My father, Paul, contemplating the fishing boats in Colindres’ harbor.

On a walk in Colindres, my godfather, Tom, explains something to my Aunt Diane and cousin Olivia.

A mixed fish platter we ordered in a restaurant in Laredo.

Dining in Laredo with the family.

A birthday present from Aunt Marga.

It came in a weird little box that wasn’t obvious how to open.

Now I know what it is!

Some beautiful cuff links with “E R” engraved on them.

One, two, three, four….twenty-eight, twenty-nine!

Enjoying being the center of attention.

Directing the Happy Birthday song in both languages. It was so cool to have both families with me on my birthday.

Flames extinguished. What a metaphor for years lived, lost into the past.

Later that evening, I found about 25 photos just like this one of my sister-in-law, Belén and her boyfriend, Gorka, on my camera. That’s what you get for leaving a digital camera lying around.

This is a great picture of me and my new sister-in-law.

Later that evening in Bar Arrasate, a nicely painted bar in Mondragon. We entered at a non-bar hour and had the place more or less to ourselves. Nothing like a group of yanks to make a pre-emptive strike, invasion, and prolonged occupation with no exit strategy.

My mother, Betsy, and her two brothers, Jamie and Jack. My mother’s not as drunk as she looks.

It took a while to take drink orders, communicate them to the bartender, and take the drinks to the thirsty Americans. I learned that I have a severe lack of ability when it comes to being a waiter.

Tomás, Juan, and Pablo, sitting on a bench in a Spanish social club, looking like they couldn’t possibly belong anywhere else.

Jacob, pretending to be a connoisseur of cognac.

The irony here is that he used to date a girl named Brandy.

John and Paul hit the moonshine.

Back in my hotel room the night before the wedding, I find that my bride, either before or after she went to the emergency room because she was feeling ill, had left my suit and shoes in my room for me.

I don’t really wear size 45, but I figured being a groom’s shoes should be hard to fill. Ba-da-bum! I also got a kick out of the “Erick – Boda – 13 Octubre” scribbled on the box.

Whew! Now we’re caught up to the moment before the wedding…