Reconnecting with family and old friends

Well, the new year is now in full swing for the Washington's Birthday Celebration 2004. The announcements for the new George and Martha Washington and for the new Princess Pocahontas were made at the home of Oscar and Christina Alvarez. George is Federico Carlos Zúñiga and Martha is Lorraine Withoff Laurel. Mary Kazen is the new president of the Society of Martha Washington. Ashley Cass is the new Princess Pocahontas. Congratulations, all!
Sadness once again touched us as we said goodbye to cousins Louise Longoria and Poncho Leyendecker. As we met and re-met cousins who live far away, we made vows to keep closer in touch.
Also, our dear friend Margarita Montiel Dias passed away in San Antonio. She had lived there near her daughter and her family after retiring from Central Drug where she worked in the cosmetics department.
The '56 mini reunion in Arlington had us gadding about with Bobby Jo Parker Lane, Sharon Snow Yeary, Tommy Barnes Reuthinger, Peggy Jean Simpson Markwood, Lucile Johnon Earles, and Mary Lou Malakoff. Such fun to be with the women that the girls we used to know became. One of the most tender pleasures of being the "age that we are" is relishing old friendships. In a long weekend visit, we squeezed in the gigantic Canton flea market, antique shops, and just staying up all night gabbing and remembering Martin High School adventures in the fifties. Some of us stayed in Laredo and some moved away, but the friendships have endured.
Bobby Jo lost her beloved Doug last year, but staying in the home they built together revealed in a hundred ways the happy life they shared. Bobby Jo still radiates the vivaciousness she did as a cheerleader for the mighty Tigers. She is an excellent cook and prepared each meal with the ease of an organized person. We were wined and dined royally! We met her three handsome sons Keith, Kenneth, and Kyle, and her grandsons Nicolas and Gage, and the visit with her mother Norma Parker and sister Dorothy Ewing were very special. Laredoans will remember her dad and mom lived in Laredo for many years. Lucile Earles had us for brunch in her gorgeous garden and home filled with her treasured antiques. Her husband Tom entertained us with his wit and wonderful stories. We were sorry to miss her sister Joyce, who also lives in Euless.
Trying very hard to see family and friends on happy occasions, several of the Laredo Leyendeckers traveled to Columbus, Texas for the yearly gathering of that branch of the family. Hosted by genial Crockett and Dorothy Leyendecker, we learned that many of that branch still speak fluent German. Several of us did a turn playing the "rutz bank." One sits straddling a wooden bench, one end of which has been liberally sprinkled with ordinary table salt. A wooden handled rake or broom is then "scootched" back and forth in the salt mixture, in accompaniment to the "squeeze box" accordion music, sounding for all the world like a tuba! Of course, then we had to sing "La Cucaracha" and "Allá en el Rancho Grande" to show off our own skills. Some of the original Laredoans who made the trip included your reporter and husband Barry, Gloria Groesbeck Kelso, John and Linda Leyendecker, Art and Ida Leyendecker, and Cliff and Heidi Leyendecker and their two children Joshua and Caleb.
We spent Easter with Al and Mary Allrich at their cabin in the woods, joined by Vickie and Raul Vela and their children Raul and Jennie and all of the Yates/Deliganis clan. Even though it rained and drizzled all day, we Texans always greet the rain as God's blessing and overlook the inconvenience. Louis and Suzanne Deliganis had us for dinner in the beautiful home that they basically finished themselves. All of the tile work, electricity, plumbing, and most of the amenities were put in by the talented, hard-working couple. They cleared dozens of trees and have put in a pool, patio, and other amenities.
Following the monthly meeting of the Lucy Meriwether Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, Dr. José Roberto Juarez presented an analysis of the Hispanic role in the American Revolution. A native Laredoan, Dr. Juarez graduated from St. Augustine High School, St. Edward's University, and the University of Texas at Austin. As a recipient of Woodrow Wilson and Fulbright Fellowships, he had access to historical archives in Mexico and the United States. This historical research will be evident in his book, The Recuperation of Church Wealth in the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, 1860-1911, to be published in 2004.
Bethany House is celebrating 20 years since its founding by the late Fr. Charles McNaboe and looking forward to opening its new resource center, thrift shop, and emergency center to be named for Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez.
At Lago del Río many Laredoans made their way out the Mines Road to the beautiful site that always causes people to gasp at the beauty of the place that uses only native vegetation in the landscaping. Many watched the sunset from the higher deck overlooking the Río Grande. Beautiful and hardworking Barbara Kazen circulated among the guests, greeting and thanking everyone for attending. Her hard-working cohort was Barbara Leyendecker. Golf carts drove guests up the winding sidewalk from the parking lot, which is a little uphill, but coming down at the evening's end, we were happy to stroll and enjoy the beautiful flowers and cascading water.
Tables were set up, and enjoying a cool margarita with a huge fan blowing to enhance the already lovely breeze, we visited with many old friends as Hotcakes, from Austin, headed by Laredo's own Mike Jackson, provided a great beat, and many were dancing or at least wiggling their shoulders.
Bethany House served nearly 300,000 meals in 2002, either served at Bethany House, or for home deliveries to west Laredo, south Laredo, 10 colonias, and six Kids Café sites.
Foley's and Volunteer Services Council for Border Region MHMR Community Center presented the 11th annual Secretary's Day Luncheon and Style Show honoring Laredo's secretaries, without whom, we all know, the world of business could not operate! "Spring Fling 2003" Foley's Flirtatious Fashions, Music, and Art filled the Laredo Country Club as many watched the delightful models present the latest fashions for casual, business, and formal occasions. All of the models had such fun prancing down the runway. Molly Martinez and Cassia Jantz were Mistresses of Ceremony. Esther Firova directed and choreographed the show. Fashions were coordinated by Marilyn de Llano and production assistants were Norita Montemayor and Adriana Ramos. Dr. Gilberto Soto and the TAMIU Guitar Ensemble serenaded.
Models included Janice Gonzalez, Alexa Ringwood, Elizabeth Barrera, Stefanie Foster, Cristelle Laurel, Lisa Laurel, Anaid Garza, Veronica Castillon, Gia Rosas, Amanda Bean, Lois Jackson, Melody Vela, Shira de Llano, Wawi Tijerina , Teresa Nimchan, Cristina Ramirez, Laura Martin, and Karina Montemayor. The male models were Felix Velasquez, Hector Medina, Rick Flores, Rick Valdez, Robert Silva, Juan Carlo Rendon, Steve Bargo, Alan Jackson, Robert Hinojosa, Carlos Castillon, Juan Sanchez, D. J. Firova, Pete Rios, Jesse Cantu Cadena, Raul Salinas, Dr. Gary Unzeitig, Rick Johnson, George Beckelheymer, Clayton Most, Arnoldo Sarli, Ismael Firova, Pedro Nuñez, Pablo Nuñez, and Justin Joe Gonzalez.
Habitat for Humanity presented "Women Care, Women Build." The first annual luncheon was held at the Executive Club and was so packed they decided they needed to have yet another luncheon to celebrate the power generated by women who put their heads together!
Superintendent for the project was that hard-working Carol Sherwood. Field supervisors were Bertha Galvan, Melissa Guerra, Deirdre Reyna and Esperanza Rodriguez.
Crew chiefs included Liz Harris, Kathy Alexander, Patricia Sandoval, Elma Salinas Ender, Carmina Butler, Patricia Barrera, Yolanda Escobedo, Alma Sullivan, María Eugenia Guerra, Irene Valdez, Nydia Solis, Minerva Gonzalez, Graciela Ramirez, Lupita Narvaez, Anita Doncaster, Terry Perez, Geraldina Malakoff, Maricela Perez, and Rosie Cruz.
Habitat for Humanity believes that all of God's children deserve a simple, decent, affordable place to live, and they work in partnership with homeowners, donors, and volunteers to achieve that goal one family at a time, remembering always to give the glory to God.
We used up all our space this month telling you, our treasured readers, about these wonderful projects that make us all proud! Next month we will tell you more about the wonderful things these volunteers do, quietly and unsung, to make things better in our community. We are proud to know them!

(By The Way appears monthly in Greater Laredo magazine. It is reprinted here with permission.)