I got to use this today from Starbucks but I had to get a mint tea because I’m sick…WTF? My co-workers bought me a Cookies N’ Cream cake and my lady is gonna have her family make me one, two or all of the following: torrejas, chiles rellenos and this one plate that every time I eat it I’m like Toothpick grubbing from Don’t Be A Menace.

My father, Don Elias, turns 61 today. Wow! Sixty-One (3 years shy of that Beatles song) That’s insane, I’ve been telling people my dad is young, that “he’s like 50 something. I think like early 50s.” Not anymore. Our old man is 61 and as he told me over the phone today, “ya voy en la bajada.” Luckily for him, my siblings and I have done a pretty amazing job with giving him and my mother some beautiful grandchildren to pump some youth back into them. I can’t wait until the day comes that I can hand him over my son and say “Here you go dad, I want you to meet my son.” I know it will be just one of the many pleasures Lissette and I will enjoy, sharing our little one with family.

Gifts in the form of shirts and socks are no more for my dad. I stopped doing that a few years ago and even though it can mostly be attributed to me being lazy, I always manage to send him something special. Below is what I sent him: a card with words that only he and I know what they mean and then the latest ultrasound picture of my son. If you’re having trouble figuring it out, it’s basically a picture of his face and he’s looking right at you. Pretty neat huh? The frame I made out of a used cardboard vinyl box. I’m crafty.

Stuff like that up there gets me emotional these days and then my brother goes on and blogs about THIS just this morning? Nombre…How lucky am I? Very much so, I say. Usually thinking about all these things and how they make me feel to be so fortunate to be where I am right now in regards to family, is the best way to stroll right into my birthday tomorrow. I’ll be by the phone tomorrow, waiting for my dad to call me and see how he liked his gift.

Happy Birthday, Dad! Can’t wait to share Father’s Day next year with all the Cornejo men!

Today is Jimmy’s birthday. My one and only brother and probably one of the best people one could ever ask for in their life. A true gem to have in our family. If our family had custom made wallets to distinguish each other’s personality, he’d be the one sporting the wallet that reads “Bad Motherfucker.” I love this guy. I wanted to honor him properly by posting a little bit about how much my broseff means to me.

 The card I got for Jimmy. My Rocky fascination stemmed from him.

I’ve heard this phrase practically all my life: “Y este es le Yimmy?” Now, I’ll admit, I used to get irritated by it. I used to think, “Why does everyone think I’m my brother? Damn. We really don’t look that alike and…” I wondered how come I wasn’t special enough to be remembered. Truth of the matter is, my brother did great things in his life and still continues to do so. He’s always looking for the best opportunity for himself, his own family and our family. So he’s become some kind of legend in our family. No lie. No one might know what he does at work but they know “que trabaja pa la NASA.” They may not know what he went through and the hustle he took on to get there but he’s earned people admiring him for where he’s at now. I do too. As I got older and people would still think I’m him, I took it as a compliment really. They’d see me and say “que soy un gran muchachon. Que simpatico se a hecho.” So then I’d think that if in seeing me, they see me my brother in me, then that can’t be a bad thing. As a matter of fact it’s a great thing. I may not have the same types of accomplishments my brother has but my momma done raised 3 great respectable children and if that comes across when they see us and they only remember my brother, then I’m honored by it. I was born at a time where our family starting growing apart and they don’t remember a dirty lil’ kid (me) running around, but a young man who was growing up which was my brother at the time that family started to distance themselves. Nowadays, I say “No, I’m not Jimmy. I’m Alex. The youngest one but let me tell you about Jimmy, he’s doing GREAT!” I’m proud to tell them how successful he’s become.

A birthday celebration in El Salvador. I had a front row seat (left).

 In my life, I’ve gotten two “it’s your turn to be a man” speeches. One came from my father when my parents were divorcing and the other came via a letter my brother wrote at the time of my parent’s marital storm. It was a side of my brother that I never got to experience much in person, maybe that’s why he wrote it out to me, but nevertheless it was a very significant thing for me to receive from him at that point in my life. It was heavy. It was emotional. It was sincere. It was brotherly love. I’ll never forget it. Always watching out for me back then. Even to this day he grinds on me about what am I doing. “What more are you going to do? What are your plans for the next few years? What are your plans for the next 10 years?” And I get uneasy about it because I really don’t know sometimes but him asking me let’s me think “Shit, what the fuck am I gonna do for the next 5-10 years?” I know he doesn’t expect an immediate answer (maybe one day I’ll have a really good one for him) but he knows he’s making me think, making me evaluate things in my life and that’s what he wants. And it’s working bro, big time.

His graduation from Da Beach. Cal State Long Beach.

 I could go on for hours about all the great big brother things he’s done for me and the brother he’s been to our older sister, Sari. He’s nothing short of amazing. Always looking out for us and extending that “if you need anything, you just let me know.” You know how some people say that to you and really don’t mean it? Not this guy, in every way possible he means it. I know firsthand. Just as he’s been a great brother he’s been a great son as well. My parents, if asked to describe Jimmy in 3 words, they’ll probably tear up in gathering up the first one probably the same way as I broke down at his wedding during my best man speech. I was trying to freestyle it and explain how truly happy I was for him and Miraida and man, it was like a countdown to tears, “Well, I just want to say that *BLAST OFF!!*” My composure threw in the towel and I was in it. What a great day that was.

The three chill’rren. Jimmy, Sari and Alex.

 I was having a conversation with an uncle of mine yesterday that I rarely see and we were catching up on family stories. He was telling me how his kids were doing and I was telling him how my father and brother and sister were doing. At some point, Tio Nelson dives into a story about my father and how everyone admired him back in the days. My father was known back then as an honorable hustler (nothing shady, just straight up hard work), always looking to make that extra money for his family and make sure his kids were taken care of, never settling. As I listened I kept thinking to myself “Just like Jimmy. That’s just how he is. Always trying to look for that better opportunity.” He’s a true inspiration that Big Jim. I’ve learned a lot from him and mostly importantly continue to do so. And these days I can even take notes on how to be a great father. That Nicholas, my godson, is one lucky little fella. Seeing Nicholas and Jimmy together brings such a joy to my heart and to anyone who witnesses it. It’s amazing how great he is to that kid.

I think this was Prom or a very fancy family dinner at Shakey’s Pizza.

 If I dive into how great of a husband he is and the other hundred roles my brother plays, this will be the never ending post. You want to hear how great of a husband he is, I think Miraida is gonna have to start her own blog.

Big Jim, nephew Adrian and our lovely sister Sari. One of my favorite pictures.

 Love you Big Brotha! Happy Birthday!

This is how we do at Disneyland. Always got my back, big ears and all. Love his helmet hair.

One of my cousin Irma’s Piñatas. Que no les de embidia.