successful trip

Hello!

I actually returned on December 8 from Mexico City and San Felipe "Torres Mochas", Guanajuato, but I believe a large piece of my heart is still in Mexico. That trip has totally changed my life. Really. I don't really know where to begin because it was such an incredible experience.

Much of the success of this trip I attribute to the kind help of many of you. There is Carol Turner who advised me about collecting "classic" photos, which I did. I purchased a good digital camera just before I left and gave up trying to master the manual on the plane. Luckily my new primo's son was into things electronic and taught me how to use it. Lucky me! My 80-year-old primo Enrique Guzman Romero has been into genealogy for decades and has written extensively about his town especially researching why it is called "Torres Mochas". He has a magnificent collection of photos of several generations of the Romero family. The most outstanding was his collection of wedding photos. Beautiful. I have to go back when the weather is warmer because even with four days there just was not enough time to copy all the photos I wanted and gather information.

And thanks to Victor Villarreal for warning me about traveling alone. Just before I was to leave, I broke my left foot. That really affected my plans but there was no way I would not go. But I was fortunate that Continental Airlines helped me all the way there and back and I had to do very little hobbling. I took your advise about the airport taxi in Mexico City and got the pay in advance kind. Truthfully, my impetuous nature was challenged a bit because I had to depend on others to help me because I just could not manage the cobblestones with my "boot". Sigh. And I always seemed to be on cobblestone.

And thank you, Joseph. My first stop was to visit a 93 year old prima who asked me to come to her convent in Mexico City even though she confided to others she had no idea who I was. Imagine my chagrin when doing more looking through old photos I found one of the two of us, together. She is blind and almost deaf but she got a chuckle when I told her I had evidence that we had met in 1967 and had posed for several photographs together in San Antonio, Texas.

Joseph had advised me to actually make a list of the questions I would pose. That was so important. I had no problem with the small tape recorder; she couldn't see it, but because I had to speak into her ear, I had to make my questions clear and brief. She was so alert and had great answers. Once she started talking she was off non stop, she remembered so much that I hardly had to coax her at all. She came up with wonderful anecdotes about her life as a young woman. She even spoke of what a wonderful pianist "Manuel" was. I took a chance and asked her if she meant the Manuel Ponce who wrote "Estrellita". That's exactly whom she meant and she was off on an anecdote about him.

We had three wonderful sessions. Then she got the flu and she was so medicated that she slept for the next three days that I was there. I regretted not being able to visit more with her but it gave me an opportunity to speak to the other Sisters in the convent and I heard great stories about their experiences during the revolution and when they were young. With them I visited a wonderful bazaar of indigenous arts and later a Pastorela at a school. I ate some interesting foods. But it was so cold. Even though I had warm clothing with me, it just wasn't enough.

Sister Beatrice drove me to the airport when I was gong to Leon, Guanajuato. She has nerves of steel. She just smiled when she heard me gasp.

My primo and his son Oscar met me at the airpor at Leon. What a blessing because our destination was another hour away...at a fast clip through some very mountainous, curvey upward climbing highway. I clung to the seat as I looked dowwwn. It was beautiful but just so far down there and I wondered if it was really necesarry to drive so fast.

Emilie Garcia had advised me to take large photos. I took her advice and prepared a bound copy of our family photos. It was a hit. My host and primo, Enrique, seemed to like it very much. He carried it around, showing it off. Thanks, Emilie.

But the gift Enrique had for me far surpassed anything I could imagine. He teased me about my complaints that I came from " una familia muy chiquita". I followed him to his studio and watched as he reached for a long roll which he slowley unrolled across his desk. It must have measured about 7 ft. "Aqui esta tu familia "chiquita"", he smiled. I couldn't breathe! It was covered with names and photographs. I really wanted to cry. Immediately I saw my great grandfather's photo as a handsome young man. And I learned that his mother's name was Josefa Galvan.

There were so many beautiful people all down the length of the tree. There were hundreds of names. I was speechless. "Jamas puedes decir que tienes una familia chiquita!" But I wondered how I was going to get a copy of this. From the drive through the small town I seriously doubted that there was a "Kinkos". But, on the fourth day he surprised me by carefully rolling it up and giving it to me before I left for the return trip. Such generosity.

I did contribute something to him, however, that he did not expect...a branch, well, maybe a twig, on his great tree. Somehow, my grandmother Petra Romero Gonzalez, had disappeared altogether. Her brother and sister were there, but she appeared no where. He was so surprised that he got on the phone and called relatives in San Luis whom he had interviewed and who had spoken affectionately about the othe two siblings but never mentioned Petra. And they still did not know about her. They insisted she did not exist but of course I had photos of her and even some documents clearly identifying her. She even lived in the area for 40 years.

I went through some very sad moments and Enrique and I were on the internet, on the phone and even made a couple of visits to interview living relatives who still remembered the family. I was crushed when they would shake their head and say they never heard of her. It really made me very upset. Petra was the child of Victor Romero Galvan's first marriage. He had many children from his second marriage and I knew that my grandmother for some reason did not like the second wife. In fact when her mother died, she was sent to live with her "madrina", but she knew the second wife,Sotera Gutierrez. Enrique and I worked an average of 5 to 8 hours a day, far into the night, searching everywhere and everything, photos, lists, calling here and there, to no avail.

Now I just want to know "why". In fact I have a list of 13 "whys".

I don't remember who told me about dreaming about our ancestors. I did. A lot. Maybe it was because I studied the photos all four days that I was there. Over and over, looking for a familiar face in a group photo. Looking for some clue. In my dreams I could see them all, walking around, saying something to me, but I couldn't understand. It was a recurring dream and I could see their mouths move, but couldn't hear the words . I could especially see my bisabuelo, come so close to me, speak, smile and move away. I told Enrique; he just shrugged his shoulders. He saw that I was upset. So, we promised to meet when it is warmer and my foot is healed and go to San Luis Potosi where there is another primo who has a collection of family letters. We hope maybe one of them will give us some information.

When I got home, I wasted no time in moving all of Petra's material from the Romero binder to the Garana binder. They won't get her back until they let me know why they ostracized (?) ignored(?) alienated (?) her. There is a story there and I so want to know even though in knowing it may cause more hurt. My father warned me when I started this many years ago. He said to be certain you were ready to accept anything you might find out. Now I wonder if he knew something. It would be safer to just get dates and connections and not stories...but people are more than dates. And if what I learn is shocking or hurtful, I'll deal with it.

So, back to the drawing board.

On ROMERO family tree there are the following who lived in Salinas, SLP, Aguascalientes, San Luis Potoso,SLP, Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco. The oldest names date to 1800.

ALVARADO, AVILA, ANDRADE, ARAGON, AGUIRRE, BALERO, BLANCO, CARREON, CORTEZ, CASTANEDA, CASTILLO, CARMIN, CHAVEZ, CHENHOLLS, CAMPOS, CERVANTEX, CANALES, CASTELAZA, CORILLO, CONTRERAS, CASTRO, DE LA ROSA, DELGADO, DE ESNAURRIZAR, DELGADILLO, DEL TORO, ESQUIVEL, ESCUDERO, FLURY, FONSECA, GARCIA, GARZA, GAMA, GUEVARA, GALLARDO, GRIMALDO, HERNANDEZ, HIGUERA, IZCARENO, ISAIS, JUAREZ, KOUBICHER, LUNA, LOPEZ, LLAMAS, LICON, MARIN, MATA, MANTECA, MENDIOLA, MONTOYA, MEDINA, MUNOS, MEDELLIN, NAJERA, OWENS, OROZCO, OTERO, PINA, PEDROSA, PRIETO, PEREZ, PONCE, RIVERO, ROJAS, ROMERO, RODRIGUEZ, REGALADO, RAMOS, RUIZ, ROMAN, REBOLLEDO, ROBINSON, SALINAS, SAUSO, SNCHEZ, SAN JOSE, SALDIVAR, TREJO, UGARTE, VIDALES, VALADEZ, VELARDE, VELEZ, ZUAREZ,

My poor primo tried so hard, but we came up with nothing. Well, when I left, I was so grateful for all and he did go to his computer, type up our twig and paste it on. I came back with many anecdotes about life in their times; Mimi Lozano suggested that I write them up and submit them to her. I may. It was Mimi who lead me to Ranchos so I am especially grateful to her.

Again, thanks to everyone for the help and encouragement. If any of the above names are of interest to anyone, i'll be happy to provide what I have.

I think I have become genealogy obsessed. Now I just can't stop. But I still did not find a thing about the GARANA side!

Mary

PS You may not hear from me for a while, but rest assured that everyday I read everything single item with great interest and gusto. I wish you all a peaceful Christmas and a wonderful new year full of new discoveries. May your ancestors be kind and allow themselves to be found!!