The Red Headed Ancestor

Some time in the mid 1980's I was visiting my uncle Henry, my father's youngest brother, at his upholstery shop in Uptown Whittier. I don't remember how the conversation came about but we began talking about Las Cruces and Dona Ana, New Mexico, family and family history.

At one point he told me of a wild red headed ancestor who came riding into town, guns a blazing. He stayed and settled. Was he a De La O? Or perhaps someone who married into the family? Possibly a great great grandfather. Or just some unfounded family lore? I don't know.

All of my life, before my hair turned grey, I would occasionally find a hard wiry red hair. I never gave it any thought. I just plucked it. Same with my mustache.

My girls had light colored hair, as did my brother but my youngest daughter (Jack & Josiah's mom) Savannah's hair, while not red, had a tinge or a hint of red.

Then along come Jack and Josiah. My red headed grandsons. Now? I'm inclined to believe that story about the red headed ancestor, though the guns a blazing might be slight embellishment.

Happy Anniversary

Seventy-seven years ago today, October 25, 1947, my parents were married in a private civil ceremony in Los Angeles. They remained married until my father's passing on May 7, 1981. My mother passed away April 14, 2018.

They were old school, salt of the Earth, people. Together; through hard work, tenacity and determination, they sought and found the American Dream.

They were two imperfect people just like the rest of us but they stayed together and they built a life together. It was a simple life. A good life.

Happy Anniversary mom & dad. We still miss you and we still love you!

The first photo is from their first date in 1947 at the Avadon Ballroom in Downtown Los Angeles.  The second was in 1978 during a road trip to Lake Tahoe.