Tuesday, February 20, 2024
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Stella V. Ruiz, as your life is being celebrated today, I'm laying at home too ill to attend. I always treasured our 2 weeks in the summer together; either you here or me there. You were cool, and I was a "Goodie, Goodie" as you would describe me because I didn't want to do anything against the rules. We had fun at the park I lived across the street from, or at Metz park when I stayed there with you. My "family twin" as people called us. One of the funniest memories was when you were staying here with me for 2 weeks. We were painting my brothers' room. You were rolling paint on the wall while I painted the baseboards. All of a sudden you shocked me by rolling a fully loaded roller across the top of my head. My waist length, dark hair was covered in white paint. I jumped up shocked while you were dying laughing!!! I let 15 minutes go by to let you think you were in the clear, then I took a fully loaded paint brush, and plopped it on top of your head. You weren't too happy, but we both laughed! (And how I remember your laugh and how tickled you'd get!) My hair mostly dried before I showered out the paint, so that school year, there was a boy sitting behind me in Spanish class that would pull little paint flakes out of my hair. You showered while your hair was still wet with paint, so you got it out. I posted a memory on Facebook nearly 50 years later when I saw a commercial of 2 little girls painting one another. Again, we shared a good laugh!!! Although I couldn't be there to celebrate you, you are deeply in my thoughts and heart, especially today. I was looking forward to meeting all of your kids and grandkids, but that didn't get to happen. My deepest condolences to them all!!! I loved watching the photo tribute and seeing so many joyous moments of you with them. Enjoy your mansion in heaven and your reunion with your honey, and all of your loved ones who got there ahead of you. Love you forever cousin!
Sylvia Casas Harden
