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.