(Photo: Some rights reserved by Spirit635)
When I was 12 years old, the brother of one of my best friends offered me cocaine. I watched nervously as he arranged the white powder into neat little lines on a small mirror in his bedroom…Then he held the tray out for me as casually as he would a platter of Pixy Stix.
(Photo: Dad slapping da’ bass)
In this story, Dad starts his first band after a good friend of his spends all of his money to buy him an amp. The nerve of some people!
Read more "The Band"(Photo: My mom, my oldest brother Tino, and our father, Snoop Doggy-Dog)
The title of this blog defines my Great-Grandfather perfectly. He was truly a class act. A man full of kindness, love, and generosity. I hope you have been enjoying his stories as much as I have.
Read more "A Class Act"From Left to Right: Nino (Great Grandpa Ezekiel) with Tino, Rose, and Toby Preciado.
Dad shares some stories about Nino working in the fields, working his flatulence out in the room that they shared, and working his mad game with the ladies…
Read more "Nino in America"(Photo by simpleinsomnia)
There is a story from Preciado Family folklore where Nino was talking to some guy who owed him money. They were in their home in Mixtlan back then and this guy was giving him a sob story to explain why he couldn’t pay back the money that he owed him. Nino listened very patiently and with great sympathy for the man. He was buying it all and Epifania knew he was going to let him off the hook despite their family’s desperate need for income. So she took matters into her own hands, left the room for a minute, and came back with a gun.
“You are going to pay us,” she said. “Or you’re not going to leave this house…”
Read more "Nino"(Photo: From left to right. You know. Just like how you read. Mom, Dad, and Tino circa 6 years old?)
Dad discovers that he has a knack for playing the recorder flute, but his dreams of stardom are crushed early. He also runs into trouble which leaves the streets stained Indian Red.
(Picture: Toribio “Toby” Preciado Circa 18 Years of Old)
Dad meets his good friend Henry who teaches him to be as American as baseball.
Read more "From Toribio to Toby"Photo: Some rights reserved by Robert Huffstutter.
La familia Preciado finds it difficult to adjust to the different flavors in America. Toribio builds a castle and then talks his way into his first job in the States.
Read more "La Esperanza"Young Toribio loses a bit of innocence when he discovers that his family is poor. He also is forced to learn English quickly in order to make the Wimpy Burgers that his family loves edible.
Read more "Wimpy Burgers"How long does it take to get to America anyways?
Whoa! It’s going to take a lot longer with those in the way. Rumarosa? I hope we don’t go that high up. Dios mio! There’s almost no room between us and the cliff. What the…?Look at all of those car wrecks down there!
“Dad,” one of the siblings said. “Are there any bodies in those cars down there still?”
“Oh, yeah!” Nabor said. “A lot of people died right here…”
Read more "The First Time Dad Saw the Ocean"
Josiah Preciado 