I remember the first time meeting Franco as a little girl. It was at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Franco was playing with all of us kids in the front yard and letting all of jump on him and ride his back. And when it was time to go, I remember wanting to play with him more being bummed he had to go. And that feeling just continued throughout our time together. Any time there was a family function or the family reunion coming up, I always checked with him because I knew it would be that much better with his presence.
I’m grateful for the fact that so many Sundays when I was younger, Franco, Maricela, and Emmanuel were at our house on Tangerine dancing. Nez, Nene, Jr and me would move all the furniture in the front room the moment we saw Franco pull up with Maricela in the front seat and Emmanuel in the back. Franco always had his giant CD case. And we just laughed and danced for hours. Truly one of the greatest times of my life. I’m very thankful to have all those memories. I’m so grateful to have Franco and Maricela as cousins. And I can’t wait to dance with them again.