Mom Visits Amarillo

"Mijito I just have this horrible premonition that prompts me a need to go east in to Texas." Not south but east, must mean Amarillo. If it was south it would be El Paso, but she has Amarillo in her mind. And it's not a matter of geological matters but of family matters.

I have two borther in Amarillo; one is Cruz who has lived a hard life and still does. Don't know Cruz? His name is literally religous, named after a cross, or any cross by that matter. I have a hard time remembering too much about Cruz, even today, I just don't know him real well. I do know when he drinks, he can be difficult and he is constantly difficult. But he is our brother and despite all the pain and suffering that has been a staple of his life, he remains a son, brother, tio, dad and friend to every member of this clan. I know most of you do not know cruz and some may not even remember what he looks like, but there is a movie "Born in the USA" where there is a religious person in a cell that bares his exact resemblence to him, here.

The other is Tony, who also lived a hard life, but perhaps for different reasons, but what does it matter, it is still a hard life. I know mom loves all her children, but recently her thoughts have been with with Tony. The oldest of the first generation of Marentes and someone who has a heart of gold. An innovator who enjoys collecting music. I still remember when I was young and Tony use to make his own boom boxes from car speakers and would covered them with carpet. A lot of my passion for Mexican music came from growing up listening to the music Tony played on a daily basis.

We have a very popular saying when someone does something hastily with little preparation, you did it "al estilo Tony." Nothing was impossible for Tony, he built it, his own way with his own limited abilities, and let me tell you, it was a product to feast your eyes upon. I remember going in his room and seen stars painted on the ceiling, a fucken genious that Tony!

I remember Tony fixing his own cars after he wrecked them, plastering them with bando and painting them with spray paint he bought at Checkers auto store. I remember a particular little bug Volkwagen with a huge 8 track player taking all of the space on the dash and 8 speakers surrounding the interior. The car almost never ran, but there was always music to sooth the soul. Everyone has their priorities, Tony is no different, he has his passion, music.

Tony spent and still works in the miserable profession of a butcher in a slaughter plant. These places will suck your life away and spit you out when you are no longer able to carry out the duties. On your feet for hours, it will beat you down, sooner or later, you will surrender to your fate. Your body and mind will give in, give up and eventually give out. So mom has reason to have nightmares and sleepless nights of worries. She always worries, it is nothing new but the recent declining quality of life that has become part of Tony is reason to lose sleep for someone you love.

And so mom makes her pilgrimish to Amarillo to lay her healing hands of a caring mother on the battered body of a loving son. We depart on the journey to the yellow city this coming weekend, headed east to cross the Texas line, and visit the Innovator that loves music and the brother that destiny forgot.