My little Palanca

It's Friday and I'm happy. Why, you ask? I'll tell you why. It's certainly not because of my technical skills. I've probably spent the better part of the hour trying to upload a picture of my niece. My sister-in-law asked me to write a letter of Palanca for Kayla's upcoming retreat as a candidate for her upcoming confirmation. Apparently "palanca" means lever in Spanish. Being one of probably only about five college graduates worldwide who eked out a degree WITHOUT taking a foreign language, this word was not in my intellectual database. Though, I do find it interesting, so I did a little research. The Latin term originates from palanga which is a carrying log, trunk or roller that can be used to lift things. In this case, I'm supposed to create a letter, acting as a lever, to lift Kayla up.

Talk about an easy task. Kayla is sweet and considerate. I don't get to see her often, but she always calls or texts to check on me. This is not common behavior for a teenager. Most teens have better things to do than check in with their crazy aunt in Phoenix. Come to think of it she's more of a Palanka for me. She's always happy and upbeat. I can't help but smile when thinking of her. Now, I'm quite sure her parents will question why I used this picture of her, but this was a no brainer. This is a phone screenshot I took once when we were Facetiming. You've probably already easily surmised I failed to take any photography courses in college either; however, this picture embodies Kayla. At least to me anyway. It's hard to tell, but this is actually a cardboard cutout of her. I think it was made for a birthday party. While we were on the phone she was holding this up. I LOVED it. Look at that hair. I would love to say she gets her luscious locks from me, but we're related by marriage, in this life anyway. But I know we're soul sisters at heart.

Look at that smile. I'm fairly certain this was a facetime call we had while I was recovering from brain surgery, my infamous craniotomy in 2020. At that point in time my hair looked like crap. And I'm being nice. Seeing Kayla's glorious mane "lifted me up." It reminded me that hair grows back.

Kayla is actually the palanca for me. I'm so jealous. I want a cardboard cutout of myself. It would take a lot, (and I mean ALOT) of airbrushing. And can we talk about that Bahama bronze tan she's sporting. I wish I had the confidence to keep a blowup of myself just hanging around the house. No makeup. How badass is that!

I'll edit and reformat this for Kayla's letter. This is for a church function, but personally, if I had the chance, I would be willing to argue with anyone in the church that being a palanca in someone's life is the epitome of badassness. Now that I think about it there is a bible verse about lifting others up.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Yeah, yeah, I know my semantics could and probably are considered crude by some, but I'm just being real with ya. If the bible is up for interpretation, then I choose to believe God expects us all to lift each other up - and in BABs terminology that's what we call badassness. PERIOD!

Who do you have as a palanca in your life? Do you have one that calls you when you're down? Someone with luscious locks who makes you smile. And maybe, even someone who inspires you to get a life size blow-up of yourself. If the answer is no, you're missing out!