Christmas 1977

I keep running into old photos of my two wonderful children. This was the picture we sent out with our Christmas card in 1977. Daughter was 8 and son was 10.  All my abuelas and tias used to tell me how much they enjoyed getting pictures. I really enjoy remembering how great my children have been, and I feel so blessed.

Fresh Cut Flowers in October

Yesterday I had the picture of the mums and that brought a deluge of memories of when my dad used to sell flowers as the Dia de los Difuntos or Dia de los Muertos drew near.

We did not observe the traditions of Southern Mexico of making altares, but we did have the tradition of honoring our dead ancestors. The preparations started by going as a whole family and taking a hoe to clear weeds, a bucket to haul water, and maybe an evergreen to plant. In Robstown when I was growing up there were two cemeteries--one for the dead anglos and the other one for the dead Latin Americans (that was the term of the day). Today, there is a third cemetery (it allows any dead people) which is perpetual care, but not so in the old days. November 2nd was a holy day of obligation to attend mass in the morning, and then take fresh flowers to the graves of family members who had passed away.

In the book Hecho en Tejas, there is a chapter by Cynthia L. Vidaurri on the cemetery art in Robstown. She captured the scene very well.

Below is Dad's ad in the Robstown Record for mid October 1950. If you click on it you can read some of the other "news" going on in Robstown. A bunch of flowers sold for 50 cents! The bunch was a generous amount of chrysanthemums and/or marigolds, about 24 stems-mas o menos. I especially loved the colorful display of the flowers at our store before they were sold. At the cemetery the graves were adorned not only with the fresh cut flowers, but with other adornments, too. But it is the bright oranges and yellows that have stuck in my memory.

 

A couple of weeks later this ad ran during the first week in November 1950. He still had some of the flowers, it seems, but the featured items are green beans at 12 cents a pound. Apples are not a bad buy at 10 cents a pound.

Fresh cut flowers are prohibitively priced these days. The last time I took flowers to the cemetery they were silk flowers. The silk or plastic flowers don't require water, and I guess that's a plus, because we also have memories of the mosquitoes in my home town. But that's another story for another day . . . . .

Our Trees are Planted

The city of Anaheim has this wonderful program called Tree Power. The program will deliver up to six shade trees to a residence in the interest of saving energy and greening the city.

So shortly after returning from Texas I called the program coordinator. The young man came with a notebook with pictures of trees available. For the front we chose an orchid tree and a crepe myrtle. For the backyard we chose an avocado tree--our old one has not been very bountiful and had to go.

After a couple of weeks the trees were delivered, but then we had to actually plant them! That's where a wonderful service organization comes to the rescue. GOALS (Growth Opportunities through Athletics Learning and Service) is a Disney group started back when Mr Eisner was the chief there. Daniel and Les came this morning with shovels, a tarp, and not much else but brawn, politeness and a big dosage of goodwill. These two young men (Les came all the way from Riverside) are not professional gardeners, just two service-oriented young men. They asked for nothing, but Hubby gave them some of our Kadota figs. All they accepted from me was a cold drink of water.

Here is one of the trees that they planted for us. We will have to stake the trees next week when we borrow the equipment from the city.

I can now try to continue with the fall planting. Here are some of the chrysanthemums I picked up at Lowe's last week. I am looking forward to filling in some other spots in the front yard.

Time to Wake Up and Think of Robstown

I have been asleep all day. My appointment with the periodontist was at 9 a.m. this morning, but I was instructed to take the meds one hour before. By the time Hubby drove me to the appointment, I was already sleepy and then I slept through the whole procedure. I don't remember much of anything except that Hubby picked me up and said something about lunch time as he led me to the car.

This is the way to go to a dentist, endodontist or periodontist appointment. Make it a forgettable experience. I need to go back in a week so he can remove sutures! He did suturing??

So now after sleeping all day long, I hope I can get a good night's rest. Last night I was a bundle of nerves thinking of what today's visit was going to be. Glad that it went OK. The Dr. even called me earlier this evening. I don't remember what he looked like. But I guess he is a good doctor.

Today I had intended to talk about my hometown, Robstown. My brother phoned me last night excited because he had closed a good business deal with someone whose wife was a native of Robe or Robestán. That is the Tex-Mex term used sometimes to ridicule our little burg, but also sometimes to speak of it with pride and love.  My sister, my brother and I were all born in Robstown and graduated from Robstown High School. After high school I worked a year before resuming my education, marrying and winding up in California. But my connection to Robstown is never really broken. My sis and her husband are pillars of the community in Robstown and will probably remain there until their last days.

 

This picture taken at my sister's home last month. The one who steals the shot is that cutie of a grandson, of course.

Four and half years ago

It hardly seems possible that it has been that long. Mom's last visit in California was four and a half years ago. This is probablyone of the last photos we took at our home. The flowers were sent to me by daughter because I was celebrating a birthday. Mom had stated she wanted to be with me for my birthday, and then she wanted to return to Robstown. I was happy to have her with us for the celebration.

Gifted

Earlier this week I ran into a Panda Express and picked up their Orange Chicken. Along with the chow mien, fried rice, egg roll, I also was given the ubiquitous fortune cookie. I couldn’t finish all that was dished out, so saved the leftovers in the fridge. Sunday night is the traditional clear the fridge of things that are growing a culture because the trash truck comes tomorrow morning.

I had a chance to finally open my fortune cookie and this is what it said.

It made me feel great because it was stating the very obvious. I am not taking this to mean that I am a person of many talents as being gifted. I am taking this to mean that I have been gifted with a great family. My immediate family gives me unconditional love and support, and I reciprocate always.

Going back one generation, my mom, dad, sister and brother were also a great gift. La Familia is the greatest gift in the Latino family. No matter what came, Mama Tina always kept the family together—contra viento y marea—we always had a united clan.

 

 

This photo was taken the summer of 1957: Sis was in nursing school in Corpus Christi, I had just graduated from high school, our sweet baby brother was four years old and probably learning to ride his tricycle. My Dad certainly has the look of pride in picture (Mom was taking the picture).

Remembering the Girl Scout Experience

I saw a story on the news tonight regarding the Girl Scouts. The story had to do with Muslim girls joining and being able to keep their head cover and dress and still do the “girl scout thing.”

 That brought memories of our relationship with that great organization. My daughter joined as a Brownie and continued through the Junior stage. She did not continue to the Cadet stage primarily because she became so engaged in music. Music continues to be one of her passions in life.

Both Hubby and I took active volunteer roles as Registrar for our area and taking charge of the cookie sales for a few years for our troop. I miss getting those thin mint cookies for $2.00 a box.

Below is a picture taken at one of the camp outs with our daughter and her friend having fun.

Mama and the Bishop's Chair

Mom came to stay with us for a few months in California after Dad passed away. We really enjoyed having her with us, and I think she shared more family stories at that time than before.

We visited the then newly-opened Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels more than once. Because she experienced some difficulty in walking, the staff provided a wheel chair for her.

Son delighted in pushing her through the tour. When we went up to the altar, and there was no sign to forbid it, Mom decided she wanted to sit on the Bishop’s Chair. Mom was barely five feet tall, and she looks even smaller sitting here. Mom always had a great sense of humor.

Recovering Lost Documents and Juan de Oñate

My hard drive crashed almost a year ago. Fortunately it was an external drive, so there was some hope. We took the sick drive to a Mac doctor in the county. He was able to recover many, many thousands of documents and images.

I sighed in relief that all was not lost. There were some documents and images that could not be rescued, but I’ll never know which ones they were. When I went to the rescuer’s workroom (his garage), he gave me a quick illustration of how he had organized the saved items. Documents alone numbered in the thousands and thousands. Now all I have to do is open each one, identify what it is, give it a proper name so that I may retrieve it with ease, and organize it in folders, etc. The dates that the photos were taken or word documents created all have a November 2007, which is when he recovered the files.

So, when I get a few moments to spare, I start opening files, never knowing what I'm going to find. I confess that many of the documents could have been trashed a long time ago, but others, I am glad to have back.

Today, I ran into some extractions I had taken from Juan Antonio Esquibel’s web site. This particular Word document has to do with his lineage to his ancestor Juan de Oñate.

Last May I went on a dream-fulfilling trip to the Copper Canyon in Chihuahua. To get there I had to fly in to El Paso. At the entrance of the El Paso airport is this tremendously huge equestrian statue of Don Juan de Oñate. There was a lot of controversy before the statue was finally installed and dedicated. Maybe there still is. I can understand both sides in this controversy. Juan de Oñate was a cruel, ruthless man who killed many of the natives according to historians, and he was also a great conquistador, greatly impacting the settling of Europeans in New Mexico. I try not to judge my ancestors—and, Oñate is also one of my ancestors.

 

 

Fireworks in Mexico

Mexican Independence Day. This being a day of celebration for the Mexican population, I thought I would share a photo that was taken in Saltillo, Coahuila a couple of years ago (mas or menos). My daughter and I joined a genealogical group from San Antonio for a week of researching, sightseeing, shopping and enjoying the good company of our hosts /guides in Saltillo.

The city was also having a big celebration because it was some milestone anniversary of the founding, but, we don't really need much of an excuse to start a celebration. The main plaza was crowded shoulder to shoulder to listen to the music of about three different groups. After that came the firework display immediately in front of the Cathedral. I don't recall whether my daughter or I took this photo, but it brings good memories of good times.

The heat is back. We had been having beautiful weather in the low 80s, but today got up in the 90s. One of the favorite times for me is January-February when the air is clear enough for us to catch glimpse of the snowcaps a some miles north of Anaheim.

I took this picture on such a day from the top level of the parking structure in downtown Anaheim. During other times of the year we do not get to see this scene often enough.

Our Fruit Stand

I am back, and am feeling a little better. Busy, busy as ever, though. The older we get, it seems we have more doctor/dentist appointments.

Believe it or not, I am now thinking of what I want to do for Christmas. I am hoping my grandson comes to visit us again. He will be almost a year old by then. Time does fly that first year of the baby's life. No, that's not grandson in picture below.

 

This is Hubby and our one-year old son. Son will be 41 years old next month. The background is somewhere along the California coast, but I don't remember exactly where.

But thoughts of Christmas also brought me the memories of my family and our store on Main Street. I love the smell of Christmas, because Dad sold Christmas trees, apples, lots of citrus, and I remember all the nuts-- pecans, almonds, walnuts, filberts, and those really hard to crack Brazil nuts. 

While doing research at the UT History Library last month I was able to find the Robstown Record ad that Dad ran in December 1949.

Note a few things: If you click on the picture you will be able to read even the fine print.

The phone number was all of three digits. There is no street address given in the ad--everyone knew where the business was. I thought it would be fun to include part of the ad for the Palace Theatre. Of course, amazing is how the cost of living has changed since then--one avocado for 16 cents! I loved watching Mom and Dad packing those fruit baskets for shipping.

Naturalization of my Grandmother, Maria

My Mama Mere came to Eagle Pass in 1919 with her husband Sabino Rodriguez. He brought the family from Mexico, just as many others were doing because of the Revolution and the unrest in that country. The employment that he could find was working in the Seco Mines digging for coal. There were other crossings, but by the early 1920s the family had gone to do farm labor in Petronila and Robstown farms before moving into town in the biggest little town in Texas, Robstown. Picking cotton was what brought many families to Robstown. Many were there only during cotton-picking season and moved away. Our family  built roots in the community. My dad and his uncle worked at the McCarrick sheds packing produce for shipping to other parts of the country. Then my dad had his own business on Main Street. And, they lived in Robstown until their death.

It took my Grandmother about 48 years to finally petition her intent to become a US citizen. I don't think she ever intended to go back to Mexico to live, although she did at times talked about  some land that might have been her husband's because he had been a Capitán Primero in the federal army. I never heard her ever state that she thought life would be better in Mexico.

Last month I contacted the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas, in Corpus Christi. I asked for and received a copy of the stub for the certificate of admission of several members of my family. Below is the record for Mama Mere.

 

Looking back on her life, I hope that Mama Mere had a good life. I could never be sure of the stories she told us when we were young children. That's difficult when as a genealogist one likes to have precise dates, places, etc. This card states her birthdate as 10/2/1898, but her baptismal certificate indicated she was baptized on 1/8/1897 and that she was born 12/25/1896.

Happy Birthday, Baby Girl

Today is a very special day. It is Baby Girl's birthday.

 

Since the day that you were born, we knew you would be the one to make our young family complete. About all you did those first couple of months was sleep and eat, and required diaper changes. 

  

By the time you were three months old, you were showing a personality. You were a happy baby, and thrived on our loving attention.

  

At eleven months you were meeting all your developmental milestones. The pediatrician and I were certain that you had read Dr. Spock's book yourself. 

Inquisitive, that would best describe you. You were a delight to watch as you were learning that first year of your life. And, as you started to talk, the questions came endlessly.

Now that you are a mommy yourself, you will cherish those moments in your child's developments, too. Somewhere I read that Carl Sandburg said that a baby is God's opinion that life should go on. Our own Baby Girl is continuing that life. We love you and wish you the best on your birthday and always. 

Future Teachers in Robstown

I recently received this photo from a former class mate. I do not remember when this photo was taken, but this much is true. I was a member of the Future Teacher of America while in high school. I did become a high school teacher. I do not have a recollection of posing for this picture. Some of the faces are familiar to me: some of the "adults" were teachers or administrators. The other two girls I remember very well because we were in same classes. The mayor of Robstown is also in the photo. I hope that the "Amendment 4" passed, but I don't know.

I did follow through on becoming a teacher, and I think of it as a noble career. The pay was never great, but it was rewarding to know that your work made a difference in this world. And, it was while  I was working as a teacher that I met Hubby.

Although I am now retired, I still enjoy teaching. I now teach people how to start researching their family history.

Little Red Chair

We are back home. Had a great time in Texas, so happy to see our daughter and grandson, but it is always nice to get back to "home sweet home." I caught a cold while in Texas, and the pressurized cabin in our airplane caused extreme pain to my clogged ears. But, otherwise, the air travel was uneventful. The Edgar Winters Band members were on the same flight with us, but they did not play anything.

Family--that was the reason for this trip. A visit with my sister and her husband was way too short, but there is never enough time to catch up. Visit by Hubby's cousin, her husband, daughter and son-in-law was  such a welcomed happening, too. My visit to the Center for American History at my old alma mater, University of Texas, was fruitful, and I'll post more on that, later.

The center of attention for all the family involved, of course was my handsome grandson. He is now 7 1/2 months old, is crawling, pulls to stand, eats all his veggies, makes faces when he is fed apple sauce, and is curious about everything and everyone around him. Here he is very interested in the 73-year-old red chair gifted to him by his grand uncle.