The man who began the wanderlust in me, my father; in the photo above, walking across the International Bridge in Laredo, Texas/Mexico.
My thoughts can’t help but wander back to the man who put the travel bug in my soul, his birthday would have been coming up this 18th of October. He was a journalist and was lucky enough to get some travel in through different assignments, but his later years were writing a daily column for the local newspaper in San Antonio, Texas.
I look back, and can relate now to that itch to get up and go, but being held back by family responsibilities. To ease the itch, my Dad made sure that he did what he could, and that at least, summer vacations took us to Mexico; a getaway and family reunions all in one. As I grew older, he made sure that I spent most of my summers in Mexico. The tios y tias (uncles and aunts) in Mexico picked up where he left off.
The tios, Arturo and Joe; my Dad’s brothers that lived in Mexico City. They lived on their own terms and I loved it. Time? Didn’t mean anything much in those days to them as I recall. There was many a trip I remember when Tio Arturo was supposed to get us to the train station for our departure back home, and pulling in to the train station as the train was pulling out! No problem, we shoved our suitcases back in the car, jumped in and made a death-defying race (think Nascar) to the next town where the train was scheduled to stop; the town was Lecheria, and jokes about Lecheria would last a long, long time.
There are a lot of old photos I’ve recently found, and there are stories within each photo that were before my time. I can only make up the stories in my mind, and that, somehow or another, brings me great joy.
That’s my Dad on the left in the photo below; I’m not sure who the other man is, but I have this feeling it may be my grandfather. I’ll have to put out an APB to my cousins for help.
There’s a Mexican slang term I’ve just learned, pata de perro, paw of the dog, meaning someone who likes to wander or travel. If the paw fits…
Previous posts on Mexico memories can be found here with links there to more.
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Thanks so much for the pingback! Very much appreciated.
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Loved your story about missing the train, Angeline! It reminded me of Dad’s and my misadventures catching the train back to school – we had to travel over a hundred miles, one time. 🙂
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Aren’t the travel years of our youth, misadventures and all, wonderful to think on? I think the misadventures makes the memories even better. Gosh, over a hundred miles? That had to have been quite the trip! Thanks, M, glad you’ve enjoyed the story.
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Oh I agree – the more “mis” in our adventures the more indelible the memory, Angeline! Dad must have had a hellava job putting a good light on our little jaunt when mum will have (inevitably) asked about how it went, putting me on the train! 🙂
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I bet he had a good story ready to tell her 🙂
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I wonder … he wasn’t very adept at figuring out things like stories to distract Mum’s intense questioning! 🙂
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Questions that go unanswered.
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Um 🙂
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He looks like a determined young man in the photo. I loved that story of racing the train. I remember many times when after a family gathering, someone was late and missed the train… sometimes the boat… but all was resolved eventually.
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He was definitely a determined person. He taught me a lot on that score. Most of our trips always had a comedic element to them. Travel snafus always seem to work themselves out.
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Thanks for the pingback and publishing my post on your website! Very much appreciated!
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Pingback: Baja123.com Mexico Real Estate Blog : The Sunday Chronicle: Mexico; In Memory
Thank you so very much for publishing my post on your website. I am extremely honored.
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I think him and I would get along just fine. 😀 my family always take a vacation to father’s birthplace as well i only have memories of it…fond memories.
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I’ve learned the man with my dad in the last photo in my post is not a family member…that was just my dad who always charmed everyone he met. You and him would have gotten along great…writer buddies!
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Yes, that’d be a great blog name 🙂
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I am going to do it! Thanks for your vote! Actually I think it will be a new page, until I can figure out how to maintain this blog and another…don’t know if it’s good to have two different blogs, I might drive myself crazy.
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I couldn’t even think about it! Mine desperately needs an overhaul but thinking and doing are two different things with me 🙂
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I need to put out a question to anyone else that has two blogs and see how they do it. But I am thinking that just one blog with some way to separate travel and the every day would be best if I want to stay sane 🙂
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What a beautiful post Angeline and the photos are wonderful. Your father was a handsome man and his love for travel reminds me of my dad. I’m sure you miss him. Hope you post more stories on his life. Sounds fascinating.
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Thanks, Nicole. He did love travel, and saw to it that it was passed on.
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Sounds familiar! 🙂
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That first photo of your dad is just great! I think it captures the essence of that time in Mexico. The elegance and the joy for the good living! a real treasure!
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Thanks, Stein. That first photo is a favorite of mine, capturing my dad’s joie de vivre; I can almost feel his joy at walking across that bridge into the Mexico he loved.
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Good memories of dear dad are precious and your wonderful photos prove what a distinctive man he was! So fortunate we are to have those precious parts of our past that can help remind us of how far we have came! Thank you for a great walk down memory lane. always, Eddie
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Thank you, Eddie. Seeing these photos brings up my past front and center, and wonderful memories of family.
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Nostalgic and engaging–both images and commentary.
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Great story. I need to get a hat like that.
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Thanks, Professor. My dad always wore hats like that. I think the Professor definitely needs a hat like that!
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Very true! It would make a professor out of me.
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I think it would add to the gravitas of your stature and position.
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I love those old, Mexican photos of yours. I find it interesting to see how people dressed and how cars & houses looked like at the time.
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Thanks, Cardinal G. It is fascinating to see the dress at that time, and how the men mostly wore suits. Glad you like the photos.
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pata de perro indeed, Angeline! great photos to pull out stories from!…
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Good morning, Juls. Ha! Don’t you just love that term? And I think I was sent to that box of photos to get me started writing about these years so rich in my life’s history.
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it must be really entertaining to go through them and remember the good old days! have fun and write well!
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Thanks, Juls. I shall!
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Love the photo of your Father walking across the bridge, Angeline. How dapper! These photos are priceless.
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Thanks, John. He always dressed in suit and tie….and hat! No matter it was 100 degrees outside!!
These photos are indeed so very priceless. And I scan and write. Got lots of scanning to do.
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Thanks, Sally. I’m glad that you like the snatches of narrative/story.
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Really cool photos. I love old photos. Sounds like you had a great childhood.
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Thanks, Joy. There is just something about old photos, whether you know those in the photos or not.
A childhood that was blessed by parents who loved me, and relatives who did too. The usual ups and downs, but mostly ups.
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I love your posts about the old days in Mexico.
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Thanks, Alison. It feels so good to sit down and write a little bit about those times. I still have a ton of photos to go through, and the weather has cooled down, which will allow me a lot of time out in the garage with that box of photos to help me write more.
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I appreciate you sharing your wonderful memory. You father looked so dignified walking across the Bridge. These are precious photos!
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Thanks, Amy. I am so happy to share these memories.
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Amazing pictures – and then those memories connecting them to you own life. No wonder you have the travel bug – or pata de perro. I love that expression by the way.
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What is amazing to me is how we are now returning to black and white street photography (as well as other areas of photography)….going back to our roots.
I just may re-name my blog to pata de perro 🙂
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I think it is a very original name!!!!! Y significa mucho!!!! Me encanta Angeline!!!! A veces somos más conscientes de lo que fuimos a través de las viejas fotos y viejas historias….
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Nos vamos a Mexico a fines de Noviembre; creo que para escribir de eso, voy a empezar otro blog con el nombre Pata de Perro (si no ay uno con ese nombre). Estas fotos me abriedon los ojos un poquito mas de mi familia.
Gracias, Ilargia.
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great pics! When I see my mothers images from way back, I just wished I can step back to time and see it all happen. If only for awhile, I can just take it all in and feel that moment…
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The photos help me to step back, and see a life that went on before me; and yes, I would also love to step in there for just a little while.
Good to see you here, Laz!
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