A conversation recorded three years ago today, in which I say something that is incredibly difficult for my family members to say to one another. Some of it is in Spanish, most of which is indecipherable to me.

JP: I want to say something.

PM: Okay.

JP: This is a bit different, and might be a little hard sometimes. I… It’s not easy for me to say to my family… that I love you and I’m very happy to have you in my life.

JP: I know that we’ve been separated more than we’ve been together but it’s, you know… the past is past, and I have learned many things from you. I’m thankful that in these later years of mine and yours that we have reconnected. Poco a poco we get to be together a little bit, and we get to have fun. You have shown me your world and I have shown you mine.

PM: Yeah.

JP: I’m very happy to have you as a father, so…

PM: You couldn’t do much about it!

JP: No, I’ve had no control over that….

PM: What’s the question?

JP: It’s simply a statement. I’m gonna refute that for a moment. While I cannot choose my father, I can choose whether or how to interact with my father. I know people who have turned away from their families.

JP: I’m glad that we have this connection. The things I’ve learned, some of the things that I’ve discovered that I have naturally are a part of you–and also a part of John–the play with words, the appreciation for art… you know? I’m very, very lucky.

Ivonne: [speaking in Spanish, then…] You can’t choose the father, you can choose to prefer you like to develop for yourself. [More Spanish.]

PM: She’s doing it again!

IM: [More Spanish]

PM: Tu puedes, pero no quieres.

IM: [More Spanish]

JP: Do you have any translations I need to add for now?

PM: From that?

JP: Or earlier? Just curious whether there’s something I need to capture now or can wait until later when I have better Spanish skills.

PM: She’s saying that you and I have matured to the point where we can make contact that would have been difficult at certain times. That’s the sum of it.

JP: Muy bien.

PM: [More Spanish]