The Leftovers

‘With a smile, he replied that courage could not be taught:  You were either born with it or you were not.’--Dov Hoenig, in his book, TRIUMPH STREET, BUCHAREST 

This was the week of the GARCIA Family Reunion in Denver, Colorado that I had been preparing for over the last 12-months with cousins, Linda Tafoya-Korenke in Idaho Falls and MaryAnn Montoya-Gehling in Colorado Springs.   The reunion happened on Saturday, August 29th which is the day my father passed away in 1987.  It’s also nine days after his mother (my grandmother) would have turned 100 years old.  Her birthday was August 20, 1898.  This was a significant event for me and for my father and my grandmother, Matilde.   

Pictures are worth one-thousand words, so here goes:

Here I am pictured with Tony Garcia’s son, Floyd Rudolfo Garcia of Taos, NM and my niece, Lauren Armijo, seated next to me in blue overalls.  My niece, Holly Armijo, was also behind me in a white top with other members scattered about.

Announcements were made, food was served and mingling continued to the point that we were all amazed how we were all connected in some way or another.

There was representation from Matilde’s descendants as well as all her Garcia siblings:  Augustin b. 1893; Jesusita b. 1894; Eulalia b. 1896; Tony b. 1904; Mela b. 1907; Lori b. 1911.  Many were from Denver but many traveled from Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Colorado Springs, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Northern and Southern California.  The family is scattered in various parts of the USA.  

Pictured here is my cousin, Edna Garcia with her husband, Mike Maestas, and their grandson, Ricky Isaiah Fierro.  Edna represents the eldest of my grandmother Matilde’s brothers:  AUGUSTIN JOSE GARCIA b. 1893 d. 1934 

Edna writes me often as you may recall. Sadly, her eldest daughter, Consuelo Casados, died in a car accident in 1995, so she and husband, Mike, are raising Little Ricky as if their own son.

Pictured here are the descendants of JESUSITA GARCIA b. 1894 d.1945:

Arriving a tad later was Jesusita’s son, Ben Tafoya, wife Bernice and son, Michael Tafoya who are in this photo: 

Pictured here are the descendants of EULALIA GARCIA b. 1896 d.1977: 

Pictured here are myself and the others descending from my paternal grandmother, MATILDE GARCIA b. 8/20/1898 d. 9/22/1964: 

Pictured here are the descendants of TONY ABAD GARCIA b. 1904 d. 1995: 

Pictured here are the descendants of MELA (Manuelita) GARCIA b. 1907 d. 1996:

 Pictured here are the descendants of LORI (Loretta Helen) GARCIA b. 1911 d. 1993:

There was a lot of sharing and identifying.  The name tags identifying which sibling you are connected to really helped.  By the end of the night, these were THE LEFTOVERS, the relatives that remained after most of them had gone home.  Left to right: 

Photo: Linda Tafoya-Korenke, MaryAnn Montoya-Gehling, Patrick Montoya, Eva Tafoya-Montoya, Isabelle Kathryn-Montoya, “ME”, Dottie (Dorothy Alice) Montoya-Gerstner, her husband, Allen Gerstner, my mom Virginia M Lucero-Armijo, and my nieces, Holly Armijo and Ashley Armijo.  

And when I returned home there was a postcard from Sandra Donald aka Rita Sandra Cordova-Donald, granddaughter of Matilde Garcia, my paternal first cousin who is in a Mississippi Prison.  There’s always dysfunction in every family and she is one who took the wrong road.  Life is a struggle, and we learn the most from our struggles.  Sandra wrote on a red sportscar postcard that I had sent her: 

8-31-98 

My Dearest Cousin, 

I spent several minutes admiring your envelope, the stamps and your handwriting!  It was so good to hear from you.  For a minute I thought you had sent me some pictures of yourself... 

I have been calling Oscar (my brother) quite often.  Sometimes I resent how he has devoted all his life to his wife’s family (Elsie).  God forgive me.   

I am so happy to know that my son, Harmon, will be home soon.  Our Americans are in danger of their lives with all the terrorism going on.   

Cuz, have a wonderful time in Denver.  I can’t believe a year has passed since you mentioned your reunion plans to me. 

God Bless You,  

Sandra Donald  

From the Denver Reunion, pictured here is the immediate family of Oscar Cordova (another grandson to Matilde Garcia & Sandra Donald’s brother), with his wife Elsie, their sons and grandchildren: 

'There has long been established a legend to the effect that good Americans when they die go, not to heaven, but to Paris.’ --Lucius Beebe, in his book, SNOOT IF YOU MUST