When Lucia's sons were young and her husband would be gone for some church activity or meeting. She would take them outside to sit and talk. They did not have a television at this time. Her sons began to tell her about all the lovely things they were going to do for her when they grew up.
One said, "I am going to buy you a house."
The other said, "I am going to buy you all the furniture for your house. So, it can be pretty." Then Abel (around 3 year old) said, "I am going to buy you a gun."
"A gun? Why are you going to buy her that?"
"Well," Abel replied, "you guys got her everything. What else am I suppose to get her?"
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Memories of My Oldest Sister by M. Lowry
I have few memories of my childhood that my mind is able to retain these days. I do, however, remember some of the events very clearly. I remember Suzie as a tough "don't mess with me!" type of character, yet this was a facade to hide the fact her heart was quite soft. She loved monkeys. Suzie really wanted a pet monkey, and I would often hear her ask our mother if she could have one for a pet. To which Mom's reply was always in the negative, but this did not deter Suzie from wanting a monkey or asking for one.
There are two words that I can use to describe her: competitive and tenacious (some may call it stubborn, but it is a good kind of stubborn). If you ever wanted to stay as the number one player or winner of a game; then the advice you should remember is this: "Never teach Suzie how to play it." She will learn it, master it and win at any cost (sometimes she may occasionally resort to cheating).
She was a tough customer. There were three of us girls in the house. Suzie or Mary would gang up on me or Suzie and I would gang up on Mary. But you'd never, ever see Mary and Kiki gang up on Suzie. That was just asking for trouble.
She liked wearing pants and shorts. She said, "When I have kids I am going to have a little girl. We are going to wear matching sweatpants wherever we go." She was a good big sister and always look out for us. Although sometimes she liked to pretend she did not enjoy it, and maybe sometimes she wasn't pretending. Like the time she told me to cross the street or she'd beat me up; then a car hit me. Or the time she vacuumed my hair because she was mad that she had to vacuum the living room. Part of me was happy this happened because I wanted my hair cut, but it backfired on me. My Mom was able to get all my hair out of the vacuum, and I had a sore neck for a day.
She always had and still has a book in her hand. I owe my love of reading to her. Some children are blessed to have parents read to them at bedtime. I did not get this growing up. However, I was blessed to have a sister read books to us. She read a few books, but the one I remember was Charlotte's Web. I remember how her face got funny when Charlotte was dying, and she abruptly announced that that was the end of reading for tonight. Of course we complained because we couldn't go to bed with such an unhappy chapter, but Suzie never wanted to let us see her tender heart.
I remember how mixed up I was over the idea of her getting married. I wanted my own room, but I thought I would never see her again if she got married. Plus, I was a bit anti-marriage, other than getting to dress up and be Cinderella for a day. I thought marriage was good one day and then I thought it was terrible the next. So, the idea of my big sister taking the plunge into marriage was a good and bad thing. I can still remember how beautiful she looked that day. I remember how proud my parents were of her and how happy their were to walk her down the aisle. It was a very nice wedding. It was bittersweet to come home and not have her there. I thought Chuck seemed nice enough to be married to Suzie, and he seemed crazy about her, but he was still taking her away. As the years went by, you could not say Suzie without saying Chuck. It was always, "Chuck and Suzie this... or Chuck and Suzie that..." As if they were never one without the other or as if they were never single, but married from birth or something strange like that.
I can still see how happy she was when she came to tell Mom and Dad that she and Chuck were pregnant. It seemed to me as if they did not want any children. Suzie never played with dolls; so, I never suspected she wanted children. How happy she and Chuck were at the news of her having a baby! I was so excited for them! I was a little shocked because I was sure they never wanted children. Plus, I couldn't get over the fact of Suzie, my sister, Suzie who never liked dolls was going to be a Mommy?!
I still remember how she fought to bring this little baby boy into the world. Tonie describe terribly (this is why I chose a birth center). She had a hard time and then they had to rush her into surgery to bring Zaq into the world. I remember being angry at the doctors because she was the last of us to see this baby. I wanted Chuck to hide Zaq and let Suzie be the first to see him. It did not seem fair to me. Suzie's body was warped, changed, she suffered morning sickness, the horrible birth experience and did not get to see her son right after he came out of her. I was mad! I would not look at Zaq because I wanted Suzie to see him first, but then my Mom talked me into taking pictures for Suzie. She probably did it to keep me quiet because I kept voicing my opinions about how we should all not look at Zaq until Suzie saw him first. I can still remember her words to Chuck when they wheeled her out, "Chuck it hurt so bad. I have never felt pain like that before." What she endured at the hands of those physicians! It still makes me sick to my stomach to think of how they tortured her!
Then came her time to give birth to Ani. I was living with them at the time. I can still remember how she was sweeping the kitchen floor as she nonchalantly (like it was no big deal) announced she was pregnant. I was so excited for them! Another baby to be added to their family! Another niece or nephew for me to cherish and love. How blessed we were to have another baby in our family! She wanted me to know that they still wanted me to live there with them. Wow! Did she get put through the wringer with morning sickness! She had a scheduled c-section and was not put down completely. So, she was able to see her baby girl right away. Then came the nightly awakenings at 2 or 3 am. Ani had colic and she let the neighborhood know all about it. Nothing would comfort her and Suzie was such a good mother to that crying child. She had a good support system in the great guy she choose as a husband. I remember her telling me how tired they were that she or Chuck went into the closet instead of the kitchen.
Despite not playing with dolls as a child, Suzie is an excellent mother to her two children. They are good kids, and they really love their parents.
I remember how shocked I was that she wanted to be there for the birth of my first baby. She was really worried about my choice in using a midwife. However, despite her misgivings regarding my choice she still came. I can still see her face and tears as she saw my son coming into the world. This really freaked me out! Suzie NEVER cries. There must be something wrong with my son. Yet, it was because she got to witness her kid sister bring a new life into the world and truly, this is a miracle.
She was there for the birth of my second child, Celeste. She came rushing right over when I had my third child, Scarlett. I know that family is very important to my sister Suzie because when my family moved to North Carolina. She came to be with me on my last Saturday in Arizona.
I love my sister, Suzie. She has always been a good sister to me. I am so blessed to have her in my family. I know I am who am because of the part she took in my life.
There are two words that I can use to describe her: competitive and tenacious (some may call it stubborn, but it is a good kind of stubborn). If you ever wanted to stay as the number one player or winner of a game; then the advice you should remember is this: "Never teach Suzie how to play it." She will learn it, master it and win at any cost (sometimes she may occasionally resort to cheating).
She was a tough customer. There were three of us girls in the house. Suzie or Mary would gang up on me or Suzie and I would gang up on Mary. But you'd never, ever see Mary and Kiki gang up on Suzie. That was just asking for trouble.
She liked wearing pants and shorts. She said, "When I have kids I am going to have a little girl. We are going to wear matching sweatpants wherever we go." She was a good big sister and always look out for us. Although sometimes she liked to pretend she did not enjoy it, and maybe sometimes she wasn't pretending. Like the time she told me to cross the street or she'd beat me up; then a car hit me. Or the time she vacuumed my hair because she was mad that she had to vacuum the living room. Part of me was happy this happened because I wanted my hair cut, but it backfired on me. My Mom was able to get all my hair out of the vacuum, and I had a sore neck for a day.
She always had and still has a book in her hand. I owe my love of reading to her. Some children are blessed to have parents read to them at bedtime. I did not get this growing up. However, I was blessed to have a sister read books to us. She read a few books, but the one I remember was Charlotte's Web. I remember how her face got funny when Charlotte was dying, and she abruptly announced that that was the end of reading for tonight. Of course we complained because we couldn't go to bed with such an unhappy chapter, but Suzie never wanted to let us see her tender heart.
I remember how mixed up I was over the idea of her getting married. I wanted my own room, but I thought I would never see her again if she got married. Plus, I was a bit anti-marriage, other than getting to dress up and be Cinderella for a day. I thought marriage was good one day and then I thought it was terrible the next. So, the idea of my big sister taking the plunge into marriage was a good and bad thing. I can still remember how beautiful she looked that day. I remember how proud my parents were of her and how happy their were to walk her down the aisle. It was a very nice wedding. It was bittersweet to come home and not have her there. I thought Chuck seemed nice enough to be married to Suzie, and he seemed crazy about her, but he was still taking her away. As the years went by, you could not say Suzie without saying Chuck. It was always, "Chuck and Suzie this... or Chuck and Suzie that..." As if they were never one without the other or as if they were never single, but married from birth or something strange like that.
I can still see how happy she was when she came to tell Mom and Dad that she and Chuck were pregnant. It seemed to me as if they did not want any children. Suzie never played with dolls; so, I never suspected she wanted children. How happy she and Chuck were at the news of her having a baby! I was so excited for them! I was a little shocked because I was sure they never wanted children. Plus, I couldn't get over the fact of Suzie, my sister, Suzie who never liked dolls was going to be a Mommy?!
I still remember how she fought to bring this little baby boy into the world. Tonie describe terribly (this is why I chose a birth center). She had a hard time and then they had to rush her into surgery to bring Zaq into the world. I remember being angry at the doctors because she was the last of us to see this baby. I wanted Chuck to hide Zaq and let Suzie be the first to see him. It did not seem fair to me. Suzie's body was warped, changed, she suffered morning sickness, the horrible birth experience and did not get to see her son right after he came out of her. I was mad! I would not look at Zaq because I wanted Suzie to see him first, but then my Mom talked me into taking pictures for Suzie. She probably did it to keep me quiet because I kept voicing my opinions about how we should all not look at Zaq until Suzie saw him first. I can still remember her words to Chuck when they wheeled her out, "Chuck it hurt so bad. I have never felt pain like that before." What she endured at the hands of those physicians! It still makes me sick to my stomach to think of how they tortured her!
Then came her time to give birth to Ani. I was living with them at the time. I can still remember how she was sweeping the kitchen floor as she nonchalantly (like it was no big deal) announced she was pregnant. I was so excited for them! Another baby to be added to their family! Another niece or nephew for me to cherish and love. How blessed we were to have another baby in our family! She wanted me to know that they still wanted me to live there with them. Wow! Did she get put through the wringer with morning sickness! She had a scheduled c-section and was not put down completely. So, she was able to see her baby girl right away. Then came the nightly awakenings at 2 or 3 am. Ani had colic and she let the neighborhood know all about it. Nothing would comfort her and Suzie was such a good mother to that crying child. She had a good support system in the great guy she choose as a husband. I remember her telling me how tired they were that she or Chuck went into the closet instead of the kitchen.
Despite not playing with dolls as a child, Suzie is an excellent mother to her two children. They are good kids, and they really love their parents.
I remember how shocked I was that she wanted to be there for the birth of my first baby. She was really worried about my choice in using a midwife. However, despite her misgivings regarding my choice she still came. I can still see her face and tears as she saw my son coming into the world. This really freaked me out! Suzie NEVER cries. There must be something wrong with my son. Yet, it was because she got to witness her kid sister bring a new life into the world and truly, this is a miracle.
She was there for the birth of my second child, Celeste. She came rushing right over when I had my third child, Scarlett. I know that family is very important to my sister Suzie because when my family moved to North Carolina. She came to be with me on my last Saturday in Arizona.
I love my sister, Suzie. She has always been a good sister to me. I am so blessed to have her in my family. I know I am who am because of the part she took in my life.
Francisco and Lucia's House Before
Here is a picture of what Francisco and Lucia's house looked like when Francisco was alive. After his death, Lucia felt the need to change the place to help her adjust to his passing and has remodeled it some.Thursday, July 29, 2010
Childhood Stories as told by Lucia to Mia
HER EARLIEST MEMORY-EL VIEJO:
(Ond day I came home from school and asked my Mom, Lucia, why she never told us about "El Viejo" or "La Llorona." The girls from school told me about them, and I felt left out like I wasn't a real Mexican. Mom said that she never wanted us to know about these things because she did not want to traumatize us.) Here is her story: When she was a little girl her mother had told her if she misbehaved or not go to sleep when it was time to sleep something bad would happened to her. She told her that "El Viejo" would come, get her and take her away. She wondered, "Como sera 'El Viejo' que me quere agara?"
Her fears took over and she found herself very scared of him. One day while she was out walking, she came across a strange looking man riding a horse. He was a man from India. He sat upon his horse with a blank expression on his face. He had a turban on his head with a little ball on his forehead right above and between his eyes. It was full of his long hair. She saw him and ran the entire way home. Once inside her home, she told her mother she had seen him. She has seen "El Viejo" riding down the rode upon his horse. She was very frightened he was coming for her. This is what she told her mother, "El Viejo, el viejo, lo mire!" To which her mother's reply was, "Andale, te encansa el viejo y te agara."
HER 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 that Maria felt the same way about Lucia. Her face has the saddest expression on it.
Later when she was 11-year's-old she received Patricio as a pet. He a white male pig with a white band that looked like a belt. There would be no dying during birth for him. He was the runt of his litter. Lucia received this pig from his owner. Lucia thinks the man did it because he thought the pig was not going to make it. (This reminds me of Fern.) Patricio was dying when Lucia first got him.
The man told her, "Let's see how good you are at raising it. Take it and give it some masa."
He got better and lived. He, too, would follow her everywhere. He would go with her to the store and even try to climb up the ladder to be with her. She would often sit up on a ladder propped against the house and he would cry as he would try to reach her. Her mother, Maria, was astonished at how much Patricio loved Lucia. Lucia was happy to have such a fine pig. She would talk to him and he would grunt back at her. This was truly a special pig and according to Lucia a very smart one too. He was only her pig for a little while. The family had to give the pig away and Lucia was heartbroken.
(Ond day I came home from school and asked my Mom, Lucia, why she never told us about "El Viejo" or "La Llorona." The girls from school told me about them, and I felt left out like I wasn't a real Mexican. Mom said that she never wanted us to know about these things because she did not want to traumatize us.) Here is her story: When she was a little girl her mother had told her if she misbehaved or not go to sleep when it was time to sleep something bad would happened to her. She told her that "El Viejo" would come, get her and take her away. She wondered, "Como sera 'El Viejo' que me quere agara?"
Her fears took over and she found herself very scared of him. One day while she was out walking, she came across a strange looking man riding a horse. He was a man from India. He sat upon his horse with a blank expression on his face. He had a turban on his head with a little ball on his forehead right above and between his eyes. It was full of his long hair. She saw him and ran the entire way home. Once inside her home, she told her mother she had seen him. She has seen "El Viejo" riding down the rode upon his horse. She was very frightened he was coming for her. This is what she told her mother, "El Viejo, el viejo, lo mire!" To which her mother's reply was, "Andale, te encansa el viejo y te agara."
HER 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 that Maria felt the same way about Lucia. Her face has the saddest expression on it.
LUCIA'S PET PIGS:
Her first pig was named Chacha, and her second was Patricio.
Chacha was a female black and yellow pig. Chacha only loved Lucia. Her mother, Maria, would try to get Lucia's brother, Juan, to take the pig to the hill to eat and drink, but she would not go with him. She did not like Juan because he was mean to her. Lucia would talk to Chacha and ask her to come to her. Chacha would come to her happily and oinking all the way to Lucia. Lucia was happiest when Chacha was by her side.
Chacha got pregnant and it was time for her to deliver
her piglets. They fetched the family midwife to help her deliver her piglets. The midwife was Lucia's Tio Cesario's wife, Geronima. Geronima did her best with her midwifery knowledge and skills to assist the pig to deliver her litter, but Chacha died. Lucia was sad.
Later when she was 11-year's-old she received Patricio as a pet. He a white male pig with a white band that looked like a belt. There would be no dying during birth for him. He was the runt of his litter. Lucia received this pig from his owner. Lucia thinks the man did it because he thought the pig was not going to make it. (This reminds me of Fern.) Patricio was dying when Lucia first got him.
The man told her, "Let's see how good you are at raising it. Take it and give it some masa."
He got better and lived. He, too, would follow her everywhere. He would go with her to the store and even try to climb up the ladder to be with her. She would often sit up on a ladder propped against the house and he would cry as he would try to reach her. Her mother, Maria, was astonished at how much Patricio loved Lucia. Lucia was happy to have such a fine pig. She would talk to him and he would grunt back at her. This was truly a special pig and according to Lucia a very smart one too. He was only her pig for a little while. The family had to give the pig away and Lucia was heartbroken.
Lucia Villanueva's July 2010 Birthday
We all wanted to get together for Mom's/Lucia/Nana/Abuelita's birthday this year. This was to be her first birthday without Dad/Francisco/Tata/Abuelito. We went to one of her favorite places to eat....Ruby Tuesday's. We sat at a huge round table: Mom, Jovanni, Tonie/Zia/Mary, Ish, Scarlett, Mia/Lucy, Celeste, Vincent, Glenn, Sergio, Zaq, Chuck, Ani and Suzie then Mom again.
The food was OK, but the desserts much better. Mom got an amazing birthday dessert that almost everyone tried it. It was nice to get together. I was late...unfortunately. I knew it was probably going to be the last time we all got together and my last birthday with Mom as an AZ resident. It was hard to sit there and not tell everyone we might be leaving to NC.
Nevertheless, we all had a good time and Mom looked pleased as punch to see us all getting along. I know this is her only desire (as is for any mother) for her children to get along and be happy. We hung out and thankfully, Sergio had his camera phone to take photos to remember this happy occasion. Outside the kids chased dying bees and crickets.
I had to peel Celeste away from his Tia Tonie, but promised we'd be over shortly to visit. :)
Happy 66th Birthday, Mom.
The food was OK, but the desserts much better. Mom got an amazing birthday dessert that almost everyone tried it. It was nice to get together. I was late...unfortunately. I knew it was probably going to be the last time we all got together and my last birthday with Mom as an AZ resident. It was hard to sit there and not tell everyone we might be leaving to NC.
Nevertheless, we all had a good time and Mom looked pleased as punch to see us all getting along. I know this is her only desire (as is for any mother) for her children to get along and be happy. We hung out and thankfully, Sergio had his camera phone to take photos to remember this happy occasion. Outside the kids chased dying bees and crickets.
I had to peel Celeste away from his Tia Tonie, but promised we'd be over shortly to visit. :)
Happy 66th Birthday, Mom.
Lucia's Birthday-July 5, 2010....
Sergio Villanueva, Vincent Lowry and Scarlett Lowry
Scarlett Lowry
Lucia/Mom/Nana/Abuelita, Suzie Salas and Zaq SalasJuly 5, 2010 Lucia's birthday photos...
Mom/Nana/Abuelita, Ish Villanueva II, Jovanni Villanueva and Zia Ali
Lucia/Mom/Nana/Abuelita and her Arizona grandchildren: Jovanni, Ish, Zaq, Ani, Vincent, Celeste, and Scarlett
Jovanni Villanueva, Ish Villanueva II, Zaq Salas, Ani Salas
Ani Salas, Vincent Lowry, Celeste Lowry
Lucia/Mom/Nana/Abuelita and her Arizona grandchildren: Jovanni, Ish, Zaq, Ani, Vincent, Celeste, and Scarlett
Jovanni Villanueva, Ish Villanueva II, Zaq Salas, Ani Salas
Ani Salas, Vincent Lowry, Celeste Lowry
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