Found Family Photographs

I found these two photos - treasures really - recently, along with a  few others, while going through papers and other documents entrusted to me by my late mother.  At first glance I thought the photo with my grandparents was an old negative. It is about  2 inches in size. It was hard to make out until I enlarged it. I had never seen either photo before. I am grateful to have found them.

     

My grandfather Augustine "Auggie" Osuna, Grandmother Mary Osuna (born Espinosa), and my mother Anita Osuna, from 1929, presumably somewhere in Los Angeles.

From left to right: My great grandfather Atanacio Espinosa (my mother's grandfather), great aunt Hortencia Espinosa Aunt PeeWee), Great grandmother Victoria Espinosa (born Salas), great aunt Julia Delgado (born Espinosa), great uncle Henry Espinosa, Unknown (I vaguely recognize the face but I'm not sure who he is),and great uncle Jesus (Chuy) Delgado.

The House on Soto Street

Thee House on Soto Street

This is the home on Soto Street in Boyle Heights where my mother Anita, along with my aunts and uncle, grew up in. They lived on this street until my mother was about 15 or 16 years old, when my grandparents, Auggie and Mary Osuna separated and eventually divorced. In those days the neighborhoods in Boyle Heights consisted of Jews, Russians, Japanese and Mexican Americans. and fragments of other ethnicities.

Until a few weeks ago my mother had not seen this house since she left it or at least that's how she remembers it. Either way it has been a very long time since she has seen this house. She has spoken of it often but this was the first time I had seen this house.

We had just come back from having lunch at Phillipe's in downtown L.A. when we decided to look for the house. It took just a few minutes to locate. The very instant she saw the house I could see the memories passing by in my mother's eyes. The landlords were a Jewish family that lived next door, an Irish family lived across the street and a Japanese family lived up the street. They opened a small grocery store nearby. The daughter of the Japanese family was my mom's best friend.

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor the family was taken to a interment camp, most likely Manzanar. Everything was taken from this family, their home, the store, all of their personal belongings. As my mother remembers it, as they were loading the family onto a truck, neighbors were looting the house for anything of value. She remembers several men carrying out a large piano. She never saw her friend again.

Still, she had lots of good memories from that home and that neighborhood. The house is weathered now by the years. A stone facade and a fence have been added but it remains, more or less, the same. The upstairs window over looking the street was her bedroom. The look on her face and the sound of her voice as she was looking at the house and remembering was priceless.

The other two photos are of the two schools she attended; Hollenbeck Junior High (now called middle school) and Roosevelt High School.

Hollenbeck Middle School

Roosevelt High School

Old Family Wedding Photo

Click on the photo for a larger and better view

This photo was given to me by my aunt Bea. It is my great aunt Peewee's (Hortencia Espinoza) marriage to Frank Wartaza. The wedding was in Los Angeles, approximately 1993 0r 1934. To the left of the bride is my maternal grandmother Mary Osuna (Born Espinoza). The man to the left of groom is my maternal grandfather Augustine "Augie" Osuna. To my knowledge this is the only surviving photograph of my grandfather. The little girl in the front is my aunt Bea (Beatrice Osuna).

Click on the photo for a larger and better view

Happy Mothers Day!

This Sunday May 11, is Mother’s Day. My wife Jeri and I will be visiting with my mother in Victorville. Last Friday was her also her birthday, so May is always a busy month for her. I am grateful to have my mother and I am grateful and blessed that my children and grandchildren have her in their lives. You can take it to the bank. There is no one like mom. The above photo with Grandma Mary and my mother Anita was taken 49 years ago in May of 1959 on Mother Day.

To all the women in my life; my wife, mother, daughters, sister, sister in laws, aunts, and cousins have a Happy Mothers Day.

Old Holiday Photos

I thought you might enjoy looking at these old family holiday photos, especially with the holidays just around the corner. A little journey through time. Where, as they say, has the time gone?

Click on any photo for a larger view

Grandma Mary

If a picture is worth a thousand words than this picture has to be worth a million. God blessed her beautiful heart. There was no one like Grandma Mary. She's been gone over twenty one years and she still holds a special place in my heart. She loved to cook for me and then watch me eat, and I enjoyed every thing she cooked. She was strong in her faith and I know she is with the Lord. I hope you enjoy this beautiful photo.

The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh

I am happy to report (belatedly)on the birth of the newest member of our family, Frankie Blue Lozano. Her parents are Frank Lozano and Genvieve Robles, daughter of David and Dolores Robles. Frankie was born on June 3, 2007 at 9:29 PM (prematurely)and weighed 3lbs 4.6 oz, and is a beautiful, healthy baby girl! As soon as a photo of her is made available to me I will post it.

On a very, very sad note, I am sad to announce the passing of our cousin Pastor Ronnie Vargas. Pastor Ronnie was the son of my mother's younger sister Rachel (Osuna). Ronnie was the Pastor of HOSEA Christian Center in East Los Angeles. His passing was announced, unexpectedly, during a fund raiser for Pastor Ronnie at the church, located at 5260 E. Pomona Blvd., Los Angeles.

His memorial service was held Thursday, August 16, 2007 at HOSEA Chapel, 220 S. 5th Street, Alhambra, California. It was one of the finest memorial service I have ever attended. His life was celebrated, honored and remembered by his wife Delfina and their children, including both of his sons who spoke about their father. Several attending Pastors all spoke of their relationship with Pastor Ronnie, including friendships that preceded his coming to the Lord and becoming a dedicated man of God.

The memorial service gave me, and I am sure, other family members as well, a chance to see Pastor Ronnie in a whole new light. I am proud to know that such a rare, amazing man was in our family, and both embarrassed and ashamed to say that I did not know him as well as I should have. I can honestly say that I did not have a clue to the depth of the man, or of his commitment to God, his family and his friends. It is my loss.

While I was not one of those fortunate individuals that was touched by Pastor Ronnie during his life; his death and his dedicated life have caused me to reevaluate my own life and my relationship with God, which at times has been somewhat fiery, but for the most part has been lukewarm, at best.

Pastor Ronnie Vargas was born April 30, 1960 in Los Angeles (Boyle Heights), California. He came from humble beginnings, a life of hardship that included gangs, drugs and prison, and (in large part due to his wife Delfina) turned his life around to become a man of God, a dedicated Christian, a family man and an American success story. A success not measured by wealth, material possessions and false, fleeting fame, but a success measured by his legacy that includes the love of his family, his congregation, his many, many true friends and most importantly his place in Heaven. Pastor Ronnie went to the Lord on Sunday, August 12, 2007. He was, and is, a man to be admired and emulated. Rest in Peace Primo!