Remembering my maternal grandparents: Carlos, Sr. and Maria B. Garcia, of Alice, Texas. This is a picture of me, circa 1951, with my maternal grandparents on a trip to San Antonio, TX. I was five years old. My grandparents took me on many trips because dad was always busy working, so he and mom could never take my younger brother and me on trips. Mother was my grandparents only daughter; she had a brother, Carlos, Jr. My grandparents were an extraordinary influence on my life - they were strong role models. About once a month, they would travel to San Antonio for doctors appointments. I guess I was a good child, because they always wanted me to travel with them. Usually, after my mama grandes early appointment, papa grande would take us downtown for a bit of shopping. I recall that there were many people in downtown San Antonio, and most of them were all dressed up. Papa grande always wore a suit, and mama grande always dressed up, too. I recall seeing photographers on the sidewalks, taking pictures of shoppers. I loved going on those trips with my grandparents. I never dared ask for anything. I just knew that I would be taken to a new place to enjoy food, entertainment, and the like. It was on those monthly trips with my grandparents that I would be exposed to new and wonderful things and places. My grandparents exposed me to restaurants, to the arts, the theatre, the zoo, and the Japanese Sunken Gardens, among other things and places. They made me feel special. They instilled honesty, sincerity, a belief in God and goodness toward others, and they spoke about the importance of an education. They also spoke to me about humility, and they stressed that I should be proud of my culture and heritage. My papa grande taught me to read Spanish when I was in first grade. We would sit on the swing in my grandparents front porch, and he always had his newspaper, LA PRENSA, ready for me to begin reading for him. I was my grandparents first grandchild to graduate with B.S. and M.S. Degrees, and they were there to proudly watch me graduate. I have so many beautiful memories of my mama grande and papa grande and their influence on me. They so shaped and enriched my life!
Posted on: Fri, 26 Sep 2014 15:15:29 +0000