Dear El Paso

Dear El Paso,
I've been in my hometown for nearly two months and it's funny how so much changes and still how so many things stay the same. The two things I've noticed most though is that people forget, and they forget a lot.
Gratefully, I've been blessed with a memory (not as good as Mormon's, but pretty darn close!). I've been able to remind people of better times and even cause a few smiles that might not have been shared otherwise. With this great memory though comes the problem of remembering great betrayals . . . .
When I was younger someone close to me did something inappropriate and basically got away with it, but rather than learn he stays in his own harmful ways of repeating the past. Though I've forgiven him, he's never actually asked for forgiveness and until he does full forgiveness can't truly be given. Sadly, this man refuses to listen and I don't know if that has to do with my age, my attitude, or my gender, but whatever his reasoning in staying bitter and acting sweet I can't say. I did mention I wouldn't cry at his funeral and I honestly won't, we all die, but if he doesn't change or bother asking for forgiveness in the proper manner I won't shed a tear when he passes through the veil to the other side. On the other side of the veil he'll have to deal with his wife and though I don't know what she'll say I know she'd agree with me being that she was my shield, my foundation, and my hope for a better world. She allowed me the opportunities growing up to help make me who I am today and I know that it is because she loves me that I'm protected by her and all of her family is on the other side of the veil. I don't know when I'll see her again, but I do know that she makes sure that I am always learning and have opportunities to better the world and myself in marvelous ways.
As for the things that have changed my sister in the past year has attained two stations that I can't wait to one day share with her (considering all goes well) and that's being a wife and soon she'll be a mother. She said I'll make a great aunt and my self proclaimed title is Auntia (because Tia in Spanish is Aunt and we're a Mexican/Spanish/Irish blend predominately) and I can't wait!!!! This morning I watched her say good-bye to her husband who works in the Army and it was in the quiet moment when I should've been sleeping that I saw a sweet, gentle exchange of love I can't wait to one day have with my future husband (I don't know when that'll be, but it will be great).
Life will always be there to challenge us, but we ultimately choose how amazing life will or will not be by being whom the Lord needs us to be in this time and age of the world.
I know that families are for eternity and we're given two on this Earth: the one we're born into and the one we create,
and I leave you with my testimony of the family as the central unit because each of us matter and Christ died for each of us so that we could have the better part, an opportunity to live with Him once more,
and I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.