Well, the first steps of my new journey have been finally taken. I know have the official date of my arrival back to my country, the US. On June 4th I will finally be breathing Florida air again and I can’t wait. The next 20 days will be hard ones for I have much preparation to do and a few things to take care of before I go. But most of all I have to deal with the fact that I will be leaving behind to people who depend on me a lot, My mom and dad. As much as it pains me, I have to think about my own family. I have a wife and 2 kids that need a better life and here in Puerto Rico they will never have it. But I can’t stop thinking about my parents. They live apart but are part of my life.
My mom is not that old, but she has not been taking care of herself physically for years now and she can no longer get around as easily as she could even a year ago. She depends on me to take her to her doctor appointments and sometimes even keep her company. I also take he to places and stores she has never been to and could get lost trying to find. Though she lives with my sister, it’s not easy to depend on her. My sister has 3 kids, a fulltime job that calls her even after working hours and school. She has very little free time and can’t always attend to our moms needs and since I’m only working part time and have plenty of free time, well you already know. It’s not that my sister doesn’t try, she just doesn’t always have time. But at least she will finish school soon and will have a bit more time and if she could only teach her kids (which are not babies anymore) to maintain the house while she works, she just might be able to help mom out more when I go. It hurts me to even think about any of this, but as I said, I have a family of my own that needs me now and I have to take care of them as well and I just can’t do it in a town where I will never make progress.
There is also my dad, he’s a bit old already and has quite a few sicknesses. Just recently he had a mild heart attack that even he didn’t know he had. He spent nearly 7 days in the hospital and is now having to watch himself more. So now not only does he have diabetes, possible Alzheimer, a possible tumor in the head (I say possible cause he has not really confirmed them to me), liver problems and now heart problems.. What else could go wrong with this man? He’s been living alone for a long time now. He has managed to make almost everyone hate him and now he only has me. He like to be a know it all and you know what happens to people like that. I was not talking to him before but I eventually felt that my kids had the right to get to know their grandfather before he passed away and I wanted him to see them as well. We know live with him, I don’t have to pay rent so it was partially a great idea. He has gotten use to use being there, keeping the house clean and organized, fixing minor stuff, keeping an eye on him, etc. But, like I said before, it’s time for me to move on. Staying in this town will hold me down and I will never amount to anything. I must move where I have better chances of making progress in life.
The move is difficult but it’s a must if I ever plan on getting my own house someday. The decision is made, the tickets have been paid for and the date has been set. My journey to a better me has now begun and my destination will be the American Dream. I will work hard to get there for my kids, my wife, for my parents, but most of all for myself.