After graduating from college in sunny southern California, I found a job as an administrative assistant. Housing was a bit of a problem ... the only apartment cheap enough to live alone on my modest salary had a mariachi band permanently encamped beneath my bedroom window. I also was the only tenant in the building whose first language was English.

I was going through a "minimalist" phase. I could fit all my earthly possessions in the back seat of my car. And so, the children in the complex soon discovered the wide open expanses of my living room floor and invited themselves over for cookies and milk and cartwheels on my thick blue carpet. Every day after work, I found the crayon-and-drawing-paper notes taped to my front door. "Tia Jaide, can we come and play with you? Check yes or no."

That first year, shortly after Easter, I received an invitation to a baptism party for the baby sister of one of my little friends. I arrived at the prescribed hour to find everyone still getting ready. An hour and several margaritas later, someone lugged in a converted oil barrel full of steaming barbecue. Dinner was served.

Taking a bite of the tortilla-wrapped delicacy, I made an appreciative noise and asked, "Como se dice?"

The entire table burst into laughter. Finally, one of them finally managed to blurt, "Cabrito."

Sadly, my Spanish vocabulary extended only to chicken. "Que?"

My host placed his fingers, hornlike, on either side of his ears and bleeted. "MAAAH!"

I was eating goat. And I was liking it.

My year in Alhambra gave me many fond memories, and I've often wondered what happened to my little friends. I'm pretty sure they are now grown with families of their own. With any luck, they've found another crazy gringa to liven up their parties.

Me? I recall my honorary Mexican roots by celebrating Cinco de Mayo every year. This year ... we're having a party at South Arbor!

Tomorrow evening, May 5, the South Arbor Booster Club is hosting South Arbor Academy's first "Cinco de Mayo" celebration! This community event runs from 5-7 p.m., and includes food, games, pinatas, crafts, raffles and all kinds of family fun. Adult tickets are $6; children are $4. All proceeds benefit the educational environment of South Arbor Charter Academy -- we are trying to raise money to give our teachers a classroom spending allowanc and to purchase playground equipment.

Won't you please join us? South Arbor Charter Academy is at 8200 Carpenter Road (between Bemis and Willis) in Ypsilanti.

Heidi Hess Saxton is a contributor on the Parenting channel of AnnArbor.com. You can reach her via e-mail at heidi.hess.saxton@gmail.com