<p><a href="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef013488a8114a970c-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Muertos" src="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef013488a8114a970c-500wi.jpg" title="Muertos" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.lisafieldsclark.com/mosaics-ss.htm" target="_self"><em>mosaic by Lisa Fields Clark</em></a></span></p>
<p>Today is the Day of the Dead. <em>El día de los muertos.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b5ba970b-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="20081008muertos" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b5ba970b" src="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b5ba970b-500wi.jpg" title="20081008muertos" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>image <a href="http://newsroom.unl.edu/releases/2008/10/08/%27Dia+de+los+Muertos%27+tradition+celebrated+at+Sheldon+Oct.+31-Nov.+1" target="_self">via</a></em></span></p>
<p>No one celebrates <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead" target="_self">this day like the Mexicans</a>.</p>
<p>I&#39;m not Mexican, but we grew up celebrating the holiday. Most countries with a Catholic tradition do. I remember being a child and going to the cemetery bearing flowers for people long gone who I did not know.</p>
<p>This year, for obvious reasons, the holiday -- one where we celebrate life, both the life of our deceased ancestors and the good things in this life -- has special meaning to me.</p>
<p>I am coming to terms with the death of my father. I have to. But the interesting thing is that I am also coming to term with death in general. We all have to.</p>
<p><a href="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b6da970b-pi.jpg" style="display: inline;"><img alt="Calavera_de_la_catrina" class="asset  asset-image at-xid-6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b6da970b" src="http://everydaytreats.frogandsnail.com/wp-content/uploads/6a00d8341db04e53ef0133f587b6da970b-500wi.jpg" title="Calavera_de_la_catrina" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>image <a href="http://www.wilsonsalmanac.com/book/nov1.html" target="_self">via</a></em></span></p>
<p>That sounds more morbid than it should. I don&#39;t mean it that way.</p>
<p>Which is why this day holds such special meaning for me. Death is not to be feared. It is a part of life. It is to be celebrated. And we can never forget those we love that leave before us.</p>
<p>They are in a place we do not know, but we can still share with them the world they know.</p>
<p>We are in a good place. Being alive, in this earth, at this time, is good. In fact, it&#39;s so good that the departed want come back and visit.</p>
<p>My tradition holds that they do. I love that.</p>
<p>Let&#39;s celebrate with them. For them.</p>
<p>Let&#39;s have fun.</p>
<p>
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</p>
<p>All this to say, ¡Feliz Día de los Muertos!</p>
<p>Eat, drink and be merry -- for those you love who can&#39;t be here with you and the ones that are here with you now.</p>
