I know I don't usually post things that talk about my current issues IRL but this is something I promised myself I'd always share through any medium. This is the 6th year anniversary of my cousin passing away, due to gang violence. I know that I've spent years blaming myself for this, I've gone through therapy for this, and I can honestly say insofar as I spread peace and non violence, his death is not in vain, insofar as I remember his death and remember the values he spread upon this earth his death will not be in vain.

For those of you in the area I do celebrate Dia De los Muertos, the Mexican Day of the Dead holiday on november 1st and 2nd. The purpose of this holiday is one that I've alway grown up with, the idea that the dead are only truly gone if you forget them, and that they live within us. Many people myself included create offerings, that we place on "Altars" with many candles and such, This year will be no different for me, and I always use this holiday to remember those passed to us.

I know for a fact all people have someone close that they've lost at some point or another, or if not, they can empathize with many people that have lost someone. That being said I will be at UC Riverside creating an "Altar" for him as I do every year, this year it'll be around university avenue. You usually see many other people of hispanic heritage doing the same thing, and if anyone's in the area at the time it would mean a lot to me if they could come. While it's customary to keep the altar to family members only, I never mind telling people about my cousin Phillipe, my uncle Roberto, and my grandmother Ignacia.