Three Kings Day

............ Slowly but surely we start the pilgrimage to the family farm .......... There awaits the source of our joy, a suckling pig, to be roasted slowly over a charcoal fire.............
Mountains are covered with a light mist, the morning's chill. Dad always said is was the mountains bedsheet........... miss him a bunch .

Far away from the bustle of the city, we arrive carrying victuals for breakfast; fresh baked bread, cheddar cheese and some sliced ham .Mom always had us eat a hearty breakfast before starting the days work. Ready for coffee amoungst the aroma of burning charcoal and the wetness from the morning drizzle. I love these mountains !!!!!!! All green and fresh , hidden away like a jewel nestled in mist.

Like clockwork , we all fall into the roles of a life more simple : men outside dealing with charcoal , stoves, chilling the beer and cleaning up the area, women in the kitchen , the heart of the house surrounded by pots and pans, children under the Christmas tree, teenagers all over the place......... some helping , some not .....and we re-discover, in every move, the real meaning of family and the true presents that the Three Kings bring to our family.

Finally it is time to chop up the pig, thrown down on a banana leaf covered table, devested of its crunchy skin............ I do the honors of "Queen of the Cleaver" and make short work of breaking him.......or was it a her ??? .....into managable portions. Saving tender special morsels, such as the sweet pork cheeks or succulent ribs, to share with long missed loved ones............ pork fat dribbling, smiles and lame scolds.............. Groaning table laden with all the goodies of the season; pasteles, cilantro rice, beans, salads, country chicken fricassee, boiled root vegetables .......... all a homage to the "lechon asado" .........guests arrive carrying offerings of coquito and desserts......... and music suddenly materializes in the form of a native drum and a guiro...............This is our Three Kings Day.

Bygones melt away, no criticism is thrown around , no fingers pointed and we are all happy to be together............... because no matter what happens the rest of the year , we will always have Three Kings Day