TRANSCRIPTION
What are your earliest childhood memories?
I remember playing outside with my sisters and brothers when we lived in Mexico City. Sometimes we spent most of our time inside cleaning the house, and helping my mom with dinner.
Why did you move to San Antonio?
My older sister was already starting a live in San Antonio, and I just wanted to move and be with her. There was no opportunity in Mexico, and I wanted to experience going to the United States.
How did you feel when you first arrived to San Antonio?
It was nice, I was really excited moving and seeing my older sister Margarita.
What school did you go to when you came to San Antonio?
I went to Fox Tech night school; I didn't know English that well so I had to go to night school because the other kids and teachers spoke too fast for me. There I started to learn English a little bit more, but I still needed more practice.
Where did you live when you came to San Antonio?
I lived in a house on Minter St near Guadalupe St and S. Zaramora. It was a white house, not that big really, but it had enough room for me and my brothers and sisters.
Did you graduate high school?
No. I only went to school for two years then I stopped going. I felt embarrassed to go because the other kids would look at me while I'll read, and it felt uncomfortable to me because I couldn't read English perfectly.
What did you do after you dropped out?
Oh, I started working doing laundry and babysitting the neighbors kids. I would help my sister Margarita at the dry cleaners, and learned how to sew and press.
What did you do on your off time?
Well I didn't go out much; my father immigrated to San Antonio later after I did, so he lived with us. By him being there he didn't want me or my younger sister Mary Lou to go out that much or have friends. I enjoyed being with my sisters and having fun with them.
Did you ever travel much across the city?
Not really, only downtown a few times, but we never really went far away from where we lived. There wasn't much of anything back then, just trees and grass. We never had to travel that far for anything.
How much would you make when you did laundry?
Hmm, I think around $2.50/hr is what they paid me. It wasn't like what minimum wage is now oh no. But to me it was ok, I didn't complain.
How did you meet Grandpa?
Oooo, I met your grandpa when I was a waitress at the Nogalitios Café on Nogalitios St. He would always come in the morning with his friends and order tacos. Sometimes he would ask the manager that he wanted me to be there waitress. I never liked him though; after they left he would always leave me a tip of 1 cent! But it was how he showed his interest in me, from there he asked me out and yeah.
Where did yall get married at?
Me and your grandpa got married in Seguin at the courthouse there.
Why in Seguin?
Well because when I first started dating your grandpa, my father hated him. He would tell me in Spanish that he didn't want your grandpa around me, and he's no good. So your grandpa and me decided to drive off to Seguin and get married there in secret.
After getting married, where did you and grandpa live?
Right after we get married your grandpa went and bought the house on E. Lambert. He surprised me one day and said this is where we're going to live and raise our children.
Did you continue to work after you got married?
No. Shortly after me and your grandpa got married we had your aunt Frances and Uncle Joe. Your grandpa didn't want me working anyways, He wanted to be the provider of the house and wanted me to stay at home and raised the children, cook, clean.
Did you send your children to public school?
No, your grandpa wanted to send your uncles and aunt to church for school. We went to enroll them at St. Philips Catholic Church right there down the Bank St. Then for high school they all went to Brack.
How was it raising all four of your children?
It was fun; I will never forget all of your uncles and aunt when they were your age. While your grandpa was working I had to do almost everything but your uncles managed to hold their own at a young age. I had a lot of help from your grandpa's family to, his sisters and Brother Raymond.
What pets did you have?
I always loved birds. So I would have like bird feeders or ask your grandpa to buy me a birdcage so I could have my own. My favorite cartoon was Tweety Bird, and I named one of my birds that.
What hobbies did you have?
I loved sewing, after having my kids; I would make them blankets and pillows. Your aunt would help me sometimes; we would make things for people we knew were having baby showers and such.
Is there anything else you would like to add to this interview?
I'm proud of you mijo, that you're in college now and working for the police department. I raised your daddy right, so he could raised you right.
