I remembered that on my birthday, my dad asked me if I would ever take a weekend trip to León with him, the place where he is from. I said yes, but I think he thought I wasn’t being serious. Well, in mid-July, he called and asked if I was still down to take a short trip in August. What an active month! I made it work somehow and got that weekend off. It had been 23 years since I last had been to León, Guanajuato, Mexico. I was anxious, excited, a little scared, but happy—just my dad and me on a weekend trip. My husband wasn’t so thrilled; I don’t think he thought the trip was ever going to happen. I bid farewell to him and the kiddos, and off we went.

Arriving at my grandma’s home brought back an immediate wave of melancholy; the very aroma of the place awakened a flood of old memories. It was deeply bittersweet. Seeing her after so many years was heartwarming, yet it also saddened me. She’s no longer the rambunctious person she was when I last saw her. Nowadays, her mobility is limited, and she appears frail and small—a quiet, heavy reminder of her mortality. Yet, her speech is as colorful as ever. She still possesses a vibrant spirit that instantly brings a smile to my face. While meeting so much family all at once felt overwhelming, it ultimately brought me joy. It was a reunion that was long overdue.

My diet (if I was on one), went out the window on this trip. The food was amazing. I was okay with one serving, but my aunt kept giving me seconds and I just couldn’t say no. So delicious everything was. And the coffee! OMG, the coffee. It just tastes so much better than back home.

After a lot of hugs and chatter, my dad took me to Guanajuato to check out the famous mummies, a mine, and El Pípila. I still remember seeing the mummies the last time I visited León. The place felt bigger back then,but that is possibly because I was smaller and younger. It would have been ideal to spend a whole day in Guanajuato, but catching up with family took up a good portion of our day, which only gave us about three hours to explore afterward. It’s a place worth returning to, though. There are many mines throughout the city, and not all are the same. I remember when I was younger, we actually went deep underground into one and felt the temperature change; it was such a cool experience. I think my favorite part of this trip was the amazing view of the city. It was colorful and so full of life. I definitely want to come back to walk around and explore the city more.

The next day was the wedding of my first cousin. I was able to catch up on sleep and enjoyed a little bit of downtime before it was time to get ready.

The bride looked so beautiful. Since it was a family party, we were going to be there until the end. I was mentally preparing myself to party all night. Overall, it was so much fun.

The morning after, I woke up tired but luckily had no hangover. After having menudo for breakfast, my uncle showed us around the ranch, everyone’s homes, and some future projects.

It was a mini reunion when we got back home. My grandmother made pozole as a farewell meal. I’m going to miss her cooking. Goodbyes aren’t ever easy and it wasn’t. If only I was there longer than 3 days. The time just flew by so quick. After this wonderful experience, I want to come back with my husband and kids.

I was sad but happy to be going back to my kids and husband. Being surround by so much family made me value what I have. I know it can be overwhelming at times but I’m grateful overall.

Lately, I’ve been so unsure of things and where my life is headed. August turned out to be a month of self-reflection. The family cruise was fun, but it left me feeling stressed afterward. Camping at Joshua Tree with my work friends gave me a different perspective on things and this trip had me looking back on old connections and new beginnings. Who knew my August was going to be so deep.

I came home to hugs, kisses, and flowers—and maybe this is exactly what I needed. I had to go away for a bit to get clarity on what I would truly be losing if I chose to leave my marriage. The moment I hugged my husband, it hit me just how much I had missed him. There is a deep familiarity there that is just so comforting. The love between us will always remain. It’s not the passionate love from our early years as newlyweds, but it is a lasting, enduring love that I will always hold for him. Ultimately, this space didn’t just help me; it completely renewed my connection with my spouse and my kids.