SEBASTIAN / A Story Told as a Country Song

SEBASTIAN / A Story Told as a Country Song

No one suspected that he was forming in his mother's womb, the one who would occupy the fourth and last place in the list of siblings.

Shortly after receiving the unexpected and joyful news, as the family expedition to the Petén jungle was ending, it was decided that he would be named Sebastian. The charming and attentive resident, Spider Monkey, representing the jungle, was present and nodded in approval, and then howled to inform those who were attentively awaiting the news in the jungle.

This vibrant soul, in his early years, contrasted sharply with his siblings: introverted, serious, and a man of few words; he embraced freedom, manifested in his rebellious nature, without even knowing that it is a human right.

He hadn't even turned four yet when he showed courage by serving as a model for designing, building, and testing the safety of extreme activities: giant swings, canopy tours, and rappelling down the waterfalls of the Tatasirire Nature Reserve. At the end of the process, it was concluded that if it was safe for the youngest member of an adventurous family, it would be safe for everyone.

On one of the visits, his grandfather Tomás took him fishing in the reservoir on one of his farms, on the outskirts of Jalapa. With a cast net in hand, he showed him how to cast to catch tilapia.

At the age of eight, on his grandfather's birthday, upon seeing a piñata ready to be hit in the yard, he lit it as if it were a bonfire, thus changing its fate. This alarmed the guests, but once the initial shock subsided, everyone seemed to be enjoying the moment.

Charming is the word that describes him. With a pleasant and supportive personality, he possessed artistic skills in painting, photography, and especially filmmaking; he was inclined towards self-education, curiosity, and creativity.

His first nephew, Mateo, dubbed him the superhero TIAN, the one who drives a super-fast car.

At dawn, somewhat confused, he gazed at the deep, clear sky, wondering, "Is flying my calling?" Then, looking at the horizon, a paved road, unable to see the end, he concluded, "Speed ​​is key to takeoff." With gloves on the wheel and boots on the pedals, he longed to fly. He accelerated so much, to the extreme, that the European sedan's engine seized, without even attempting to take flight. I remember when he said, "Having a European car and not accelerating it, what's the point?"

Optimistic, he decided to try again with another sedan, but to his surprise, the engine was faulty, so he had to replace it. During that time, he learned how it worked and proceeded to fix it himself, with the help of his fellow acceleration enthusiasts.

The now self-taught mechanic went from refusing to change a flat tire to disassembling and repairing it.

In the end, the wind taught him that accelerating prudently on asphalt is his forte.

MARIANO Portillo
August 26, 2025