Daddy Memories From My Cousin

December 20, 2017

After my cousin, Angelica, read my post yesterday, she shared this funny memory with me.

La pieza favorita de tu papá, y el canijo la chiflaba hasta en misa, era Negro José y la familia siempre lo recuerda cuando la escuchamos.

The favorite piece of your dad, and your pigheaded stubborn dad would even whistle it at mass, was Negro José and the family always remembers it when we hear it.

This made me LOL!

I do remember him whistling all the time. Here's Negro José (click to listen). I'll have to add it to my repertoire as well and, I'll have to listen to the lyrics and try to figure out why he liked it so much. By the way, his name was José.

Other things my cousin told me was that our grandmother was Celia Emelina Vallejos. She married my grandfather, Rudesindo Ayala. My Tia Soco, did marry in the US but only for a Green Card. She died of arthritis.

Daddy

December 19, 2017

Today my dad would have been 94. He made it to 84, so that's good for my longevity. Except for the Alzheimer's thing. And maybe the running out of money thing, too. I added the Cumbia 'Pollera Colora' to my repertoire and every time I play it, it reminds me of my dad. Though in his last years, I didn't see him much, I always remembered dancing with him as a little girl. He would put on the cumbias and we would take turns dancing on his feet. I remember 8 Tracks of Las Hermanitas Nuñez and a bunch of others. Anyway, if you're in my class and I'm dancing like no one is watching, this is why. Warm, fuzzy memories.

I dug up some pictures of him. Unfortunately, the last time I saw him was after he had his stroke in 1990ish and we visited him at my Tia Toni's house in Merida. This is him and his mother, Celia Emelina Ayala. I have no idea how old he was. Do these people look Mayan to you? 23 and Me....soon.

He's the one on the right. Looks so much like Motsy, eh? This must have been around the time he met my mother in 1956ish? I have no idea how long they knew each other before they married. My mother worked with his sister, who ended up marrying the guy on the left, my Tio Liborio.

Looks like a passport picture maybe. He turned gray very early. I remember when he wasn't working his laborer jobs, he loved wearing suits. I think it sometimes embarrassed my mother. She would say, "He acts like he's a fancy peacock."

In all his peacock glory at the baptism of the youngest, Boobie. This was 1974.

No idea what this was from. They divorced shortly after Boobie was born so this must have been late '70s.

These are him and all his siblings. Hernan, top left was the oldest, then my dad. Then if I'm not mistaken age order of my aunts is from right to left, Tia Toni, Tia Soccoro, Tia Aida and the youngest, Tia Zoila. Tia Socco must have been sick. I can only surmise that that is why she is in a robe. She never married or had kids and she died in the '80s some time. She lived with us in the mid '70s for a bit. I don't even know what of. I guess I should find these things out. I'll ask my cousins.

This was at my apartment in El Cerrito. It must have been Mot or Lina's birthday in the early '80s.

These were his last days. He was living in his hometown of Oxkutzcab, Yucatan, Mexico. This was a couple of years before he died in July of 2003. Story here of my sister finding him.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! I hope you're driving cars and dancing again wherever you are! A la pachanga!

My Citizenship Status

December 16, 2017

I blame 45.

Rise, '66 Chevy, Favorite Things

December 16, 2017

Last night, I was driving home from a Christmas Party, radio on. The unmistakable sound of Herb Alpert's trumpet comes on. Before I realize what song is playing, I remember the Herb Alpert song, Rise (click to listen), that was released in July of 1979, 2 months after my brother, Nene, died.

He never got to hear it and I always thought he'd like it. I used to go and sit at the cemetery and play it for him. Lost in that memory, all of a sudden, a '66 Chevy pops onto Clayton Road from Mt. Zion. Gasp! Hello, Nene! I tried to get a picture of it but it turned off on Marsh Creek.

Bringing my thoughts back to the here and now, I realize the song is one of my mother's favorites. My Favorite Things (click to listen). I felt all warm and loved and hugged. They are always here with me.

Motorcycles and Pennies from Heaven

December 8, 2017

The cemetery was calling me so I went Wednesday, December 6, after class. As you know, Baby died when he crashed his motorcycle on December 5, 1986. The cemetery was exceptionally beautiful. Figs on the tree, warm sunshine under the Weeping Willow.

So I'm just sitting there and a funeral procession rolls by. The hearse then like a billion motorcycles. Really?

Hi, Baby!

Then, my Zumba friend, Eddie, rolls up. Small world. He's seen me there before as he visits his son here, too. I always stop and pay my respects to his baby, Marcel.

Since I'm here, I decide to surprise Motsy at his Tattoo job. He painted the murals outside of Philthy Clean Tattoo Parlor on University and 10th in Berkeley.

He did a couple that are inside, too. It was his day off but at least I got to see his work in person!

Going back to my car, I see this little guy waiting patiently for his human. I wish my cats were this calm in the car.

Back to the burbs. I HATE the Caldecott. I just know one day it's going to cave in.

So I'm on 24 and I see some guys stopped on the side of the road. I think, "That looks like Nic." Then as I'm passing, I say, "That IS Nic." So I do a Speed Racer three lane change to the shoulder and then back up to where the boys are. Someone on the freeway motioned to Kyle that his tire was low so they pulled over to investigate. His hoopty doesn't have a spare so he's trying to call AAA. Before they can dispatch someone, a 'Freeway Patrol' stops and offers to help. Did you know there was such a thing? Is this only for the Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga areas? Never seen them before. Anyway, the nice young man said he could put air in the tire so they could at least get off of the freeway and figure out what to do. Nice!

Today, my sweet friend, Mary, gave me this little case she hand made for me. My initials, feathers a dragon fly and it's for......

my pennies. THANK YOU, SWEET MARY!

Reindeer Run 2017

December 8, 2017

Every Christmas, a group of friends gets together to do a little wine tasting, catching up, eating and just having fun. Sometimes we go to someone's home, sometimes to a winery and the last couple of years, we just set up shop at a park in the Wine Country. People walking by us at the Sonoma Square actually stopped to take pictures of us and our setup.

We started the day by meeting for breakfast the at the Sunflower Cafe on the Square. Yummy Benedict's! And the livers get to work. Screwdrivers, Bloody Marys, Bellinis....

Then across the street to set up for a day of drinking, eating, shopping, stopping at the Whiskey Bar, playing Corn Hole. The ones who hadn't started drinking yet took the cars to the hotel and walked back. Wise choice.

Here we all are. Saralin, Igg, my Little Honey Bunch, Stacey, Mitzi, Bob, John, Carolyn, Steve, Tom, Beth, Joe, Pat and the fatso, with Kirsten seated. The camera really does put on 50 pounds, doesn't it? OK, fine. My fat self is in denial.

OK, maybe I'm not that fat in real life.

Good bottle of wine for a Reindeer Run.

Marcie brought along the picture of the first Reindeer Run some 20+ years ago. With just the Hylands, Wanketts, Fitzsimmons and Russells.

Me and my Little Honey Bunch.

Here's a shot of just the girls. (top) Mitzi, Beth, Carolyn, Marcie, (bottom) Beth, Saralin, Kirsten and me.

After this, we packed up the rest of our stuff into the last cars. They took those back to the Hotel and Ubered back. We then walked to the Sonoma Grill and had a fabulous dinner with everyone except Igg and Saralin, who had to get back to their compound. Finished up and walked back to our hotel, stopping at Safeway and picking up Oreos and other candies and more wine. I think that was Steve's idea. Back at the hotel, the plan was to go in the hot tub. Luckily, me and my Little Honey Bunch fell asleep. The others were apparently in the hot tub until all hours of the morning with the threat of being kicked several times because of the noise level. LOL. Marcie took a video. I'll have to get that from her and post it. We tried to figure out how many bottles of wine we consumed. Maybe, I don't know, 30, 40? All I can say is I'm glad we walked. NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE!

Noticed in the morning that the Hotel (El Pueblo Inn) had shiplap ceilings. Cool.

Off to the Creekside Cafe for breakfast in the morning. Yummy Huevos Rancheros! Then my Little Honey Bunch and Joe took off to Sacto to look at Jeep and Marcie and I headed to Larson to pick up my long lost wine shipment and then home. Another lovely Reindeer Run in the books!

December? How'd that happen?

December 1, 2017

So, first, I just want to wish my brother, Nene, a Happy 56th Birthday in Heaven. This came up in my FB memories today. A picture of him with his girlfriend, Kathy. I just noticed the Virgin Mary is holding his head in her hands.

What could have been....

Anyway, yesterday, I went to Montanas Market for pinto beans, tortillas and tamales. My almost 60 year old self rolls up in my ragtop Mercedes and as always, I bring my backpack with me. Security Dude proceeds to tell me to leave my backpack at the cashier. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? I told him, "No. My computer and my life is in here. That's why I don't leave it in the car. I'll shop else where. Thank you very much." Really? REALLY? Anyway, Nic said he was right to do that. It's their policy. So I went to the Montanas by Costco. No one stopped me.

But REALLY? Does this look like a shoplifter?

When I was driving home, the hills and the moon looked SO pretty. I had to grab my big girl camera and take some pictures. This is Black Diamond path as seen from my back deck.

The moon was sparkly and beautiful. Not quite full.

And the pigeons were flying around. I'm pretty sure they belong to somebody. Probably homers. I've never seen them roll.

And, big news, I printed and signed my Application for Naturalization (to become a citizen). I took some practice tests and got 100%. Now I just have to pray I did the right thing by telling the truth, the whole truth and not get deported because of 'The Incidents'. Probably not deportable offenses, but who know with Deplorable in charge. Pray for me. (No, I did not turn over a religious leaf. I'm still a Recovering Catholic.)