made a spectacular focal point. While Karla had escaped the cracking of an egg over her head (a barbaric, mean-spirited birthday tradition!), she did not escape the face-in-the-cake-shove. It was of course, all in love - as the push was administered by a special aunt.

As we made our plans, Karla kept stressing to me - and stressing about - "the table for the gifts". At most parties here, we've noticed presents are rarely opened until all the guests have gone home. I pressed Karla as she finished her cake, "open your gifts.". With continued persistence from Rosinda to open gifts, Karla did. She received several items of clothing with the general theme being an item plus - underwear. Karla will not need to do laundry for a few weeks! Now I know why gifts are opened later!

You will have noted the beautiful tiara on Karla's curls - she had two of these to choose from also! But what you couldn't see tucked under her skirt were her feet bedecked in jewel-studded, black suede shoes with five-inch heels. Our Spanish girls love their shoes! But, at the end of the evening, a girl just wants her flipflops!

A memory to treasure. This was our hope for Karla. It was such a joy to have been able to share in this occasion with Karla. It is even more of a joy to watch this "firecracker" go for her dreams and make them come true. This week a quineañera. We can't wait to see what's next!