At home we were a very big family, my mother had 12 children and I was the number 11 of them. I remember that in the month of December all my older brothers and sisters who lived for work in Caracas, the capital of the country, arrived. They always arrived with a lot of bags and suitcases and in them there was always something special for the children of the house and everything turned into a party from the moment we stopped until we went to bed.
There are many memories that come to mind, but there is one in particular that I can never forget; I was about 9 years old when I received a very special gift, they were "The most beautiful shoes in the world". You might wonder what was so special about those shoes? But when you come from a humble family, from the countryside, and so numerous, any gift was very special and worth thanking.
My sisters worked in family house and always people gave them things that could serve us, that is the case of my shoes, maybe they were not new of package but they were in very good condition.
Before I keep telling you about my beautiful new shoes, I want to tell you that although there were no luxuries in my house, I never felt a lack of food, nor did I feel cold, nor do I remember that I lacked love, my busy mother took care of everything, taking care of workers, cooking, helping us with chores, washing clothes by hand and even telling us a story while she mended the clothes.
That 31st of December my sister Carmen opened a bag that she had brought and took out a dress and some shoes and she told me that was what was going to premiere me that night; if you had seen my face, I didn't stop seeing my shoes, they were white, with black soles and even though they were worn and didn't have the braids, I looked like "the shoes of a princess". Immediately I began to clean them and make them beautiful. That night everybody was busy, so I grabbed a red shirt from where my mother cut strips to make our tails in our hair and I cut two to put them on my shoes.
That's how night came and I dressed up, I think that happiness was reflected in my face because I did not stop seeing my shoes, I felt like in the sky and saw me as the most beautiful of the party.
Everyone was very busy, some drank, others cooked, danced and my mother organized everything and made the hallacas for the family Christmas dinner.
That night I danced for the first time and my partner was the husband of my sister who told me how to do it, I do not remember what song it was but what I do remember is that it was a magical night that I will never forget.
Friends, if you seek eternal happiness or complete happiness, I can tell you that it does not exist. Happiness is about those little moments that when you remember them fill your soul with peace and joy. New things do bring happiness, but that day I found it in old shoes that have filled me with joy all my life every time I remember them.
Many thanks to @wesphilbin for organizing this Best Seasonal Thoughts Contest that has made me feel like a child again. God bless you all this Christmas and don't forget to write your letter to the baby Jesus, I already did mine and it is full of good wishes for everyone, See you soon, friends., bye bye.
