Rodrigo Haro Villanueva by Mia Lowry

Rodrigo is the oldest of the family. My memories of him include the drums, singing and watching him work in the Apostolic Church. I can still remember coming home from school to hear him playing his drums. You could hear them from a block away. When you'd enter his room you could see him with his headphones rocking his head to and fro as he listened to various musicians to perfect his skill.

Looking around his room you could see the results of his other talent-art. He could draw almost anything. I can still picture his replica of an Andre Crouch album of a beach scene. It was amazingly beautiful. I think he is the only one in our family that perfect the art of drawing.

I remember seeing him suit up to go to work at Johnny's Men's Wear in Yuma after school. From what I can remember he was a good worker and salesman. He earned money and purchased his own car....I believe it was a Monte Carlo...gray. He would wash and clean out that car every weekend.

I remember him leaving on his dates. The one I remember the most was when he took my older sister Mary and I to see the circus. We got to ride an elephant. I can't remember who the girl was that went with us, but I sure do remember how he was excited to take us. How much care and excitement he took into ensuring we had a good time. It was a good time. I can still remember how the elephant felt and how scared I was to be on it. I wish we had taken a picture of this moment, but it will forever be embedded in my memory.

I can still picture him on his wedding day. It was a nice wedding that was held in our Yuma house backyard. He married the mother, Elizabeth Briones, of his only daughter, Elizabeth Jovanni Villanueva. I can still see his face when he came out of the delivery room holding his little girl. He had the biggest smile, eyes moist with tears of joy and a laugh that would not stop. I still remember being frustrated because he would not tell us if Jovanni was a girl or a boy. He is the only man I can recall who wanted a girl instead of a boy. This idea still baffles me since most men would rather have a son than a daughter.

Everyone wanted to hold Jovanni, but he wouldn't have it. He refused his own mother's request to hold her first grand baby. This was how happy and excited he was to have a little girl....his baby. It was such a happy day for all of us.

His life has not been an easy one and I know he is currently working on writing it all down. I hope one day he does get it published. Currently, he is attending college and I have never been more proud of him. I hope he continues and finds a job he will enjoy. I can honestly say that my life has been blessed because of his and I am happy, proud and glad to call him brother.