Lucia's Favorite Memory/What She Liked Best About Her Mother, Maria

Lucia said that wherever she went her mother was always there beside her. She loved to be with her mom. Her mom was her best friend in the world. If you see the wedding photo of Francisco, and Lucia with Maria in the middle, you can tell from her expression that she felt the same way about her daughter. Her face has the saddest, most mournful look about it. From this photo one would think she was one who could not hide their feelings very well.

The greatest gift she said her mother gave to her and her siblings was to never remarry again. Sh had opportunities, as men came to call on her, but she said she would never marry anyone again. Her reasons were good. She said, "I do not know how these men will treat my children, and they are the most important people in my life." She was proven right about her marriage theory because one of the men who came to call on her married a woman from down the road of where they lived. This woman already had children when she married this man, and when she gave birth to children he began to abuse her children. So, Lucia's mother, Maria, knew after she heard this that for her marriage was not an option.


MORE OF MARIA'S LIFE STORY BELOW....

Maria worked hard to support her family. She worked in the fields, took in laundry, sewed and did all she could to bring money into the house. She would give money to her daughter, Lucia, as an allowance or gift, but Lucia would save it. Then when times were hard and her mother would sit down worried. Lucia asked her what was the matter, and Maria would tell her daughter she had no money to buy food for them to eat. Lucia would promptly hand her the money she saved. Maria would not want to take it because it was for her to spend on what she wanted. Lucia told her she knew it, but she wanted to spend it to help the family.

Maria's little family consisted of Juan, her son and Lucia. Monica, her eldest daughter, who was married, would often visit their home. She was married to a man named Julian. Lucia's father abandoned Maria and the children when Lucia was a baby. She was already walking when he left, but somehow knew her father was never coming back. She stopped eating, walking and pretty much gave up on life. Somehow Maria pulled her though this hard time, and she soon forgot about her father.

She was reminded of his absence when other children in her life would question about his existence. Monica, her sister, came up with a plan to keep her from having a father. She spoke to Julian and Maria and they agreed it was a great idea too. Julian, Maria's son-in-law, would be her father. So, Lucia began to call Julian 'Papa'. How could they pull off the conversion of brother-in-law to father? Back in those days, people did not really know much about the world. They were sheltered in life, and because of her sheltering she never questioned why Julian did not live with them. Lucia loved Julian dearly and she loves him still. If you hear her speak of him, you know that her bond with him is more than blood-he is her Daddy.

This of course went well until some children questioned her as to how come her Papa did not sleep in the same room as her Mama. So, Lucia was given the truth about her real father and Julian. She felt her world crashing in. Maria was not pleased by this turn of events, but Julian remedied the situation by saying he was and always would be her father.

Julian was good to his wife, Monica, but sadly she divorced him. She regreted it later, but it was too late for Julian had died.

A STORY ABOUT GRANDMA MARIA AND GRANDSON:
During the last leg of Maria's life she was tired and ill. However, she did not want to go to the doctor's for treatment. She came over to visit her daughter and grandsons. While she was sitting at the table resting, (I think it was either Rodrigo or Ish) her grandson came over with a toy plane. He was zooming it all around her, but when he flew it over her head he said, "Ay, va el avion para fumegar los peojos." Lucia turned in horror, but her mother was laughing.