MY DAD MARRIED MY MOM WHEN HE WAS 18. MY MOM ALREADY HAD 11 CHILDREN AND HE DID WHAT HE COULD TO SUPPORT US ALL. I WAS 3 OR 4 WHEN THEY MARRIED. THEY HAD 3 MORE CHILDREN TOGETHER. MY DAD WAS A COOK FOR A LONG TIME AT RAYS DRIVE-IN AND AFTER THAT HE BECAME A CARPENTER.


HE LOVED THE HOLIDAYS I REMEMBER THAT HE WOULD ALWAYS COOK ON HOLIDAYS, ON CHRISTMAS I WOULD GO WITH HIM TO PICK OUT OUR TREE. AND WE WOULD DECORATE IT HE WOULD CARRY ME WHEN I WAS SMALL SO I COULD PUT THE SANTA'S FACE AT THE TOP ( I STILL HAVE IT).


ON EASTER HE WOULD TAKE US TO BRACKENBRIDGE PARK TO SPEND THE NIGHT AND HE WOULD COOK THAT DAY FOR US. HE TOOK US TO THE PARADES TOO.


HE WOULD ALWAYS MAKE TAMALES FOR CHRISTMAS NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR FRIENDS TOO.