Dia de Los Muertos

I went to the Dia de Los Muertos Ceremonia diversity event.  It is a Mexican holiday that translates to The Day of the Dead.  Rituals are celebrated every year in Mexico and certain parts of The United States.  It occurs on November 1 and 2 with the first day honoring children and infants, and the second honoring deceased adults.  It is basically a day when family members get together and honor their deceased loved ones by building altars and decorating them with favorite foods of the deceased; and by visiting grave sites with certain gifts as well.

A speaker came and gave a lecture on the history and origin of the holiday.  The session was very informative, and the holiday dates as far back as 3000 years.   It was interesting to see how the Mexican culture views death differently the majority of the U.S.  In the U.S. they view death as a time of mourning and sadness while in Mexico the celebrate with festivities like dancing and partying to honor their dead ones. 

I already had some sort of previous knowledge of Dia de Los Muertos from Spanish classes in high school.  My junior year in Spanish 3 everyone in the class turned their desk into an altar and brought in foods and drinks and we had a little party where we sang Spanish songs and learned dances.  Our teacher even made us some very good hot chocolate. 

I actually enjoyed attending this event and learning a little more about the holiday.  I was surprised to see how people really go all out on this day buying lots of flowers and painting their faces like skulls.  There are a lot of skeletons and skulls involved with this day which is why it gets related to Halloween a lot, but the two actually have little in common. 

Me at My Best

        It's hard for me to narrow just one time when I was the best.  I mean, there are just so many times when I have been better than everyone else.  I hate to use a double negative, but I'd like to think that I've never not been the best.  Some might call this arrogant.  I however, simply refer to it as being confident.  
        That being said, the time that I most vividly remember when I was at my best would have to be my junior year at state track.  It had been a very good track season for me thus far; and I, as well as the rest of team, was performing exceptionally well.  Our 4x4 relay was our best event.  We were dominating every meet, and soon we had posted the fastest time in the state in class 1A. 
        When districts rolled around we were feeling very confident that we would make it to state.  Sure   enough, we came in first place at districts and punched our ticket to the state meet.  Not only had we qualified our 4x4 relay, but also the 4x2, shuttle hurdle, and distance medley relays.  None of which would have made it without me of course. 
         And so there we were, coming into state with the fastest qualifying time and only three seconds off our school record.  We had high hopes, and when the time came around for the preliminary heats we were feeling very confident in ourselves.  After the preliminary heats we sitting in first place out of eight teams.  There was a good chance that we could walk away state champions. 
         The finals were the next day, and there was much hype surrounding the race.  We were sitting three seconds ahead of the next fastest team.  It was a good race.  It came down to the final home stretch.  For a second it looked like we were going to be state champions.  My hopes were soon dashed however, when in the final seconds our last leg of the race was passed by another team.  I could have sworn I saw my life flash before my eyes. 
          Although devastated, I kept my head up.  As a team we ran our fastest time, and I myself ran my personal best time.  Second place wasn't so bad when you stopped to think that some people never get to experience that moment ever.  I had done something meaningful and worthwhile with my high school career.  It was definitely a day to be proud of, and a time when I was at my best.