This was without a doubt one of the most exhausting, social, fascinating, caloric, intense and EXCELLENT weekends of my trip. I already knew that I won the host family lottery, but this weekend confirmed it more than ever. Hugo and Lidia had three children- Yamila, Eliana (my host mom) and Mariano. They were militantly active Peronists that fleed the country during the dictadura to Panama then Miami. I think this period of time when really all they had was eachother to lean on that made their family's bond so unique and special. Hugo is a vibrant man of around 78 I believe with a handle bar mustache, constant smile and truly is the life of the party. Lidia is a little bit quieter and a strikingly beautiful woman of 75 with flat ironed blond hair, artificially pink lips who pampers everyone around her. Anyway, it was Lidia's 75th birthday this thursday and the Bacci clan rallied the troops to throw her one of the most amazing and touching parties I have ever been a part of.
I have no idea how Lidia didn't see it coming with the amount of planning that went into it and the talkative tendencies of the bacci sisters in particular, but I have a feeling it has to do with how selfless of a person she is. Anyhow, they rented out a venue that is sometimes used for Peronist meetings, told her that there was a reunion and invited 100 of her friends and relatives to join the festivities. Michelle and I were on babysitting duty as the bacci's prepared and actually had alot of fun teaching the kids songs in english, learning them in spanish, and playing hand clap games. They were particularly fans of- WHO stole the cookie from the cookie jar? and we learned that the Argentine equivalent translates to SOMEONE was in the bathroom and left a stink...WHO was it?
I could not believe the amount of food that was present. there was a HUGE table filled with cheeses, salamis and these crackers with pizza sauce baked onto them in addition to about 12 HEAPING trays of empanadas, bread baskets with multiple dips, pizza, plates of sandwiches, about 20 bottles of wine, soft drinks and fernets galore...it was insane...we will be dealing with the leftovers for days, except for the wine (every last drop was consumed).
Lidia was absolutely shocked and it took a minute for her to realize the entire party was actually for her. After lots and lots of hugging, chatting and more eating they played a slide show with a bunch of Bacci family pictures which was adorable. They brought out a table of cakes, lit the candles on a particularly gorgeous one and sung two versions of happy birthday...one of which was set to the tune of the Peronist anthem...go figure. Perhaps the most touching moment of the night was when Hugo and Lidia began to waltz in the middle of the dance floor right after the singing and Eliana and Mariano cut in. After the warm fuzzy moments, the REAL argentine dancing began which was of course spearheaded by the dynamic duo of Yamila and Eliana. Thats how I will forever remember Eli and Yami- dancing as if they were 18 years old in tight dark jeans, white shirts and boots laughing uproariously in the middle of their mothers 75th birthday party.
It was a BEAUTIFUL celebration of life.
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