Judy and I just got back from visiting Yaya. She is in a group home like my mom and Teresa were. It was a very nice place as most of the ones like that are. I believe it is so much better than a nursing home.
She looked fairly good. She knew us, but she has a hard time talking (or I should say it is very hard to hear her as her voice is so faint.) She was sitting in a lounge chair. Cecilia, Annie and Mark were there and we visited with them, but she didn't really participate in any of the conversation.
I have so many wonderful memories from childhood through adulthood of Yaya. She is like an older sister to me. I remember when we were young and we would go to California to visit she and her brother Eddie. Yaya was becoming a nun near Santa Barbara when Eddie was becoming a priest there. I also remember when I was really young and she would spend time in Douglas during the summer.
But the best memories have been throughout my adulthood. We had so many great times through the years with she, Tony and the rest of the Phoenix cousins.
For many years, we had ASU season tickets. Tailgating was always fun with the family. Yaya is a rabid ASU fan and would often throw popcorn at people below us who were rooting for the other team. They would turn around and look and of course, no one guessed it was her because she had the angelic look!
Through the years we spent most holidays with all of them. My best memories were of all of the New Years Eve celebrations. I would always stay with Yaya and Tony. We had so much fun and I dearly love her.
Yaya is one of the best people I know and I am proud to be her cousin.
