The middle children of the Romo family Edith and Yolanda had both freedom and restrictions.
Growing up I always had Edith, Yolanda to play with. They were both teachers and tormentors. Playing house, teacher, safari, cook, or racing down the block they were my first look into the lives of what was to come for me.
As children Edith was always the shy one from the two always more reserved when it came to the outside world and not as out going as Yolanda. Yolanda was the opposite loud, outgoing, ready to storm the world. Yolanda was Edith’s protector for those who would do her harm but in the house Edith was the one that would cause them to get spanked haha. Growing up they had a freedom that Roman and I never had. They were free to wonder the streets and go play without supervision. They had the liberty to go over their friends houses or to have them over. Because of this freedom they where independent and had a courageousness that we lacked as kids. But unlike us they were restricted in things because they were girls. Like those before them learning was something treasured.
Edith was always the unlucky soul in the sense that she was the girl that other girls picked on or didn’t like for shallow stupid reason. Edith was one of the “guys”. Edith like Jorge has a smile and laugh that can brighten a room even if she denies it or says that her smile is ugly but she has it (its been a while since I’ve heard her laugh or smile like when we were kids). Growing up I pictured her as a delicate flower that had to be protected at all costs. The world wasn’t fair with her. She was/is loyal, her love was/is deep and since, she was/is beautiful but people but people would hurt her. I would sleep over a lot in her room for a time and at times I would wake up at night and hear her crying and it broke my heart and soul. I promised myself I would do all I could to never let anyone hurt her again. But she’s no longer someone who needs to be protected but she’s someone who protects. She is capable of making hard choices and taking care of business. Its because of Edith that I have a desire in my heart for worship. She was in the choir at church and would later become a worship leader and I would just see her at her strongest and most vulnerable. Her cry to serve and worship God steered my own. Its because of her along with the rest of the women in our family that God is such an important part of my life. She wont let anything or anyone steer her beliefs astray. Her anchor is in God and nothing will move that. She also inspired me to start and continue my love and desire for art.
Yolanda was always the strong one. Nothing would stand in her way not even authority. Loud and crazy just like Jorge she is the party. Always standing up for the “weak” ones or the marginalized. Standing up for justice. I admired Yolanda for the freedom and courage she demonstrated even as a child. Yolanda paved the way for me in many things being the first to graduate from UCD and living away from the family and even pursuing full-time ministry and now a masters. She is vocal always exposing us of new things. As I’ve grown I’ve realized that even the strong and independent ones need someone to fight for them and protect them. Yolanda is the only one I have that can best understand where I am in the sense that I moved out for school and also studied theology and desire to work in some form of full-time ministry. She is my dancing and singing partner in public places, my art and crafts friend, my bumming at home and face mask accomplice. She inspires me to be community focused and to stand up for justice. To go and help other become better versions of themselves and to encourage them do great thing sin their lives. She has taught me to be me and to not let anyone discourage or discredit who I am. A true sCholar she will take the world by storm.
They have showed me the power of Women. What they have to put up with in this world as women, daughters, minorities, as a mother and wife, as individuals always pursing knowledge in a world that was not made for them. I have seen first hand what it looks like to be a women through not only their lives but the lives of the women in this family. They are to be honored, loved, and respected because they have a strength that men will never know.
