Out There Somewhere

When a man disappears, we cling to anything he left behind. --Daniel Mason, THE PIANO TUNER 

Photo: Actor, Hugh Dancy, in the 2002 series DANIEL DERONDA

Another letter arrived from Cousin Edward in Albuquerque, NM from my LUCERO family line (My mom’s dad): 

6-11-97 

Dear Michael, 

I finally succeeded in getting in touch with lots of people. I don't’ have firm commitments but these are the relatives that say they’re coming to my house for the Family Reunion on July 24, 1997: 

Manuelito, Fela and Family 

Antoinette Anaya de Lucero and family (maybe even her 91-year-old mother) 

David Lucero and Family (Antoinette is his sister) 

Theresa Lucero and her son, Brian Daniel Lesage 

Clarence Levens (Family from Denver) 

And, of course, my whole family except for Dean Edward Gonzales who is now in Santa Clara, CA on a new job with INTEL. 

The only family I can’t seem to contact is Uncle Frank Lucero’s (except for him) --but Molly told me that he has quit traveling. They used to spend summers in New Mexico. I am excited about seeing all these people after years and years. I hope it means the same to you. Hope you get this sometime before July 24th (just kidding!).  

Edward 

My Cousin MaryAnn Montoya-Gehling wrote from Colorado Springs from my GARCIA family line (My dad’s mom): 

Friday the 13th, 8:15PM 

Dear Michael, 

Thank you so much for the books, REVELATIONS-DIARIES OF WOMEN and THE STARS. I had forgotten you told me you were sending something. I was so surprised. I love them both. The fact that you chose them for me makes them even more special.  

I sit in my gazebo looking at the Pikes Peak Mountain. The birds are e-mailing their messages back and forth. The windchimes clang with the wind. The scent of pine trees is in the air. Soo, it will be time to gaze at the stars. Thank you for thinking of me. 

MJA-I left a Thank You message on your answering machine at home. 

Mary Ann 

It’s FATHER’S DAY AGAIN (June 15, 1997) and it’s also the date of my parent’s Wedding Day in 1957. I did receive a few Father’s Day cards (from Lauren, Carrie and Gloria). I sometimes wonder about my own daughter who is out there somewhere. She was born in 1985, so in 2003 she will be ‘18’ and may seek me out. That seems so far away from now but it’s only about six years. I am crossing my fingers that she will contact me. Wow, so she’s about 12 years old right now. Anyway, here are the sweet Father’s Day Cards I received. The two from Carrie and Lauren are similar and I’m not quite sure which one wrote which but they’re precious to me:  

Dear Mikey 

Happy Father’s Day.

Even though you aren’t our biological father we kind of look at you as our father because you don’t have real kids—us and your nieces and nephew are the closest thing to it. We love going with you and are so lucky to have you as part of our lives. We hope you like our present. It’s you. You’re the greatest and we love you so much. 

Lauren and Carrie 

Dear Mikey, 

Happy Father’s Day.

We know you’re not exactly our father but since you don’t really have any children, we’re the closes thing to it. We just want you to know how much we appreciate and love you.

We thought you had so many Babri dolls that we decided to get you something else. Hope you like it.

Thank you for always being there for us through good and bad times. We love you very, very, very much! 

Love Always, 

Lauren and Carrie Freiman  

And, of course, Gloria, found a unique card with a photo taken in 1941 with the handwritten words of artist, Frida Kahlo, in Spanish translated: “AT THE SIDE OF MY LOVE”. I, at first, thought it was her father, but it is fellow artist, Diego Rivera, that she is next to. Gloria wrote: 

6/15/97 

Dear Michael, 

Somehow looking at the picture of this card I feel it could be one of your ancestors!  

Happy Father’s Day.  There is no other man on this earth that I would want to me a surrogate Dad to ‘Lauren and Carrie’ other than you. 

I think you are the greatest with the most-est. You are stupendous! 

Love Always, 

Gloria (Mommy) and Jack 

P.S. Tell Virginia I’m sharing her son with her. 

I have always cherished this dream of creating something unique and imperishable, so that the past should not fade away forever. I know one day I shall die and vanish to the void but hope to preserve my memories through my writing. --Adeline Yen Mah, CHINESE CINDERELLA