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.