During Papá Chepe and Mamá Toni’s vow renewal, the presiding priest asked, “Did you ever think 70 years ago that you’d be renewing your vows surrounded by all these people?” (I’m paraphrasing because it was in Spanish.)

Papá Chepe and Mamá Toni shook their heads.

Some things can be planned, like making sure you are faithful partners and that you instill in your children a strong sense of family. But some things like longevity are more about luck. Still, the platinum (70th) anniversary party would not have happened without a lot of hard work from my aunts and uncles, and neither would have the previous anniversary celebrations both big and small.

I wouldn’t be here if Papá Chepe and Mamá Toni had not said those vows 70 years ago (or answered the call to the vocation of marriage as the priest put it) and proceeded to live them.

I’m grateful that I’ve been able to celebrate several anniversaries with my grandparents and family. We all have amazing examples to follow both in marriage and in the importance of valuing family. And dancing to really loud music.

More photos below from the party.

We forgot that Sean is now part of the family. Oops.

Adrian really does like his new brother-in-law.

Sean is already holding my abdomen like I’m 9 months pregnant.

No Zacatecano party is complete without the tamborazo. The band was so loud when they started that Sean jumped. The white women running the place were also taken aback. They told my brother the music was too loud and we’d have to turn it down. Hah.

Mamá Toni and Papá Chepe start the dancing.

Everyone joined in the baile including the little cousins. I loved seeing my little niece get in a dance with her great grandfather as well as cousins dancing with their mom or grandmother. The kids gotta learn the traditions!

Patty and her dad, José.

More father/daughter dancing time.

Grandfather/granddaughter dancing time! I asked Papá Chepe to dance when the band played “La Marcha de Zacatecas.” He asked me if I requested the song and said he had just been thinking of it. It was nice to dance to a live version of the “La Marcha” rather than a recording. (I surprised Papá Chepe with a solo dance to the same song at the wedding. He loved his moment to shine and I was happy I got the opportunity to honor him and our roots.)

Cynthia and I both missed the memo that we were supposed to wear black, white or silver. Oops. I think she gets a pass since she’s not a grandkid.

More gratuitous photos with the cousins and sister.

I tickled Mamá Toni to get a smile out of her or this photo. It worked!