Oh, bless you Joseph,
Don't let us in our eagerness overwhelm you. I did vote that we
keep the group open to only those that are researching the three
states, since my brick walls went up there (also one in your other group).
I like that you have the stipulation that all new members be approved by you and
that you ask, prior to you accepting them, that they send you a file of their
current research to prove they are not just fishing.
Besides your other group I have joined Jonathan's "all Mexico" group, so if
I have questions about Durango or Southern Chihuahua, I can go there. He
has access to every film and book, etc. in the main FHC respository, so his
group can fill in some blanks for me there, I hope.
I did not realize that Nueva Galicia, of which our area was only a part,
was so huge an area. I am going to try and get myself a map of it, then
superimpose it on a current map of Mexico.
As for brick walls, your persistance has paid off. Dr. Armand Hammer
(a noted millionaire who helped others) said, "When I work fourteen hours a day,
seven days a week, I get lucky". Ray Croc of McDonald's fame, also said
"Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you work, the luckier you
get". I've noticed that most of my brick walls have been broken
down when I get a surge of energy or insight into a lead and spend hours and
hours on it. I still have a few brick walls to break down, but I
count myself lucky that I have been able to develop family trees going back
mostly to the 1700's but some to 1598. I am also retired and can devote as
much time as I want to this hobby.
As for the name "ranchos", the concept of "ranchos" has been hard for my
brain to wrap around. It is well-known in Mexico or to those born there,
but since my father left there in 1913 and never referred to them or spoke much
of his life there, it has escaped me. I first heard of the term in the
Jerezano group, which I still belong to but rarely look at since it has become
more a forum for young Mexicans with their provincial rivalries between the
existing "ranchos" in Jerez and focus on their dueling "bandas" whose rabid fans
end up in vulgar name-calling, etc. I used to try to get them to talk
about their ancestors or historical buildings, etc, but they are not in the
least interested, and they are there in the middle of all that glorious
history.
Also, my husband's family of university-educated professionals in Mexico
sneered at anything that smacked of "ranchero". When I visited them in
Mexico City, I told them how disappointed I was that their homes looked just
like the homes in the US. There was nothing ethnic in them, no serapes, no
pottery, etc. They told me pointedly that people in their circle think such
things are "ranchero" and they don?t care for them. They were very
European and snobbish and agnostic even though I have traced their ancestry in
Mexico back to the 1600s (they probably came with Cortez). In their homes
and when we went out they preferred continental cuisine, but did take us to some
restaurants that served typical Mexican food. However, the red sauce was hotter
than anything I had ever had. They chided me for not eating what the
babies in the high-chairs were eating (red hot enchiladas), ha., ha. My husband
doesn't like any ethnic décor either. He likes the sleek super-modern,
clean lines like Japanese, etc. I would love to decorate the house in the pueblo
style of my mother's New Mexico ancestors, but even my mother didn't like
that. She liked "shabby chic" American country style, and that is what I
have ended up with since I inherited much of her things.
Well, I ramble as usual. Bless you again, Joseph, for everything you
have done for us. It is really more special than you know. We really
appreciate it.
Emilie Garcia
Port Orchard, WA ---
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, November 03, 2005 4:11
PM
Subject: [ranchos] Cansado
I grow weary.
I can't go any more than how I'm
going.
If we were to get a few moderators to handle all the added
traffic and
keep things orderly including dealing with Data Miners I might
consider
opening up the research area. But truthfully I can't handle
anymore and
if Ranchos were to double in size just from the geographic
area as is
I'd be in serious time trouble. I think the handwritting is on
the wall.
This group might need a new Moderator before too much
longer.
For that matter why not just everyone move over to Jonathan's
group? its
already in place covering all of Mexico. Afterall its the
membership
that make the group, isn't it? Why can't you all join that
group also.
There you'd be able to discuss all of Mexico without
restriction.
there is nothing special about here. Awhile ago about 15
months or so we
opened up and took in Aguascalientes. I'm all in favor of
taking in all
of historical Nueva Galicia. But I just don't have the
energy to do it.
hey why not lets just leave this group as it but have
a Nueva Galicia
comittee. That comittee (I'm not on it though) the
comittee would then
plan out the perfect group and then just build it.
When that group is up
and running everybody can go there and join. After
awhile people can
consider keeping their membership in both places or just
deleting from
Ranchos and going over to the "Nueva Galicia" group. I think
you all
need to take up a collection (say 5 bucks a year) and do the Nueva
Galica group right. You could have a knock down dead good looking site
with plenty of file space and if you all worked together it would
work.
what do you think?
jseph
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