Visiting Los Abuelitos
by Ma.Louisa Franco Madrid
My grandparents, Antonio and Valentina Franco, were 'Buelito and 'Buelita to us their granddaughters. We lived in Alpine, and when we took a trip to visit them we were so excited. We would leave Alpine very early, when it was still dark. I do not know how long it took us to get to Terlingua, but it was a long trip. This was in the 1930s, and the road to Terlingua was bumpy and dusty.
My sister, Margarita, would always get car sick; and we would make several stops. Sometime later when it was light, my father, would stop for us to eat breakfast. It would usually be close to a water tank. We would wash ourselves, eat, and walk around some.
The road was narrow, and we hardly ever met another car. But when we came to this particular mountain Papá would say “We are coming to La Cuesta.” He would stop the car and start blowing the car horn and then listen. We would ask why, and he would say, “That is so if there is another car on the other side, they will wait until we come over.”
We were always frightened since the road was narrow; and we could see down; and it looked like a very far drop. By the time we came around the mountain our ears were popping, and we would still have in our head the loud sounds the car made .
My sister, Margarita, would always get car sick; and we would make several stops. Sometime later when it was light, my father, would stop for us to eat breakfast. It would usually be close to a water tank. We would wash ourselves, eat, and walk around some.
The road was narrow, and we hardly ever met another car. But when we came to this particular mountain Papá would say “We are coming to La Cuesta.” He would stop the car and start blowing the car horn and then listen. We would ask why, and he would say, “That is so if there is another car on the other side, they will wait until we come over.”
We were always frightened since the road was narrow; and we could see down; and it looked like a very far drop. By the time we came around the mountain our ears were popping, and we would still have in our head the loud sounds the car made .
Click on picture to enlarge it.

Our uncles, aunts and 'Buelito
By the time we arrived, the family had already heard the car coming; and they would all come out running. What a joy it was to see them so happy to see us. We Franco’s are very loud. Our uncles, aunts and 'Buelito would all be talking at the same time. We would be lifted up, hugged and kissed.
We would go in and greet 'Buelita. She was crippled and could not come out to greet us. She would be sitting on a pallet in El Zaguán. The Zaguán was like an indoor patio. The house was adobe with two arches. The rooms were behind this patio they called El Zaguán. It served as living and dining room.
We would go in and greet 'Buelita. She was crippled and could not come out to greet us. She would be sitting on a pallet in El Zaguán. The Zaguán was like an indoor patio. The house was adobe with two arches. The rooms were behind this patio they called El Zaguán. It served as living and dining room.
The talking and visiting continued until late at night. After we went to bed my father, his brothers, and 'Buelito would be in the kitchen drinking coffee and talking about horses. They would talk about who broke what horse, etc. They had names for these horses, and they were all familiar with them.
Next day they would butcher a calf, and my aunts would ask us girls to take some of the meat and a piece of liver to el Élique, which is what they called Alec Smith. Alec lived in a wooden house on the side of a small hill on the Franco property.
We were anxious to go there. He was a good storyteller. He had a long rifle by his fireplace and a violin. While we listened we would be looking at this white pitcher on top of the mantle. After we listened to his stories, he would reach in the pitcher and get candy canes for us.
His stories would sometimes be about some snake he had killed, and he made the story very interesting. Simón our uncle would say, the snake keeps getting bigger and bigger every time he talks bout it.
Another highlight was going to get water. The water pump was about a block away by tío Manuel's orchard, as we called it. He had planted fig trees and pomegranate bushes, and cactus that produced green prickly pears. This fruit did not have stickers like the red prickly pears. I can still remember how good that fruit tasted.
A horse would pull this small wagon that held a wooden barrel for the water. We sat at the end dragging our feet. The watchdog, El Guardian, would come along. This dog was very serious and expected respect. You did not pet him or play with him. He was a reddish brown bulldog with yellowish eyes. When he would see my father, he would start this low growl, and Papá would growl back at him and make him angry.
Another thing we liked to do was to go to the ramada where they had the corn grinder. We liked to put the corn in and turn the crank and watch the corn come out without the cob.
Next day they would butcher a calf, and my aunts would ask us girls to take some of the meat and a piece of liver to el Élique, which is what they called Alec Smith. Alec lived in a wooden house on the side of a small hill on the Franco property.
We were anxious to go there. He was a good storyteller. He had a long rifle by his fireplace and a violin. While we listened we would be looking at this white pitcher on top of the mantle. After we listened to his stories, he would reach in the pitcher and get candy canes for us.
His stories would sometimes be about some snake he had killed, and he made the story very interesting. Simón our uncle would say, the snake keeps getting bigger and bigger every time he talks bout it.
Another highlight was going to get water. The water pump was about a block away by tío Manuel's orchard, as we called it. He had planted fig trees and pomegranate bushes, and cactus that produced green prickly pears. This fruit did not have stickers like the red prickly pears. I can still remember how good that fruit tasted.
A horse would pull this small wagon that held a wooden barrel for the water. We sat at the end dragging our feet. The watchdog, El Guardian, would come along. This dog was very serious and expected respect. You did not pet him or play with him. He was a reddish brown bulldog with yellowish eyes. When he would see my father, he would start this low growl, and Papá would growl back at him and make him angry.
Another thing we liked to do was to go to the ramada where they had the corn grinder. We liked to put the corn in and turn the crank and watch the corn come out without the cob.
All the family worked hard -- the men out in the fields. Juanita was the cook; Isabel fed the hogs and did the laundry. Rita took care of ‘Buelita and Alejandra our youngest aunt -- Canda as we called her. Margarita and I are older than Canda, and Tina our little sister came after Canda.
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I remember all of us sitting at that big table. There were pitchers of milk; and Juanita would come out with trays of butter, asaderos, meat, beans, vegetables, and freshly baked biscuits -- even though they also made tortillas. I guess it was easier for her to bake biscuits.
These are cherished memories, that as I get older I remember as if it was yesterday. The stories stored in me keep reminding me of a wonderful time with my ancestors.
These are cherished memories, that as I get older I remember as if it was yesterday. The stories stored in me keep reminding me of a wonderful time with my ancestors.
All rights reserved by Mária Louisa Madrid; © 2009