CUATRO HOMBRES SOLOS

In 2007, I interviewed tio Manuel Amezcua from Potrerillos, Jalisco, Mexico.  He came to West Linn to stay with me for a week; he also visited other family in three other states.    I know no man in this planet who is more honest and humble.  It was hard to control my tears when we had a heart to heart discussion.  What broke me down was his gratitude to my mom…”Gracias a tu mamά que yo conocí pantalones, porque antes de que ella me diera el dinero para comprar yo usaba pantalones de manta blanca amarrados con un cordón una camisa hecha a mano y sombrero.  El día que me puse pantalones anduve por las calles para que me viera la gente….gracias a “Salo” (a nickname given to my moma María. Manuel representa sinceridad, honestidad, humildad y un gran ser humano.  Mi tío como la mitad o más del rancho se vino aventurar a los USA desde muy temprano; se vino de bracero y a “a la brava”.. without any permission or documentation.

Galeria

Manuel Garcia also known an “Meňiol” (a blend for Manuel in English-Spanish) mayordomo  y socio de Lauro Bustamante (RIP) Observation by Merlene-Lauro’s  wife..”He would come to work in the field with his attire nicely clean and pressed and trousers creased; call it ORGULLO DE HOMBRE TRADICIONAL!  CREDIT also to his wife Aislada and daughters who revered the man of the house.  Manuel never retired he worked until he could no more.  As a child-WITH SPECIAL PRIDE AND APPRECIATION- I remember working side-by-side with Don Manuel (I did not dare to call him just Manuel) that would have been disrespectful.  We worked in the hops.  Manuel and his family lived his last years a couple of blocks from the Woodburn library.  I lament the fact that I did not have a chance to recall a bit of his past.  TIME did not become important to me until I began my journey into oral history.  Thanks to many of his family and compaňeros much of what I remember about this GRAN HOMBRE was confirmed.  LESSON LEARNED? Take the time, take the risk-maňana es HOY!