My Tata
wasn’t perfect. But he was a perfect Tata.
He was there to care for us, get after us when we needed it, feed us
when were hungry, move the antenna so that we could watch a different channel
on the TV, but most of all to love us. I know he loved me. He and my Nana loved unconditionally. They were not putting on a show or
pretending. They loved us all.
Both my Nana
and Tata were born in Christmas, Arizona. But they didn’t meet until almost 18
years later when they both lived in Ajo. They married and started a
family. That family grew . . . 8 kids, 14
grandkids, 26 great-grandkids and 13 great-great-grandkids. He had lots of extended family too. No disrespect to his brothers and sisters,
but there was one thing I constantly heard . . . my Tata, Tio Joe, was the
favorite. He is now with many of his
family members who have already passed, but he leaves behind many others,
too. One special person is his baby
sister, my Tia Carmen. Those two had a
special bond and you could see the love they shared. Even though my Tata is gone, Tia Carmen you
are not alone.
My Tata
taught us what it means to be a hard worker.
He worked from the time he was a teenager. He worked the fields around the west valley,
and then he and his family moved to Ajo, when he worked for the railroad. He became foreman and had that job until he
retired 44 years later. I used to love waiting for him to come from work
because I’d either get a ride on the little train or get to take his lunch
home.
He also had
a great sense of humor. Every day he’d have a new joke or riddle to share with
us. Always making us think. Here’s one
of my favorites:
Railroad crossing, watch out for the
cars, can you spell that without any Rs?
Tata – you
will never be forgotten. Give Nana a big
hug from me. Until we see each other
again. I love you!
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| Tata and Nana |
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