GROOMSMAN
SANTIAGO ESTRADA
Santiago is the eldest of the brothers.
He’s the only one among us who was blessed to have known and experienced life with our late sister Sandra for the two short years of her life. But Santiago did his best to share with us all that he could remember about her—one of the many things I’m utterly grateful for when it comes to my brother, Santiago.
I have lots of fond memories of Santiago growing up. One in particular, is when he once chased me down the hill as I leaped like a goat from rock to rock all because I made a sandwich right after he specifically asked me not to make a mess in the kitchen that he just cleaned.
He never caught me—and I don’t even remember if I managed to eat my sandwich—but that was one of the funniest memories I have growing up with him.
Santiago was instrumental in my transitioning into adulthood. He introduced me to a lot of fun activities such as cruising Bristol street in Santa Ana, taking me in on the weekends and allowing me to tag along to parties, and DJ-ing together—I was the spin master and Santiago was the MC.
I love Santiago’s subtle ways of showing me he loves me simply by giving me landscape rocks, leaving bags of mulch on my driveway, and bringing me a tall one (beer) when he knows I’m working on my yard, and many other simple but meaningful gestures. Simply put, he knows what makes me happy and he delivers it to my doorstep.
These are the things that I admire about Santiago and are most impactful in my life because they remind me of what a great Big Brother he truly is. He’s resolute when it comes to his principles and he can “stick to his guns” when he knows he has a valid point, but he also considers other people’s views and knows how to respectfully “agree to disagree”.
It means so much to me to have my brother Santiago alongside me, and to be able to share this very important event with him.
FUN FACTS ABOUT SANTIAGO:
Santiago loves watching Three’s Company re-runs.
His favorite food in the world is his mom’s Enchiladas.
He loves to travel, and if he could only get on a plane today, he would.
He has eaten a burger and drank a cold beer in every country and state that he’s visited.
He was the Salutatorian of his graduating class in high school.
Written by Bernie