My Matador Cousins

"I had a handful of girlfriends.
Dating was exciting,
and I played my part."
-Marcelo F Pinto
Dallas, Texas
in the book
"Telling Tales Out of School"

I was intrigued by an episode on "60 Minutes" last week about Francisco and Cayetano Ordonez. They are the bullfighting brothers in Spain.

They are the grandsons of the great Spanish bullfighter, Antonio Ordonez. To be a "matador" is to be a principal bullfighter who is appointed to make the final passes and ultimately "kill the bull".

The "60 Minutes" episode depicted the challenges they face every time they enter the ring. It's rather frightening but these two brothers are in the limelight as 'much loved' celebrities in Spain. It's worth watching if you missed it.
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=4531401n

I am not really directly linked as a cousin to the Ordonez brothers. It's just that I always feel a 'kinship' to anything Spain. I do sense the connection and their passion.

Twenty-five years ago today:

April 22, 1984
Easter Sunday

I did not go to church today. I did pass St. Albert’s Church while on my bicycle and said a silent prayer of meditation as I rode by. I washed my car, too.

I did not have as long a bike ride as I did yesterday. There was no point in subjecting myself to a ‘tank top’ sunburn like last Saturday.

I received a phone call from Chris Cordellos at 10:30AM. He was bummed out once again.
“Yeah, Barb is all pissed because I went dancing with Leandra and some other chick,” Chris exploded, “and she was not invited to tag-a-long!”
“It’s not like Barbara owns you.” I said reassuringly, “You don’t have to tell her where you are every minute.”
“I know, huh?” Chris agreed, “Happy Easter.”
We laughed because that greeting came unexpectedly as I continued to console him.

We’re anxiously anticipating May 26th.
“I want to get you a certain something that you truly need. And I don’t want you to tell anyone that I gave it to you,” Chris said with regard to my 25th Birthday present.
What could it be?
I told him I only want your presence (not presents).

I did more bicycle riding in the early evening (after a short nap). I was lying out in the backyard for a while and had to listen to a bunch of squids (US Navy types) having a barbecue in the adjacent neighbors’ backyard. Their football came into our backyard for a second and I had to toss it back to them. After I tossed it back one of the guys’ popped his head over the fence.
“I just wanted to see what you looked like,” he said. I pretended I did not hear that (whatever it meant).

Later that evening I began watching ‘Norma Rae’, starring Sally Field, with mom. My eyelids had trouble staying open for the full length of the film, so I turned in early.