I belong to a large, cheerful and united family, actually I do not know how many cousins I have once tried to count them and I became a real 8, we are distributed in different states of my country Venezuela and in different places of Merida State in which I live, currently some of them are out of the country.

Every year it was customary to gather at my grandmother's house to celebrate her birthday on August 30, this celebration was extended in a long weekend, fun, where joy overflowed, definitely my favorite days of the year along with Christmas.

My beloved grandmother Rosa, represented the fundamental pillar of the family, she was very appreciated within the community, the celebration of her birthday and the end of the year party, was awaited by all friends, neighbors and primarily the family. She was a very authentic person, enthusiastic, with a noble heart, I am very grateful for her life and it was in this patio where I have the best memories of my childhood. If this yard could talk I could tell my anecdotes and stories.

So today I share with you one of the best celebrations I had the opportunity to attend, my grandmother's birthday celebrated in 2016. A very fun and special day, unfortunately the last one as months later she fell ill.

My grandmother shared her birthday with her youngest son, my uncle Reinaldo, so this day was a double celebration.

You could breathe a party atmosphere even before the party started, the party preparations were just an excuse to start the celebration a few hours earlier. My aunt was in charge of the cakes and everyone else focused on the music, food and snacks. As they say around here: the ambiance is what you make it, you don't need a big reception full of fancy centerpieces to make a party unforgettable. The best decoration is the charisma, attitude and good vibes of the guests and there was plenty of that.

From 7 o'clock at night the music was on, which alternated with the presentation of a music group that some cousins have, dance music and popular in the Andean villages, country music, colloquially called "Raspa Canillas". In a few minutes the patio was already full of couples dancing like a spinning top, laughter echoing everywhere, thus began a celebration that would end at dawn or a little later.

One of the most special and tastiest moments too, was singing her birthday and breaking the cake, seeing my grandmother surrounded by her children and grandchildren that we love her so much was really beautiful, hugs and kisses rained down for her and of course for my uncle too.

Once everyone had eaten their piece of cake, they went back to their task dancing and dancing, until dawn, many said goodbye before, making it clear that they would be back for the New Year's Eve party.

The weekend does not end there, the family celebration continued the next day, a little tired, but still eager to enjoy with the family, with a delicious roast beef and a good sancocho: Sancocho is a soup of meat, ribs, chicken or chicken with lots of vegetables that recharges the energy to anyone. While the food was playing dominoes or having a good conversation between cousins.