Michael Joe Armijo's Blog, page 14

It's The Only Face We Have

The layout of the streets and the layout of the people in some cities can take you days. IN Boston...weeks. In New York...years. In Morgen, Nebraska it only took a few minutes. -Amor Towles, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY  

My first Cousin Carol Lucero sent an artsy image card entitled TROPICAL HOLIDAY by Andrea Beloff. I loved it and was excited about her trip to Vancouver. I've never visited Canada.

April 18, 1997 

Dear Michael, 

Hello Hello! Sorry it’s been so long. How are you doing? Life has been hectic.

Ryan and I are planning a trip to Victoria B.C., Vancouver Island and Vancouver City. I can’t wait. We’ll be there in May. Have you ever been?  

Will you be traveling soon? I am gearing up for Liz’s wedding. She’s getting married on the 4th of July (it’ll make the holiday more fun). Liz and Leonard will be going to Alaska, another place I’d like to go. 

Let's see what else is new. Ryan finished his contract at Charles Schwab & CO. He’s now working for DLJ. I forget what D L J stands for. 

How is Alan? I have been seeing JUICE BARS everywhere now that I’m more aware. 

Have you seen any good films? I must say I lived THE SAINT. There's a new movie house in Oakland that serves food like pizza, chicken, alcohol, etc... where you sit around tables in regular chairs and sofas. There’s a $3 entrance fee. It’s great fun. Movies are either second-run or classics. It’s built for the frequent movie goer. Very comfortable with lots of leg room. Anyway, I’ve got to go now. 

So, I’ll “TALK” to you Later, 

Love, 

Carol 

The visit to Alameda was off to a sweet start. Mom picked me up at the Oakland Airport. Mom and I sneaked up on my niece, Ashley, while she was working at a snack bar. She gave me 'the look' when she saw me pull out my Polaroid camera. Ha-ha, Ms. Entrepreneur.

Holly’s game was a blast. She’s so sporty and athletic. 

Mom and I had fun with my idea, “Hey mom! Let’s give ourselves avocado facial masks!” 

When we washed it all off, I said, “Oh My God, you look twenty years younger!” 

She laughed.  

“Mom, it’s the only face we have. We must take good care of it!” 

Mom was also a sport to accompany me to see my dad’s half-sister, Aunt Nellie (same mother; different fathers). I took a group photo—but I wasn’t pictured in it. The lady in pink is Nellie’s daughter, Victoria Ortega (my cousin). My mom is next to her. The other couple, the guy with white beard and the reddish haired woman are a mystery—friends of Aunt Nellie, I think. Then, newfound cousin, Oscar Cordova is there with his arm around his mom (my Aunt Nellie) and Oscar’s wife, Elsie. We discovered that Elsie’s maiden name is Lucero—same as my mom’s! So, there’s been a lot of inter-marriage going on in New Mexico and Colorado. Wow!  

Dorothy Rua sent a cool postcard from her business trip to Green Bay, Wisconsin. That’s one state I’ve never visited. Is there really any reason to visit? I imagine you could see the entire Green Bay town in a matter of minutes. 

4-19-97 

Dear Michael, 

As soon as I stopped off the propeller plane from Chicago, I could smell I was in cow country. Wonder if I’ll get to taste the local cheeses while I’m here? 

Don’t know if I updated you but instead of flying home tomorrow, I’m on to Des Moines, Iowa. It is 20 miles from the BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, then on to Minnesota for my company, VALENT). My schedule will be so busy I probably won’t get a chance to get to Madison County. Boo Hoo! We'll see. Thinking of you. 

Love,  

Dorothy  

“...this is the way the world works. Some people are in the middle, some are on the border. Patience is needed for dreams to grow and give fruit.” --Rohinton Mistry, A FINE BALANCE 

A Strategy

When you play MONOPOLY do you have a strategy? Most people do. Either buy nothing and accumulate cash or buy everything and hope that enough people land on your real estate and pay you rent before you run out of cash. Some people have a variation where they only buy sets of real estate or only the utilities. The point is, if you have a strategy, you have clarity of intent. You know which little steps you need to take along the way. Without a strategy you just flounder from place to place, maybe buying, maybe not. --A. C. PING in his book “DO” 

I found an old card from Dorothy Rua from the Summer of 1995. That’s only about two years ago. I figured that’s when it was written even though Dorothy did not date the card (unlike her). I only figured that it was 1995 because she asked me if I’d seen BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY yet—a book we both read and really loved. BRIDGES was released on June 2, 1995. I loved the elegant woman from years gone by and the soft lavender colors on the card she found:  

Dear Michael, 

Have you seen BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY yet? I saw it with RoseMarie this past Sunday. I’m going to reserve my thoughts until you let me know you’ve seen it. I’ll write my comments down before I hear from you, then share them after I know you’ve seen the movie. My friend, Jan, wants to see it with me, so I may end up seeing it twice! By the way, Clint Eastwood seems to have kept himself in pretty good shape over the years. 

I want you to know I also saw (finally) MURIELS WEDDING in Berkeley a couple of weeks ago. It was a day I really needed to be by myself. I LOVED the movie. It made me laugh, cry and cheer...very entertaining. Wouldn’t mind seeing that once again, plus I really liked the song FERNANDO! 

The recent video I’ve seen is SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, I thoroughly enjoyed the story, especially with the great ending. 

Oh, the other movie I saw recently was CRIMSON TIDE. That was just okay. 

Love,

Dorothy

And my feeling is that after stumbling on the above that I should see BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY and MURIELS WEDDING movies once again because, I too, loved them so much. Great stories! 

My cousin, Edna from Santa Fe, was in Denver, Colorado and sent a sweet postcard of COORS FIELD baseball stadium. I thought that was thoughtful: 

Hi Michael, 

We made it to Denver! 

Last night, we went to a place called “FUN PLEX”. Now I know what a laser room is like. So do Rickie and Mike.  There is snow everywhere. 

Take Care, 

Edna 

Next weekend, April 18-20, I will visit Alameda. Mom thinks I’m a little crazy to get so caught up with our family history and all the relatives but when I learn something new, I know she is finding it fantasy. I cannot say that I have a strategy regarding my research. I think my cousin, MaryAnn Gehling, had it right in a recent letter. It’s one thing to acquire names and dates but it is the stories that are the most interesting. I am trying to gather more information about the people. Where do they work? Who are they married to? Why did they marry? How long were they together? Why did they break up? Who murdered who? Ha-ha, yes, there are a couple of those stories, too. And then there’s my famous prize fighting second cousin, Johnny Lee Anthony Tapia, born in 1967. His father was murdered while his mother was pregnant with him. When he was eight years old his mother, Virginia, was murdered. He was raised by his maternal grandparents, Michael Tapia and Esther Martinez. Johnny’s mother, Virginia, had eleven siblings. It’s no wonder my family research can be so mind-boggling.  

Photo: Johnny Lee Anthony Tapia

b. Feb. 13, 1967, d. May 27, 2012

The plan for my visit to Alameda next weekend is to meet with my cousin Oscar Cordova (for the first time) who will be in town to see his mother that he hasn’t seen for 25 years or so (and it’s all because of my family research). Aunt Nellie had another family in NM when she was young with three children with husband Reynaldo Cordova who died in 1949 that she somehow left behind with their paternal grandparents. I really don’t know the details behind the abandonment of those children (Oscar, Rita, Mary-Jean) but she started a new life in California with Conrad Ortega and children (Mario, Rebecca, Victoria, Yolanda). Aunt Nellie had children from four different men (also her son John Vigil from John Benjamin Romero AND her son Michael De La Paz from Jesus De La Paz). I guess she had movie star looks when she was younger to attract so many men and have children with them all. It must have been an odd upbringing for those cousins of mine to have a father who was there, then gone. 

I will also see mom and attend a softball game that my niece, Holly, will be playing in. I’m looking forward to that trip back home.  

“And what was it like to have no father?” 

“It made you more grown-up.” --Leonard Cohen in his 1963 novel, THE FAVORITE GAME 

Keep Stringing It Along

We are what we think. All that we are arises from our thoughts. Within our thoughts we make our world.—BUDDAH, as read in the book “DO” by A.C. PING 

I loved the THANK YOU for the Birthday Gifts cards that my niece, Holly and Ally sent me. Super sweet feeling to get a happy reply from them. 

I am glad Ally liked her Barbie. Funny because Dorothy Rua sent me a nostalgic Barbie postcard this week as well. It was delayed in delivery but at least I got it. 

Dorothy wrote:

Dear Michael, 

I received news that my brother in GUAM was very ill and, in the hospital, and the doctors were not sure if he was going to make it. Thank goodness our prayers were answered, and he is now home, recuperating.  

So glad I took those carefree days with you in Marina Del Rey when I did. Guess I needed to be fortified for what was ahead. 

Anyway, I still must do my taxes and I have laser surgery on March 20th. 

Gloria wrote and invited me to Alan’s surprise Birthday party on March 22nd but I obviously cannot make it. I will be in bed for 10-days with ice on my face. I know you all will have a great time and I will be wishing I was there...maybe another year. I’ll send ALAN a card, for sure.  

Love, Dorothy

I sent mom a postcard from Las Vegas. Yes, Alan and I escaped the riffraff of L.A. for a Viva Las Vegas weekend. It was a continuation celebration for Alan's Birthday 'month'. I used one of my Olympic Games stamps to stamp her postcard. I love that stamp. The stamp reminds me of the CAESARS LAS VEGAS hotel.

4-4-97, 10:50PM, Friday

Hi Mom,

Just arrived in VEGAS and WOW is it different from the last time I was here. What? A year and a half ago or has it been two years? Alan and I are staying at the NEW YORK NEW YORK HOTEL and it's just fantastic. Of course, we haven't seen much yet but it's all too exciting. You'll love it when you come here again in July. There's so much to see and do. I want to visit the MONTE CARLO. It wasn't here the last time I was here. Oh well, time to do slot machines or horse races. See ya in a couple of weeks.

Love, Mikeeeee

P.S. Next time you come to Vegas you better send me a postcard!

In addition, one of my newfound cousins in Colorado Springs seems very responsive and friendly. I received a surprise letter from her. She had already written before, but this is what I had hoped for. I was hoping for a relative who would not just reply once but keep stringing it along. That's how a relationship grows. She was born MaryAnn Montoya, but she married Richard Henry Gehling, so she goes by MaryAnn Gehling. She wrote a lovely, typewritten letter: 

April 5, 1997 

Dear Michael, 

I’m sorry I haven't written sooner. It’s been busy here. We had a new grandchild arrive right before Christmas. He wasn’t expected until January, and we were quite surprised. He was a wonderful Christmas present. My husband and I now have two grandchildren. We love our new role of grandparents.  

I’ve enjoyed the ancestor charts you sent. What a great job you’ve done! How long have you been doing this? It’s a lot of work. I’m curious how you got interested in it. 

I’ve done some genealogy work and it’s very tedious. Unfortunately, I haven’t done it on my family. It didn’t seem necessary since my sister, Isabelle, has researched it. However, I’ve done oral histories with my Dad, and some with my Mom. Mom hates to talk on tape so I don’t have much of her. 

You’ve asked several questions, so I’ll try to answer them.  

My husband’s name is Richard Henry Gehling. I call him, Honey, even when I’m mad at him. My nieces call him, Uncle Honey. We were married on April 1, 1967. Yes, it was April Fool's Day, and we laugh about that. We have been happily married for thirty years now. 

He’s a tool grinder at Western Forge. They make Craftsman tools for SEARS. Honey loves to run, but he doesn’t get in races anymore. He’s been running for nineteen years now. The longest he ever ran in an ultra-marathon was ninety miles. It killed him that he couldn’t make it to one hundred. 

He’s also a writer and historian. Right now, he’s writing a non-fiction book on the Pikes Peak Gold Rush.  

We have written several historical articles and a book together. We are also public speakers, but we’re trying to get away from that. It takes too much time. 

Right now, I’m trying to break into fiction. It’s a tough field but I’m going to try anyway. I’m writing a young adult romance. I’d like to write a fiction book about the historical Oregon-California trails for teens, too. 

You wanted to know about our children also. Our first child, Robert Lawrence Gehling, was born February 4, 1968. He married Rosemary Marimon on August 7, 1993. Rosamary was born December 26, 1972. He and his wife work at CURRENT, a local mail order company. They also print checks and that’s the department he and his wife work in. He works with computers and Rosemary works in the financial department. 

I’m so glad Robert lives in Colorado Springs. He just graduated from college with a degree in Business last spring. He’s been looking for another job. I sure hope they don’t move. They’re a joy to have around. Robert is interested in medieval times. He belongs to several clubs that dress up like knights and stage battles. I’ve never been to one but I hear they’re fun to watch. Rosemary is our game player. There isn’t one she doesn’t excel in. I’ve only beat her in one or two games since I’ve met her. 

Needless to say, their children are the apple of my eye. Our first grandson, Tanner Rhein Gehling was born May 16, 1995. Our second, Zachary Mateo Gehling was born December 23, 1996. I’ll try to take a picture of Robert and his family and send you a copy. 

Our second child, Staci Ann Gehling, was born Junee 22, 1970. She isn’t married. She’s a counselor for troubled teens and lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. There’s a good University there and she’s studying to get her Masters. Staci hopes to become a psychologist eventually. Even though she hasn’t lived at home for a long time, we still miss her. Our phone bills are unbelievable. She’s always asking us laugh with her wacky sense of humor. I wish she'd move back to Colorado, but she doesn’t like It here.  

Tell me about yourself. You mentioned something about stocks, and that you travel a lot. That sounds interesting. Do you run in marathons too? It takes time to train for them, doesn’t it? 

Have you written to mom’s brothers and sisters? I don’t know if they have much information for you. Uncle Charles is the oldest, and he might.  

You’ve also asked about Cousin Patty. She is Aunt Jean Pate’s daughter. Aunt Jean is mom’s sister. The reason I mentioned Patty is because I thought she could give you information on Aunt Jean who passed away in 1995. Mom was very close to her. She was our favorite Aunt. She lived in Philadelphia with Patty, but for a while she lived in Denver. Here’s Patty’s address:  

Patty Richfield 

3101 Disston Street 

Philadelphia, PA 19149-2019 

I don’t know much about my Grandma Jesusita’s family. I remember hearing your grandmother Mathilde mentioned but I don’t know anything about her. What was she like? In the information you sent, there is the date of her marriage to your grandfather (1935-1937). Are you unsure which year she married? 

Are you interested in stories about the ancestors and family you’re collecting data on? That’s why I find fascinating. When I see a name or photo of someone who had died, I can't help but wonder what they were like. Well, I’m sure I’ve given you more information than you asked for but I’m the chatty one in the family. Send me your email address if you have one. We’re hooking up to it now. I promise to answer your mail sooner. 

Sincerely, 

MaryAnn  

Alan and I went to see THE SAINT, starring Val Kilmer and Elizabeth Shue. THE SAINT is a thief (named Simon Templar) who is hired. That's not even his real name. In this film his job is to steal the secret process for 'cold fusion' which puts him at odds with a traitor bent on toppling the Russian government. I loved it. It's based on an old 1960's TV series that starred Roger Moore (a former James Bond gentleman).

Me, I love surprises. I love it when life pulls a rabbit out of a hat. --Amor Towles, THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY 

A Friend Named SNAKE

“The snake will always bite back.” --Jake “The Snake” Roberts, American professional wrestler and actor 

Mom remained here in LA for the week. Alan was having his Birthday party on March 29th, so it will be a festive time. Alan has been so busy after putting together a deal to add the Sonoma Valley Bagel chain with his own East Coast Bagel chain. His Birthday cake will be shaped like a bagel.

Dorothy Rua sent a cool card of the 1914 painting by Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell called INTERIOR WITH A LADY SEATED. I love it. Perhaps it is supposed to be Dorothy as the elegant lady seated. I also had to laugh about ‘a friend named SNAKE’. That must be a story all unto itself. Why would someone be named Snake or nicknamed Snake. It sounds so mafia—but he’s not even from Italy.  

3-27-97 

Dear Michael, 

While strolling through a card/bookstore in (where else) Berkeley, this card caught my eye. I love the painting; it is so classy! What do you think? Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. She sits there oh so elegantly with a hint of coolness, just enough to make most men hesitate before approaching. But a man like ------- views the whole persona as a challenge and senses the passion, the sensuality within her. With each approaching step he takes, his erotic fantasies become clearer. She’s lying nude and beautiful on the satin sheets with both hands reaching behind and gripping the headboard as he pleases her. He’s made his final step and doesn’t need to speak when he reaches her, he merely reaches out and takes her hand. The communication is strong as he leads her to the terrace for a slow waltz and promising times ahead.  

It’s been a while since I’ve written this type of card. Guess I feel a need to reach in and find some of the FUN that’s still in me somewhere.  

The beat does go on, as the song says. Still plugging through all my personal stuff and really looking forward to clearer days ahead. 

What’s this about you having an eye infection that might have kept you from running the marathon? No excuses kiddo. I want to hear you ran it and I want to know your time.  

I read the S.F. article about Alan’s East Coast Bagel deal and even cut it out. Big time kid, huh? I'm happy for him. Guess it’s because I like Alan a lot. I really would like to see you guys if you do spend time up here looking at bagel sites. Just let me know when and where.  

Guess what? I’m going to be in Green Bay, Wisconsin on the weekend of April 18th. Why Green Bay of all places you ask? Well, a friend at VALENT insists I attend his wedding there. He must have figured I wouldn’t pay the $500 for the trip, so he went and bought me a round-trip ticket and paid for a hotel room for me. I was dumbfounded! His explanation is that he really wants me at his wedding, and it would mean the world to him if I was there because I’ve been such a good friend to him. What does one say? “I have other plans” (which I don’t) or just accept it as an honor and go? Well, at this point, I’m telling myself maybe I’ll appreciate a break from the usual at about that time. Do they sell postcards in Green Bay? Keep an eye on your mailbox.  

Also, the following weekend I’ll have guests from Canada. I received a call a couple of weeks ago from a friend named SNAKE. Peter and I knew him in Germany. As a matter of fact, he was one of the four people at our wedding twenty-five years ago! We'll have a lot to catch up on. Seems kind of weird of him coming here while we’re going through the Big ‘D’. 

Let me hear all about Alan’s surprise Birthday Party. I wish I could have been there. I bet Gloria and Jack had fun, too. Were Lauren and Carrie there? Say HI to all when you see them.  

I haven’t been to the movies lately, though there were a few I wanted to see. What have you seen lately? 

My sister, Catherine, will be passing through on her way to Nebraska this summer. She’s taking classes for her PhD. She teaches at the University of Guam. Hope I get to see her on her way to or from. She has a super sense of humor and is lots of fun. I wish I was like her. Ha! 

As always, thinking of you... 

With Love, 

Dorothy  

Now I’m considering a cool nickname but not ‘Snake’. Shall I go back to my old one: Jake Jaguar? Now that Alan is forty-five maybe I should nickname him 'Agent 45'.

Alan’s 45th Birthday was a surprise, but I think he kind of detected something. We can’t put one thing past him even with Gloria helping out. The pictures tell it all. It was a fun crowd and we had KARAOKE and all. Alan loved the bagel cake, too.  

“Harry S Truman was broke and out of work at the age of 38. At the age of 45 he was the most powerful leader in the world.” --Unknown 

 

"SISTER"

“This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up. Girls will be your friends - they'll act like it anyway. But just remember, some come, some go. The ones that stay with you through everything - they're your true best friends. Don't let go of them.

Also remember, SISTERS make the best friends in the world.

As for lovers, well, they'll come and go too. And baby, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart, but you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soulmate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything. Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're gonna fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So, keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.” --Marilyn Monroe, American Actress aka Norma Jeane Mortenson 

This was a ‘family week’ of sorts. Mom came to visit from Northern California to Los Angeles. From family research mom knew she had a cousin in the L.A. area, namely Garden Grove, CA. It was her cousin Ann Mumford-Heifner. Mom always called her “Sister”. 

I asked, “Why do you call her sister if she’s not your sister?” 

“Everyone calls her Sister.” 

“Her name is Ann, why don’t they call her Ann.” 

“I don’t know. I’ve only known her as Sister.” 

“Well, there has to be more to it.” 

“Oh yeah, I remember now. She had three brothers, Gene, Herman and Bill. She was the only girl, so they called her sister.” 

I laughed out loud, “So, you know...if you and dad had a little girl after John, she would have been the only girl and it wouldn’t have mattered what you named her because we would have called her “sister”, too.”  

Mom laughed. 

Ann (Sister) is 12 years older than my mom, born on June 21st, 1923. I could tell mom looked up to her as a little girl. Ann was also a professional roller skater back in the day. Sister’s mother was Agripina Leyba (who was my grandmother’s sister). So, my mom and ‘Sister’ were first cousins. Mom had not seen her in years, but it was amazing to me to meet her. She was so friendly, and it was like mom knew her so well. They just picked up from whence they knew each other as little girls. Mom had such a good time. And you know something, they were like ‘sisters’. I’m so glad I drove there for them to reunite. I took a couple of Polaroid pictures of them together at her Garden Grove home. She showed us pictures of her youthful days when she was dressed as a pro skater, and I failed to take a photo of the photo. Oh well, it’s imprinted on my mind.  

Photo: First Cousins: Ann Mumford-Heifner and Virginia Lucero-Armijo 

A couple of days later I received a letter from a cousin I have in Bryant, Arkansas. He’s about my age and his name is Ronnie Mayall. He has one son named Hunter Kyle Mayall born March 31, 1993. Ronnie has a brother named Mark Stephen who has twin boys named Stephen Carroll Mayall and Mark Allen Mayall, both born on November 13, 1988. I thought that it was cool to know about the twin boys who are the same age as my nieces, Holly and Leigh (also born in 1988). I also have a thing about twins because I am a GEMINI (Twins). I have an inner twin. 

PHOTO: Gail Evonne Mcallister-Mayall, Ronnie Eugene Mayall and son, Hunter Kyle Mayall 

And so, how am I related to Ronnie? Well, his mother was Rose Tina Chavez who was born in 1934 and died at only 33 years old in 1968. Rose’s mother was Lori Helen Garcia (my dad’s Aunt—younger sister of my Grandma Mathilde). And so, Ronnie’s mom and my dad were first cousins. 

“...we’re twins, and so we love each other more than other people.” --Louisa May Alcott, LITTLE MEN 

Augustin Had Blue Eyes

“It was you who broke my heart in pieces. It was you; it was you who made my blue eyes blue.” --Eric Clapton, from his song, BLUE EYES BLUE 

I received a sweet note from my sister-in-law, Helen, with a few pictures. She mentioned a former coworker of mine (Louise Long) who now works for her as a Staff Clerk. I always had fun joking around with her.  

3/13/97 

Dear Michael, 

Thank you for the postcard. I truly love receiving correspondence from you! 

Thought you might like to have these prints from Christmas—and one of Tony on graduation day. Lots more at your mom’s. 

Haven’t been to NYC since before meeting you! I seem to recall great Chinese food, almost getting run over, and the subways! 

Coming up soon? Miss you. 

Love, 

Helen 

P.S. Louise Long’s in the Oakland office. She’s so sweet. 

Photo: Helen Wong-Armijo

Cousin Edna Garcia-Maestas sent another letter after I replied. I loved learning that Augustin (my Granduncle) had blue eyes. Augustin was my paternal grandmother Mathilde’s brother. I once tried to get contact lenses to make my eyes blue or green. It was impossible. I cannot put a foreign object into my eye. I just cannot do it. I was also surprised to read what a daredevil Edna can be with flying in loops on old planes! 

March 17, 1997 

Dear Michael, 

I wrote to you about two weeks ago and I didn’t mail it, so I’m writing again. Yes, you were right when you said that remaining a bachelor has its benefits such as more time to do your own thing. February was a busy month for me. My daughter’s and nephew’s birthday, Valentine’s Day, work in and out of my home and of course, my aerobics has kept me on my toes.  

Anyway, how are you doing? I’m impressed with what you do for a living, especially the traveling to other countries. We travel some here in the States. We have traveled to and through all the lower Southern States between California and Florida. What are your hobbies? Are you self-employed? Thank you for the photos. I’ve met Jimmy Garcia (b. June 22, 1932, in Ledoux, NM) in the past and I would like to contact him someday so that I can obtain a copy from the original. 

My maternal great grandmother was a good friend of Juanita (your great grandmother, Maria Juanita Sanchez). My mother told me she once went with my great grandmother (EMELIA) to visit Juanita and that Juanita showed them her coffin and marker that she had stored in a room. Now that’s planning ahead! I guess that is somewhat common today. My grandfather, Augustin, had blue eyes and a few of his grandchildren have either hazel or blue eyes. Does this feature run in your family also?  

As you probably know, I have a first cousin living in L.A. somewhere. She is one of the two cousins I mentioned that does not live within the 120-mile radius of me here in Santa Fe, NM. Her name is Barbara, and she is my Aunt Rosabel’s daughter. She’s in the family chart. I wish I had more information for you. Yes, I would like addresses for my nearby relatives aside from my first and second cousins. It’s the ‘third cousins and on’ that I don’t know. 

Soon, I want to go to Cheyenne, Wyoming, for FRONTIER DAYS. I was born there, and my memories are few and vague. I just feel like I want to go back and visit. I have a few relatives there from both sides of my family. I need to go to Denver sometime in the next few weeks. My boss is expanding his business and he is now adding a laser room to his arcade. He wants me to go visit a couple of them that are in Denver. I’m just waiting for good weather. Aside from the vending business he also is an airplane aerobatics instructor. He has students that come in from different parts of the world. He owns old warbirds like the T-34, MIG15, Delfin and T-36. I’ve been lucky enough to experience a few loops with him. He has also taken me up in his aero Coupe and a helicopter that he had on lease. I really enjoyed that.  

Well, this time I guess I’ll close another page in our newly discovered family ties...thanks to you! It’s Monday and I’m exhausted. I attend an aerobics class Monday-Thursday and it just relaxes me a bit too much if you know what I mean. Take care, God bless you, and keep in touch. 

Sincerely, 

Edna 

I, of course, wrote back to Edna and Helen. I always reply—and if I forget I make up for it. As I was writing I noticed my wrists. I have thin wrists. I always have, but I know if I work out with weights I can improve the strength of my wrists and forearms. It’s a new goal for me. 

And finally, my former coworker, Laverne Butler-Brewer, wrote to me from Atlanta, GA once again. I had to laugh at the card. Inside was imprinted ‘TODAY, THE SHIT HIT THE FAN’. It made me laugh (after I thought, ‘Oh Gross!’) Laverne wrote: 

Mike, 

I’ve really missed you.

Thanks for listening and being so understanding through thick and thin. Bookends!  

LaVerne 

“I squeezed rocks...to make my wrists strong...for perhaps two hours a day.”-Willaim Goldman, THE PRINCESS BRIDE. 

Fancy, Free and Easy

What is stronger than childhood memory? Nothing, at least for me. --William Goldman, THE PRINCESS BRIDE 

Former coworker, Laverne Butler-Brewer, sent me a cool card. I hadn’t heard from her in a while. She transferred to Yellow Page Sales (like I had wanted to do); however, now she is living in Atlanta, Georgia. Laverne wrote some fond memories and I’m so glad she replied to me. How and why, she sees my life as fancy, free and easy is not absolutely correct. I’d love it if it were even MORE fancy, free and easy. Ha-ha. 

Mike, 

Hi! Well, where should I begin? First off, Congrats o your new place near the beach. Marina Del Rey is really a beautiful place and I hear the new job is fantastic.  

God, I miss you and all the ‘Good Old Days. Hearing about Mitch Schwartz really tore me up. It’s funny sometimes. I’ve heard his words “UNBELIEVABLE” or “FANTASTIC” just the way he used to say it. Or I even see someone on the street that reminds me of him. 

Thanks for the card you sent me. I needed to hear from a friend. I’m still jealous of your free and easy lifestyle.  The Rich and Famous, condo in L.A., professional job, jet-setting to Paris, etc. 

Enjoy and please take care! 

Laverne 

Speaking of The Rich and Famous, Laverne got me thinking of those with an elaborate lifestyle. I began to think of celebrities that I have recognized while I’ve lived here in Los Angeles since November 1989 (a bit over seven years now). It thought I’d make a list of the celebrities that I can recall seeing and where I’d seen them. Here it is (so far). I've spoken to some and then others were simply sightings but they're just regular people and I'm sure some of them wish they had that privacy that we all do (until they're no longer recognizable I guess they eventually get that wish). Then they can feel what it feels like to be fancy, free and easy.

Christian Slater @ Century City Shopping Center Toy Store 

Lauren Hutton @ Swedish Consulate with white dog, protesting  

Shirley MacLaine @ Malibu beach, walking with a large hat (she said, “Hello!”) 

Brendan Fraser @ an APLA Fundraiser  

Ellen Degeneres and girlfriend, Anne Heche @ IVY AT THE SHORE Restaurant, Santa Monica 

Lily Tomlin in front of STARBUCKS in Brentwood, CA 

Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen @ ROSTI Restaurant on Montana Ave, Santa Monica 

Michelle Pfeiffer @ 3rd Street Promenade in front of the movie theater 

Whoopi Goldberg @ during a morning walk in Pacific Palisades with her husband at the time, Lyle Trachtenberg 

Steven Spielberg in his green Mercedes-Benz near his home 

Sidney Pollack, film director @ walking and another time for a light jog near his home in Pacific Palisades, CA 

Robert Wagner @ TOSCANA restaurant in Brentwood, CA dining with family/friends 

Dennis Hopper, having breakfast at ROCKENWAGNER Restaurant 

Nicole Kidman, a couple of rows in front of us at the WILTERN THEATER to see the ALVIN ALEY Dance Show 

Arnold Schwarzenegger, in a jeep and at Patrick’s Roadhouse Restaurant on PCH and at his restaurant called SCHATZI 

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, entering SPAGO in West Hollywood after the Academy Awards 

Don Johnson, also at SPAGO after the Academy Awards 

Jodie Foster, on a Century City Shopping Center escalator 

Tori Spelling, at the Century City Shopping Center 

Magic Johnson, at the TOSCANA Restaurant, Brentwood, CA 

Jeffrey Katzenberg, at the TOSCANA Restaurant, Brentwood, CA 

Ray Liotta, at the TOSCANA Restaurant and at THE PALM RESTAURANT with fellow actor, Josh Taylor (soap star from Days of Our Lives)  

Rod Stewart at APLA Fundraiser 

Annabeth Gish, at APLA Fundraiser 

Nicholas Cage @ 3rd Street Promenade for WILD AT HEART Movie Premiere 

Goldie Hawn in a Black Jaguar automobile on Amalfi Drive 

Kurt Russell in a Cream/Beige Jaguar automobile on Wilshire Blvd at 26th & San Vicente Blvd. 

Goldie Hawn AND Kurt Russell @ IVY AT THE SHORE Restaurant 

Martin Sheen, protesting about Chirac and Nuclear Testing at the French Consulate (I work in the building). 

Jackie Collins, APLA Fundraiser, Century City Shopping Center, and another APLA Party 

Joan Collins, Book Signing @ Century City Shopping Center 

Professor and MaryAnn from Gilligan’s Island (Russell Johnson and Dawn Wells) at BOOK SOUP for Book signing in West Hollywood, CA 

Sylvester Stallone @ SPAGO, Beverly Hills 

Jamie Lee Curtis and her dad, Tony Curtis (& Tony’s blond bombshell wife, Jill Vandenberg) @ SPAGO 

Also, Jamie Lee Curtis at AIDS WALK L.A. and MY GIRL Movie Premiere 

Steve Tisch @ APLA Cocktail Party on Hotel Rooftop 

George Hamilton @ Beverly Center Shopping Center 

David Hasselhoff @ Todd Oldham Fashion Show APLA Event 

Jacqueline Bissett @ Calvin Klein APLA event and at Malibu Beach 

Art Linkletter @ CANON STAGE THEATER (in audience) 

Chuck Woolery @ Thrifty Drugstore in Beverly Hills 

Edward James Olmos @ UCLA Medical Center 

Warren Beatty and Annette Bening @ APLA Calvin Klein Event

Walter Matthau @ TOSCANA Restaurant, Brentwood, CA 

Barry Diller @ Starbucks on San Vicente Blvd, Brentwood, seated outside ‘thinking’  

Emilio Estevez @ 3rd Street Promenade 

Bridget Hall, model @ PLAYBOY Mansion APLA Fundraising Event 

Tom Arnold & Roseanne Barr at Synagogue Services before Lauren Freiman’s Bat Mitzvah 

Christine Applegate @ PLAYBOY Mansion APLA Fundraising Event 

Robert Culp @ PLAYBOY Mansion APLA Fundraising Event 

James Caan @ PLAYBOY Mansion APLA Fundraising Event 

Hugh Hefter @ PLAYBOY Mansion APLA Fundraising Event 

Shelly Long at University Synagogue and at the Hollywood Bowl 

Penny Marshall @ Hollywood Bowl 

Valerie Harper @ Il Fornaio Restaurant; Calvin Klein APLA Fundraising Event 

Meg Ryan & Dennis Quaid, walking in Westwood, near UCLA 

Pierce Brosnan @ AMC Movie Theatre 

Danny DeVito and wife, Rhea Perlman @ Movie Theater 

Leslie Ann Warren at Century City Movie Theater 

Sean Penn @ Century City Shopping Center 

Peter Berg @ APLA Fundraising Event 

June Lockhart @ one of my Charles Schwab customers 

Larry Hagman @ Malibu Beach 

Julie Newmar @ A Votre Sante Restaurant & at APLA Fundraising Event 

Cheech Marin @ PLAYBOY Mansion Fundraising Event 

Diane Keaton @ PANE VINO Restaurant, West Hollywood 

Sidney Poitier @ LAX Airport 

Brenda Vacarro @ APLA Event 

Jackie Mason, comedian on the streets of Manhattan 

Eric Braeden @ Riviera Country Club 

Sandra Bullock @ AIDS WALK Los Angeles 

James Woods @ Patrick's Roadhouse Restaurant on PCH 

Ali McGraw in Black Mercedes-Benz and at APLA Fundraiser 

Milton Berle @ Four Seasons Beverly Hills, CA 

Rosey Grier @ Book Store signing on 3rd Street Promenade 

Larry King @ NATE N AL’s Restaurant 

Bruce Jenner @ NATE N AL’s Restaurant 

Christopher Lloyd @ Café Luna on Melrose Avenue 

John Ritter @ Kings Road Café on Melrose Avenue 

George Stephanopoulos @ IL Fornaio Restaurant, Beverly Hills 

Pamela Anderson @ PLAYBOY Mansion Fundraiser 

Ted Shackelford @ ORSO Restaurant in NYC 

James Garner @ TOSCANA Restaurant in Brentwood, CA and on-location on Wilshire Blvd. 

Jane Seymour @ Granita Restaurant in Malibu, CA 

To round off my week, my cousin, Dottie, in Denver, Colorado sent a sweet postcard of a photo of a Young Girl on a Swing: 

3/9/1997 

Dear Michael, 

Sorry it’s taking me so long to respond. Just don’t get around to so many things anymore. I turned ‘57’ this year and felt all those years when I had a flu virus, bronchial infection and then my back went out at the same time!  

Allen, my husband, could be related to your friend, Lou Gerstner—not too many Gerstner's that aren’t related. No...no children—just lots of nieces and nephews! Isabell said they had a nice visit with you. My niece, Laura, is looking forward to visiting. 

Love, Dottie  

It’s time to read a few chapters. 

‘Books on every conceivable subject lined one wall.’ --Eric Lustbader, FLOATING CITY 

The Sky is the Limit

“Your father was an architect of dreams. I do not expect you to understand this now, but one day you will.” --Eric Lustbader, FLOATING CITY, a Nicholas Linnear novel 

I sent Paloma a “San Francisco” postcard. I know how a part of her really misses the San Francisco Bay Area. She really felt a connection here in California after leaving Paris. It’s too bad she did not get that Air France flight attendant job; then, when she tried to come back to California her VISA had expired and she had to fly right back. I know that’s pure agony for her to think of that incident. I think she’ll like the postcard though. She can reflect on the good times. I wrote: 

2-27-97 

Dear Paloma,  

Knowing how much you miss and love S.F. It thought this would be the perfect card for you. Also notice the number on the cable car...MY BIRTHDATE.  

I know your birthday was last month and I did think of you even if you may not believe me. 

How are Jonathan and Alexandre?  

I am on jury duty today.  

I need a vacation. 

I haven’t seen any great movies lately to tell you about. 

They’re doing a remake of a French movie here called JUNGLE TO JUNGLE. 

Alan expanded his bagel company by merging with SONOMA VALLEY BAGEL. They have stores in Albany and Berkeley, too. 

More Later...Miss You!  Love, Michael  

One of my newfound cousins, Edward M Espinosa, has reached out by sending me an early St. Patrick’s Card. It was thoughtful and unexpected. He wrote:

 

Hello Michael, 

Sorry I have not been able to get you more data on the grandfathers and Great Grandfathers. I’ll try calling Uncle Frank again this Sunday. 

The Valentine’s Day Holiday was an absolute torture at the florist shop. A one day shot—but 28 percent of the entire years’ receipts! It takes us a solid week to recoup. Now’ were’ back on track and gearing for EASTER and SECRETARY’s WEEK and two more good Floral Holidays before the BIG one: MOTHER’S DAY. 

Enclosed are two photos. The one of the uncles is a gem and I thought I was going to have to copy it for you btu I have two originals. This one is yours. Absent is your Granddad and Uncle Reynaldo. Uncle Manuel was already deceased.  

Photo: My GrandUncle, Frank Milton Lucero

My photo includes me, my latest photo except for the Christmas photos which was not a very good one. This picture was taken last Fall. 

Still on jury duty? 

I’m very much looking forward to seeing you in July—if not sooner and a very deserved vacation in Southern Cal (which I am very fond of). I’ll probably rent a car, so we can drive it to the hilt! 

Edward  

My sis-in-law, Helen, was in Hawaii with my brother, Tony, and she sent me a sweet postcard that I received this week. 

Aloha from MAUI... 

Mom probably told you we were in Maui, compliments of Pacific Bell. 

Enjoying our stay here, sunning, eating and sleeping. Too bad we leave tomorrow. 

Hope the two of you are well. 

Love, 

H & T 

My cousin, Edna Garcia-Maestas, also wrote to me from Santa Fe, NM. I love how I am growing new relationships with family members I did not know. Of course, as I read the end of her letter, I realized how fortunate I’ve been to not have so much loss.  

March 1, 1997 

Dear Michael, 

Once again, thank you! The information is indeed interesting. I feel the most interesting fact about my grandfather, Augustin’s family is that except for two of my first cousins all his children and their children live within a 120-mile radius. In addition to that my husband and I purchased the property where he and my grandmother raised their children. Let me explain how we are second cousins. Our grandparents were brother (Augustin) and sister (Mathilde). Their children (our parents) are first cousins, making us second cousins.  

My husband has a Master of Science in PSYCHOLOGY, and I have an Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies. Teresa, my daughter, is a student at the local Community College and she also works at DILLARD’s Department Store. My husband works in Las Vegas, NM at the LV Medical Center as the Director for outpatient services. I am the manager of a vending company. This year we plan on selling our house here in Santa Fe and having one built in Ledoux. At that point the sky is the limit for me. Frist, I might decide to stay home and take care of my grandson before he starts school. 

I am sending you pictures as you requested, and I ask if possible that you send me a photocopy of my Great Grandparents. The one I am sending you of my grandparents cost about $2.00. Please don’t go into more expense than that. A paper copy is fine. 

Photo: Edna Garcia-Maestas with daughter, Consuelo

Yes, Michael, the death of my daughter, Consuelo, is overwhelming. My consolation is that my love for her lives and that I still have the rest of my family to love and who love me. I believe God provides us with strength, otherwise we would choose to die also. My brother, Roger, drowned in a small lake in Albuquerque when I was fifteen years old and my brother, William, died of an accidental overdose in Santa Fe. Consuelos was hit and killed by a car in Albuquerque. Sammy Quintana also drowning in a swimming pool about twenty some years ago in Santa Fe and Gary Garcia died of injuries he sustained in a car accident in Mora, NM. My Uncle Trevino burned in a trailer house fire in Ledoux, NM. 

My telephone number is 505-471-9226. I’m looking forward to meeting you this year and I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon, I hope. 

Your Cousin, 

Edna  

And my Uncle Richard (mom’s brother) has a daughter, Jennifer Lucero-Solis, in Heber Springs, Arkansas. I know and have met Jennifer, so it was a treat to read a note from her. I have not seen her since she was in elementary school though.

Photo: Jennifer Lucero-Solis

She’s now married to a guy named DANIEL SOLIS and they have a son named RICHARD INDIANA SOLIS. I like that middle name, INDIANA. She wrote: 

Hi Michael, 

Bet you never thought that I’d be a mommy. I ‘for sure’ did not ever thing that I would. Now we are out here in TORNADO COUNTRY. Great! 

Grandpa Richard sure does love this little boy. He lets him wear his hat! 

Be sure to show Johnny and Sherri. 

Sorry, this is so short, but I want to make sure that everyone gets a note and a picture.  Please feel free to call here in Arkansas. 

Love, Jennifer and Ritchie and the two Daniels... 

‘What with one thing and another, three years passed.’--William Goldman, THE PRINCESS BRIDE 

Fly Like An Eagle

‘Time has only added a ripeness to your charms.’--SAKI, aka H.H. Munro, in his short story THE BAKER’S DOZEN 

On Friday night, February 21st, Alan and I drove to the Newport Beach/Laguna Beach area. We stayed there for the weekend. During the drive I enjoyed listening to the new SEAL song, FLY LIKE AN EAGLE. It makes me want to look up at birds and imagine the actual swoon flying like they do. I also realized how much I do NOT like the new Spice Girls song called WANNABE. I have to say though, the new MADONNA song called DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA is growing on me. It’s classic! That girl can sing for me anytime.  

Alan used to own a house in Newport Beach with his business partner, Art, but they sold it around 1991.  Alan and I still like to visit this area from time to time.  It’s very special to us.  To be near those beaches and scenery makes it worth the visit.

We ate at THE CRAB COOKER on Newport Boulevard. What a cool place that is for crab cakes—but best to go when there is no line to wait for a table. I guess that’s hardly ever. 

We took Polaroids in the shade. It was a nice, quick escape from home. 

We managed to go out one night to see a movie based on a true story called DONNIE BRASCO. It was a pretty good Al Pacino, Johnny Depp flick. It kept our interest: An FBI undercover agent infiltrates the mob and finds himself identifying more with the mafia life at the expense of his regular one. We clearly like dramatic crime thrillers. It was so well-written. There were so many good lines—even funny ones. 

I mailed a letter to my mom, showing her my brilliant discovery of learning the identity of my ARMIJO Great Grandfather. I learned it was NICOLAS ARMIJO from the Census Records at the MORMON TEMPLE in Los Angeles, CA.  I also learned that my grandfather, Jose Antonio, had four siblings. My father had only known of Jesus. He actually had another brother named Teofilo and two sisters: Concepcion and Navorsita. The Census had his elder sister's name written as Concicion--but it was actually Concepcion.

Dorothy Rua was overdue for an update. She wrote on this card that she knew I’d love. The image had birds and mailboxes. They weren’t exactly like eagles flying but they could’ve been baby eagles. Dorothy wrote: 

2-23-97 

Dear Michael, 

Enjoyed your MAXWELL HOUSE coffee card and loved your Valentine’s Card. It was perfect in its simplicity, and it warmed my heart to receive it. I think I needed it more this year than others. You are a sweetheart.  

Hope your NEW YEAR is perking along nicely. How’s the body doing with all that marathon training? Makes me tired just thinking of all the work involved in the preparation. Is Alan going to participate this year? 

THE ENGLISH PATIENT movie certainly deserves those nominations, and it is a kick that it was the one movie we enjoyed together.  

Well, my Valentine month did not go smoothly the first three weeks, but I’m looking forward to better times ahead. 

In addition to my daily trials and tribulations with the divorce and all the things I must do to get to where I want to be, I also had twenty-five hours of continuing education to do for my insurance license. 

The other events that occurred: An uninsured motorist hit the front end of my car. I finally got him to pay for the damage and rent a car out of his own pocket ($3000). Thank goodness I had some leverage. He didn’t want me to report it to the DMV because he’d lose his license for a year, and he needs it because he’s a fireman and he drives the fire truck! 

More later,  

Love,

Dorothy 

“A wise guy’s always right even when he’s wrong, he’s right.” --Al Pacino as LEFTY in the 1997 film, DONNIE BRASCO 

Adam and Eve

“I just feel better when I know what’s going on, that’s all.” --William Goldman, THE PRINCESS BRIDE 

I received an informative typewritten letter this week from my second cousin, ROSSANA LUCERO-LOGSDON who was in fact born in Torrance, CA on May 30, 1961. Torrance is a hop-skip from where I currently live in Marina Del Rey, CA! She lived in Washington State when she wrote the letter but now lives in Coos Bay, Oregon. I loved the detailed information she gave about her family line. I quickly added the information to my Ancestry.com Family Tree. She signed her letter as a '3rd cousin' but she is actually my second cousin. I've confirmed it:

Dorothy Rua sent me a cute Valentine’s Card. She made a point of writing ‘Have a fun day/weekend.’

 

Alan scribbled a photocopy Valentine note that included a photo of us in Hong Kong.

He wrote ‘Hong Kong was ONE of our great moments in time. More to Come,

Love, Alan

My first cousin (once removed), James Patrick Markus IV, sent me a postcard from Tombstone, Arizona of all places while he was there with his wife, Fae. He wrote: 

Michael, 

We’re here in AZ, visiting Fae’s parents.

Thought we’d drop you a line and say HI.

Hope things are good.

See you when you come to CA. 

Patrick and Fae 

And my first cousin (once removed) from Santa Fe, NM, Cayetano Leyba, wrote me a list of addresses.

There are so many names and children and children of children. I’m overwhelmed. While I have a better overall picture of my entire family (all four sides: ARMIJO, LUCERO, GARCIA and LEYBA) it’s just amazing the legacy of growth that has amassed. It’s still growing. It’s hard to keep up with. It makes me feel good to have a grasp on who is who and who is where; however, in the end, I realize if I go far enough back that we are--in fact--ALL related. I may as well start with Adam and Eve. It would be perhaps easier. It’s funny, but true. 

‘Dreams are voices of ancestors.’ --African proverb.