I'm getting too old to stay up late!

I realized the next day that going to bed late and waking up super early was killing me. I’m no teenager so what in the world was I thinking?! We woke up some coffee talked for awhile. Every time I would talk to my grandfather he would say how much I looked like my dad. Oh and when I scolded him he insisted I was my father. My dad was a good man. I often wonder what possessed him to drink and drive the night he died.

On this day; Tia Petra, Tia Erika, and myself talked about going to see my grandma Celestina’s gravesite. All hands said I and we looked forward to going that way. I believe my grandfather didn’t care for the idea too much. I wonder why? I could actually have the answer later on or maybe not. I guess we’ll have to wait for the conclusion. We all got dressed for the day and off to the streets we went. I may not put this in good order but I’ll try my best.

We stopped at this lady’s house that I don’t remember her name, or the relationship she had with my family. I do know that my aunt did remember who she was. During that moment I had an overwhelming feeling. Whatever the reason; I felt that in that town was my heart. It wasn’t the prettiest of town’s by my heart was drawn close to it. This lady (I can NOT remember her name….AHHHHHH!!) began to drive us to the next person’s house.

I’m posting a picture of this older woman. We arrived at her house and boy did I want to cry. I had no idea why. We walked in her home. Sorry I’m nosey so I had to look around. Her home with filled with God’s love. She had scriptures on her walls, gorgeous crosses; the home was defiantly anointed with the Holy Spirit. As the introduction took place, she found out that I was Chuy’s daughter (they called my dad Chuy). She would stare at me when she thought I wasn’t looking.

A bit later my grandfather asked me to sit down. He told me that she and her husband where the one’s to marry my grandpa and grandmother (Celestina). I was like WHOA! WAIT! I have questions!!! Stop here. She gave us an image of the day they were married. She went on to say how happy my grandma was that day. She was tall; about 5’7 tall. Light skinned with silky long, almost blonde hair. She was thin but kinda thick. I sat there as she spoke and waited for my grandfathers’ reaction.
He remained quiet while she spoke. Abuelito (grandpa) Pancho sat there and played with his coffee cup never once looking up at us. At times he seemed to ignore us and other times he seemed angry that I would ask yet another question.

Anyway, this lady had the softest voice, making it difficult at times to hear her. With every sentence she spoke, she’d sit there silently. My Tia Petra and I wondered if my grandmother was saved. I made my aunt ask the question. Well we didn’t get a for certain answer. Her, nor my grandfather really knew if my grandmother had ever expected Christ as her personal savior. It made us wonder even more after all she named her children; Jesus Manuel, Petra (meaning Rock of Salvation), Juan Bautista. Who, if they were not saved, would name their kids that? We asked that question and again no one had the answer. I had moments where I felt the need to cry, because I was finally getting to know the woman that my father and his siblings never had the chance to learn about. I didn’t want to leave there. It felt good. I was so overwhelmed with grief that I decided it was time to stop asking questions. You’ll learn more about my grandma later, you’ll see!

I decided I was fed up with sitting down so I stood for awhile. This woman kept staring at me. It wasn’t a freaky type of stare but it did make me wonder what was going through her head. Somehow the topic came up and my grandpa told her that 34 years ago my dad found God. She has the gentlest smile I had seen. Tia Petra quickly mentioned that she and I were also saved.

I just lost train of thought. I think we’ll stop here and start later on. Plus I don’t want to have confusion with the pictures. The picture above is the woman who married my grandparents. Once again stay tuned…

The night he saw me!

As that day came to an end; we each wondered if my grandfather would show up. Although we never truly got the answer, we decided to head south. You know like the birds do! We traveled an additional 6 hours south to Rio Grande. This took place the following day.

Now let me go back just a couple of hours. My aunt Erika called her mom and asked about my grandfather. They went back and forth for several hours and we all thought the plans were resolved. All of us had the impression that by the time we got to Rio Grande the next day my stubborn grandfather would be there. OH! One SMALL detail I forgot to mention; he had no idea I was there. I was the big surprise.

Okay now; as we depart from my Aunt’s house around 9ish or so (maybe later), everything seems to be working out as planned. Mid way my aunt calls her mother and asks if my grandfather is there. To all avail the man decides he doesn’t feel like going! This is 3 hours into our drive!! What in the world! I closed my eyes and prayed. “Lord I don’t know the plans you have for us, but can you at least tell me if this trip is supposed to be about me learning more patients!?!?” This is when I truly understood the meaning of “Prayers are Bi-polar”. My aunt Petra wasn’t happy about it either. I couldn’t tell you what my aunt Erika thought because HELLLOOO I just met her. At some point during the remaining 3 hours my grandfather decided he wasn’t coming to Rio Grande. He no longer felt like it. After all, my aunt (remember he had no idea I was there) traveled from CA to see him. During all this chaos I continued to read the bible and pray. Besides “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”!

Fast forwarding a bit; we arrive and my grandfather is nowhere to be found. My aunt Petra decides that hey, “if he doesn’t show up tonight we’re going back to Houston and that’s it!” So okay, she was a little mad. Me; well hey I got a chance to meet family and also get a glimpse of my dad’s childhood. I was okay with whatever came up.

Let me explain a little of my grandfather’s wife before I go on. The woman that I knew as my grandfather died 20 years ago. She was my grandmother. Of course, my grandpa’s first wife died when she was 23. She was the mom to my dad and his siblings. Obviously I never had the chance to meet her. My grandmother was Tencha. You know I always hated that name! I’m sorry but I still do! As I was saying, man I have a hard time staying on one topic. SHEESH!! So the lady that my grandfather is married to, well her name is Marina. If you see that name you now know who I’m talking about. Marina and my grandpa had a daughter named Erika. I’ve already mentioned her name several times. Now I’ve really lost myself.

I must read what I wrote and continue with my story…..reading….still reading…ahh, okay back on track! Marina called my grandfather and told him what my Tia (means Aunt) Petra said. That is when he decided, “Okay I’ll go”. Marina had to drive 1.5 hours into Mexico and my grandfather drove 2 back to Rio Grande. Mind you he said he couldn’t see well at night. Yes he finally caved but not one bit of him was happy about it all. UNTIL…he arrived at the house. I was in the room where I couldn’t be seen. Once I got the cue to come out; I did. He stared for what seemed like an eternity and than caressed my face. He told me how much I looked like my dad and he was actually happy to see me. This coming from my grandfather; was like WOW!!! We were lucky if he even decided to say hi to us when we were little. I totally took advantage of those words. It was nice to see him and I do think the feeling was mutual. He’s in good health and looks exactly the same as he did some teen years ago. That picture above is him sitting in the living room in Rio Grande. I’ve been praying for his salvation daily. He, himself, told me he isn’t saved. I believe that the Lord is still giving him sometime. I look forward to the day that he calls us and says he has accepted Christ as his personal savior. We ate tacos that night. He talked about my dad; me too. It was nice to hear that he still thinks about his son…I really miss my father.

I feel like I was actually able to forgive my grandfather for not being there when dad died. He’s never been a loving man, but I saw something different…stay tuned….

Oh yeah we didn't go to bed till 2ish in the am..

Continuing...

Early the next morning…

We got to the airport at 6am. Yep that only means I slept maybe 3 hours at most. Surprisingly I wasn’t tired. Perhaps it was because I was sort of excited to see my grandfather. We arrive at Hobby Airport at 1pm. I think I had déjà vu again. For some reason what played out that afternoon reminded me of what had happened in Japan when family came to visit. HA!

My aunt was a bit exhausted and wasn’t feeling well when we landed. I think she may have been dehydrated but who knows. Anyway, we were looking for the people that were picking us up. Mind you; I had never met them before so I had no idea who I was looking for. My aunt gave me a description of them but really, when you give a description of a young Mexican with long hair in a state where half the state is Mexican; how do you expect for me to know who they are?! LOL!!! I laughed at my aunt and she realized what she said, so we then laughed together.

We were outside looking for 2 women looking for us (in a white SUV). We’d sit inside staring at all the Mexicans walking by us wondering. After about an hour I began to get a little frustrated. As some people know I lack LOTS of patience, you can only imagine how I was feeling.

I noticed an older lady and a younger girl walking by numerous times. I even stared at them wondering who they were (while we were sitting). When we were outside; I would stare at this BLACK SUV. Matter of fact they even creped me out and I think visa versa! The two in the front were men. I didn’t care I was determined to find the people who were suppose to pick us up!

About a 1 hour and 15 minutes went by and my aunt noticed the woman in which she, my uncle and my dad played with. The same lady I saw walk by at 7 times for the past hour… NOT COOL!!! Then my aunt saw her sister (my aunt obviously). These women were the same women that walked past us over and over again.

Now it was off the white SUV that was black mind you. The same vehicle that I stared at for 10 minutes straight!! LOL!!! UGH I love when this happens to me. It ends up being hilarious at the end!

My grandfather was supposed to show up in Houston where we landed but he wasn’t there. We were hurt but I was content because I got to hear some amazing stories about my daddy. We ate showered and we were merry. I already missed my family at this point…

I met my aunt and her husband, her name is Ericka. I met one of the women that played with my dad when they were young. What a great tiring night it was. God was good to us that day. I now have a larger family on my dad’s side!!


She's my aunt. It sounds odd because she's younger then me.

Rosa; the lady my dad, uncle, aunt played with as kids. She was making some tortillas. I will defiantly keep in touch with these women!

One of many long days..

I guess I shouldn’t be repeating myself again but I shall. Only this time I haven’t posted because I was away from home and the computer was scarce. I’m going to post this daily and will include one or two photos as well.

As many know I took a trip to see my grandfather. For some reason there were a handful of people who thought that my grandfather was not in good health. Perhaps he’s not and it’s only been because I haven’t seen him in years. It was bitter sweet as you are about to read. Now let’s begin.

The first day I left here, I was already missing the family. It was only the second time I had left my children behind, one difference though; is that this was for 10 days and I was completely out of the state, even country.

Here’s what took place the day of my departure. I left here in the am. Funny as it seems, we flew north and not west. My destination was to head to CA not NC. Good ‘ol hurricane Ida decided that she wanted to make a landing here so we had no choice but to make a SMALL detour. The airline I was flying with made a call asking all passengers to go to the desk. They were fortunate enough to get a head count of all passengers. So they boarded us (about) 1 hour before our initial flight. We took off about 15 minutes after. There was no turbulence, the flight was awesome! Since we left early that only meant that I would be spending 4.5 hours at the airport before being able to fly to the next airport. By the way, they weren’t sure what flight I’d be catching, after all we did have to take a detour.

I think, no, I know! The Lord had his plans for me and one of them was reinforce patience. While in Charlotte I ate at Chili’s and as I ate I was reading my bible. People walked by and stared as if I was some sort of freak. Matter of fact, some passengers were seated at the table next me. They were the same people whom sat a few rows back cursing up a storm. Do you know they never even cursed while sitting at the table next me?! I was pretty happy about it as you can tell.
Moving on to the next airport; Phoenix AZ it is! I had a short layover; I’d like to say about 1 hour or so. All was smooth and I did get a small chance to feel the dessert heat. Who cares though, because the skies are clear there! As I boarded for the next flight to San Fran I began to pray for a safe flight and for the protection of all passengers.

I arrived in San Fran at 10pm and now needed to head south to Fresno. It was all said and done at 2am when I was finally able to lay down. For 3 hours…….Stay tuned!!