A Trust Begins to Develop
“You will never tell me what troubles you unless you calm yourself first.” --Marghanita Laski, in her 1953 book, THE VICTORIAN CHAISE LOUNGE I received even more Christmas Cards from cousins that I’m getting to know thanks to my family tree research. I am beginning to realize that the first contact is a simple acquaintance contact. If and when they write a second time they loosen up with more insight. If I am lucky and they write me three or more times a trust begins to develop; whereby, I learn of family troubles, dysfunction and fascinating stories.
From Jean Whithorn aka Margaret Jean Montoya-Whithorn (her maternal grandmother, Jesusita Garcia, and my paternal grandmother, Mathilde Garcia, were sisters):
It’s nice to meet you. Needless to say, I received your card and letter and I wish you good luck with the Family Tree. Several years ago, I was interested in the Family history and had the opportunity to visit the ruins of the village my mother was born in deep in the mountains between Mora and LeDoux, NM. That was a trip in more ways than one! Neither my mother or her father had been there since 1923 when my grandfather sold his land for $50 and moved to the city. I learned a little about the GARCIA’s of LeDoux and even met a few of them but I’m afraid I don’t recall any facts about that part of the family. My sister, Isabelle Montoya-Sherrill, was the one who took care of the paperwork and I refer you to her. She might be able to supplement the information you have. I’m sending a picture of me taken at school earlier this year (I’m a teacher). I don't have one of my family which includes my husband, Bob, and daughter, Laura, now 20 years old. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sincerely,
Jean
Oh...and a card + letter From Paloma Sanchez-Guerra-Alquier in France who really is like chosen family. Who knows? She has roots from SPAIN, so maybe we are related to some distant Kings, Queens or nobleman.
Michael, I guess I'd better send you a Christmas Card at the same time since now we are on the 14th of December and this letter is still here.
Jonathan went to school today.
President Clinton will be in Paris today in the middle of the big mess (except hey travel by heloicopter).
I will try to send this letter tomorrow. I hope you will get it. I’m afraid lots of mail might get lost.
I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Love, Paloma
From Esther Garcia (Esther Garcia is my aunt; she is my dad’s half-sister, in Santa Fe, NM:
Dear Nephew Michael, Hope you are fine. I am OK here in Albuquerque on my way to California tomorrow to spend Christmas with my daughter, Cecelia, and son, Leroy, and my sisters, Julia and Nellie.
I just got home a couple of days in Springfield, Missouri. I spend Thanksgiving with my sister, Josie, and her husband, Bill. I had a nice time with them. Thanks a lot for the beautiful Christmas Card you sent me. Hope to see you soon if God permits. Here is my daughter, Judy’s address:
Judy and Vince Daniels
2548 Camino Cabestro, Santa Fe, NM 87501
So, you have a Happy Holiday. If you come to Oakland for Christmas, I might see you there.
Love,
Aunt Esther
From Alan’s mom and stepdad:
Hi,
I couldn’t find a card to express our feelings toward you. So, I guess I just have to find our own words.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and just want you to know you are one of the nicest people we know, and we are looking forward to spending lots of time with you in the New Year.
Affectionately,
Gloria and Jack
From a dear friend, Lottie Powell in Three Rivers, CA, a sweet card of birds in the snow
From Gene Hentzen in Pecos, NM (Gene is married to my mom’s first cousin Aurora Leyba)
Gene wrote:
Hi Michael,
I am sending you the names of my children:
Sandra Hentzen-Trujillo b. January 10, 1959
Danny Ray Hentzen, b. February 14, 1960
Debbie Hentzen-Salazar, b. September 26, 1961
Leroy Joseph Hentzen, b. March 2, 1966.
My phone number is 505-757-8941.
Always Love,
Gene & Aurora and Family
My coworker, Carmen Cazessus, sent a beautiful portrait photo card to me for Christmas that included her sons, Sergio, Adrian and Richard.
From Alan’s longtime friend, Herb Braha, and his wife, Carol, a sweet card filled with lavender color.
From my cousin, Gloria Antoinette Gonzales-Heavin (her mother, Josie, is my dad’s half-sister):
Hi Michael,
Wishing you a very merry Christmas! It was great hearing from you. Hope all is well with the family. It’s been so long since we’ve chatted. Remember when we were all little and went to Grandma Mathilde’s house? We were quite a large family. Please DO send me a copy of the Family Tree. If I think of anything I’ll be sure to let you know. Love,
Larry, Gloria, Jennifer and Jeff
From Dora Vigil (Dora’s mother, Loretta Helen Garcia and my paternal grandmother, Mathilde, were sisters). Dora is born the same day as me (May 26th) but in the year 1928! Wow. She didn’t write her complete phone number, so I’ll be writing to her again. I love that name: “Dora”.
Michael,
About what you asked me...I will try and get things together later on. I just got out of the hospital, and I can't do too much. It was nice hearing from you. I never thought of hearing from any of my cousins. My phone number is 408-9394.
Your Cousin,
Dora Vigil and Family
Another Christmas Card from my first cousin, Liz Lucero:
From my cousin, David Quintana, in Alburquerque, who wrote me earlier this month:
These are my kids.
My wife passed away in 1993.
God bless you and Happy Holidays.
David Quintana
Cousin Linda Tafoya-Korenke sent her annual Christmas letter from Idaho Falls, IDAHO along with a brochure from the 5th Annual Spring Fiddler’s Frolic for which she was the Contest Chairman.
From Margaret Espinosa-Gonzales (and husband, John) - her maternal grandfather, Dario Lucero, and my maternal grandfather, Fidel Alexander Lucero, were brothers:
What a nice treat to learn of a long-lost cousin. Especially one that is so interested in his heritage. We will be anxiously waiting to meet you. We hope you and your family have a blessed holiday. Take care and God Bless you.
Love,
Margaret and John Gonzales
From Dottie Montoya-Gerstner, she is the sister of Jean Whithorn and her maternal grandmother, Jesusita Garcia, and my paternal grandmother, Mathilde Garcia, were sisters:
Michael,
Peace on Earth.
Glad to hear you are doing this work on the family. I have not done much of it. My sister Isabelle in Farmington, NM is the one who has the most information, but I’ll be glad to help if I can. I’m sending a picture of my sister, Jean, and me. If I come across some better pictures of the family, I will send them.
Nice to meet a new cousin.
Dottie Montoya-Gerstner and Allen
From MaryAnn Gehling (she is the sister of Jean Whithorn and Dottie Gerstner, she is the sister of Jean Whithorn and her maternal grandmother, Jesusita Garcia, and my paternal grandmother, Mathilde Garcia, were sisters:
Dear Michael,
How wonderful to meet you through the mail. I wish you luck with your research of the family tree.
I don’t have any information for you, but my mom does. Although she is hard of hearing. My sister, Isabelle, has studied the family tree as you probably know.
My mom has the photos of the family but very few old ones. I am sending one of me and my husband, Richard (also a marathon runner) and our grandson, Tanner. It was taken in August 1995.
I would love a copy of the family tree. If you need to talk to me here is my phone number. Did my mom give you my sister’s addresses in Denver and my cousin Patty’s address in Philadelphia?
Merry Christmas,
Mary Ann
Meanwhile my Christmas Visit home to Alameda was a complete success, full of festive fun.
On Christmas Eve, we went to my grandmother’s house (mom’s mom) to deliver presents. When we go there, we never know which parts of the family will be there. This time Mom and I went with Ashley and Holly. We found my grandmother there with my Uncle Arthur, Uncle Raymond and my Aunt Lillian with her granddaughter, Tori Freestone. It made for a unique group photo.
On Christmas Day I spent it entirely at mom’s house. I snapped several shots of John and Sherri’s kids (Ashley, Holly, Ally and Dylan) and some group shots that included my brother Tony and Helen along with their daughters (Lauren and Leigh).
My longtime friend, Michael G Miller, dropped by and I took a photo of him with my sister-in-law, Helen.
On December 27th, I took mom and Ashley and Holly to Berkeley. I got a photo of them on a cool tree located on the University of California, Berkeley campus.
On December 28th I was back in Los Angeles and had another post-Christmas celebration with Alan, Jack and Gloria and the girls, Lauren and Carrie. That was super FUN, too!
New Year’s Eve was right around the corner, so Alan and I decided to organize a party. It was something different and no one else was doing it. My longtime friend (former coworker), Dorothy Rua, was going to be in town, too. So, we had a lot of Alan’s family over to the house for much chit-chat, food and festivities. We broke it in at midnight, wishing a GREAT 1997 for all of us.
“Never do something that a thousand other people are doing.” --Jack Szostak, as read in the Walter Isaacson book, THE CODE BREAKER
