Memories & recuperating ramblings.

My grandfather, Julian built the house I grew up in. That was in 1926. Their other house had been set on fire one evening while Grandpa, Grandma & Uncle Abran went to the fiesta. I think Abran was courting my future aunt Lucy. Four of their children died that night. My Aunt Maria and  Uncle Joe survived. They were supposed to be babysitting. Joe ran out to get help, but Maria stayed in the house & was found under a bed with the kids. Her back was turned to the fire in her attempt to save them. Maria died at age 25 from burn complications. Tins of kerosene & rags were found around the house by the police, But, the crime was never solved.

There were rumors floating around in the family, & amongst family friends, for years about who set that fire so long ago. The one rumor that never died was that one of Grandpa's brothers had done the dirty deed because he was jealous when Grandpa inherited what was essentially a section of land that now has over 100 homes built on it. (He offered me the last lot left when I was 18 years old. But silly me...it was too close to my ex-in-laws for me, so I turned the land down & Grandpa sold it to my 2nd serious boyfriend. But that was okay with me because both of us were married & had children already.)

Grandma was pregnant with Auntie Alice & went into such a grief state that she became catatonic for a small period of time. I was told that Grandpa would get up early, dress & try to feed Grandma before he would go to work. He would rush home, try to feed her again, bathe her & put her to bed, then take care of Maria. The older kids helped, but I know this was a labor of love for my Gramps. Grandma started getting better just before she gave birth to Auntie Alice. He sold off lots to pay medical bills & build the house.

My mother, Josefina, & my last 2 uncles Eddie & Julio were born in that house. My Grandmother & Grandfather also died in that house. They came full circle.

The house had the adobes laid width-wise, instead of length-wise. We could sit in the window sills! It had a huge pantry comparable to a walk in closet. And, trasteros cut into the adobe, The shelves were of sturdy 2 x 6 planks & had glass doors, The house was cool in the summer & with the help of a pot belly wood stove warm in the winter. I loved that old house. It was recently gutted by a person that has a lease to purchase agreement with my sister & my son. I hope that he left the old world charm in tact.
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On  another note:

Yesterday 7/26/13 was my last day of PT!  I was given more exercises to do 3-4 times per day. Took several steps without the "cane". Am so looking forward to being able to walk without aids so I can get back to work. Mostly because I am stuck with a huge house payment until then.

I am trying to refinance to lower the payment. That's on hold until I go back to work fulltime. So I'm thinking of calling a company in El Paso that buys houses for what you owe. At this point my thought is, "It's just a house."
The lawn needs to be mowed & weeds pulled. Guess I'll call a company to come do that. Or, maybe, I can call on a friend. Hate to impose on people. Don't you hate to do that too? I was taught to be self sufficient & do "it" myself. And, believe me, that's the way it's been most of my life.

On a sadder note: my daughter is leaving tomorrow, Sunday. She has been with me since Father's Day. Thank God for her. She has cooked nutritious meals, cleaned, did the laundry, fed & watered the dogs, dumped the trash, shopped, driven me around, made sure I exercise & get plenty of rest. And, above all----make sure I don't fall. That would not be a good thing. She is very precious to me.

But, my sister is here. I am so blessed to have people that love me enough to take time out of their busy lives to be with me at this time.