An Elder's Story

I think the best story of my family would be the life of my grandfather; he is probably one of the most interesting men I have ever met, mainly due to the strange stories he lets slip from his mind from time to time. His past is also fairly illusive in terms of where he came from. For example, one of our family mysteries is whether or not we are of full Mexican decent. Somewhere in our family line may lie some Native American blood, but we have never been able to confirm that although I know my grandfather has spent a lot of time in the “American west.” He spends a lot of time watching Western movies and always seems to have a nostalgic look on his face. I asked him about this once and he told me his family used to do some farming out in Texas and his casual often used to consist of cowboy hats and boots, even though where we live there is no need to use those articles.

I know he comes from Texas (as does my grandmother) and he occasionally tells us about it. One of my favorite stories (that I unfortunately cannot fully remember) is one where he and a few friends were out at a fishing hole and he caught a couple of fish that I've never heard of before. He described the fish as “a fighter and full of bones.” I remember him telling me that is was absolutely delicious. What struck me is how long he had known the story without ever revealing it before. And whenever he talks about Texas he mysteriously mentions a new family member that I've never heard of who he's gone on some adventure with. Either its a fishing hole, ranchero round up, or some other silly Western themed activity only done in Texas.

My grandfather's past has always been somewhat of a mystery to me, mainly because he's always been such an excellent conversationalist and a great entertainer with for the family. His relationship with my mother and her aunts has always been full of jolly jokes and small gambling adventures. I have always admired his ability to entertain and talk with anyone and he has always been a centerpiece in our family gatherings. Everyone talks with him and my grandmother, and even their conversations are entertaining with playful snaps and chatter. I can only wish that I could have the same type of relationships he has with the people I love in the future.