A month filled with joy and sadness

Oh, for the love of cats. As we write this column, Little Baby is climbing the bark of our beloved fake banana tree that is already in tatters. A harsh screech from us and blasts from the water pistols we have stashed around the house leaves her startled momentarily, but she quickly and coyly returns to the scene of the crime, to do more damage. We can trace the nocturnal trail left by Little Baby and Leo by the messed up rugs, strewn socks, or missing earrings we find upon arising. Plastic spray bottles filled with water are strategically placed around the house. We keep rubber bands in a little drawer near our desk. These two have learned to open the drawer and fetch some to play with! We know this is not safe and will hide them somewhere else, even though they are handy just where they are. The kitties' favorite playthings are the little plastic tops from bottled water. We can hear the click-clatter as they chase them all over the Saltillo-tiled floors. Yes, we know. Not safe, either. They might swallow them. We might break a leg dodging them. We also try to be on guard against the sudden chases that suddenly come upon the cats. Never a dull moment.

Our month was again filled with sadness as well as joy. We lost best friend John Alvey as well as Lorraine Hopson and D. J. Utterback's mom, Cecilia “Cici” Claflin. Cici touched many lives. She was one of the beautiful Martinez girls. She worked for U.S. Customs for many years and founded the Laredo Children's Museum.

We remembered Enrique “Kike” A. Mejia, Jr., at the dedication of the Peace Garden and Memorial Walkway at St. Augustine School named for the late coach, who died suddenly last year. We helped talented Bobby Rodriguez celebrate his birthday and honored mom-to-be Jennifer Cahill Clark with a baby shower. We helped the United Way start off the fund-raising year with an evening of star and river gazing at beautiful Lago del Río.

Learned of two other former Laredoans' deaths. Otilia “Tillie” Ulan was married to famed Laredo photographer Harry Ulan. Tillie loved animals and for several years wrote a column for the Animal Protective Society. Nathan “Nat” Shaifer, brother of Julie Shaifer Watson, grew up in Laredo , attending St. Joseph 's Academy and Martin High School . Once he left, he never returned to Laredo to live, but was always remembered by his old friends. Another month full of the stuff of life.

Even when we know a friend's health is failing, it is hard to accept the reality that he has lost his battle. Such was the case with our dear friend John Alvey. He and our husband Barry worked for Ma Bell for so many years. In retirement, John loved to hunt and visited his old hometown as often as he could. Since moving to Houston, a part of John's heart always remained in Laredo. He was one of the famed “Eleven Iron Men” Martin High football team. He maintained deep friendships with his fellow teammates and other Laredo pals. John and his beloved Joann endured and celebrated the years well, from the loss of their precious daughter Brenda, just as she was entering her teen years, to John's accident, that cost him an eye. Joann was a successful businesswoman in her own right, and they raised a beautiful family with eight handsome grandchildren. His friends joked that what John lacked in height, he made up for as all the family got taller and taller.

George Neel gave a moving testament to John at his memorial service. John's nickname was “Chief,” and George told of football games where John played guard to George's center position. A special foot movement was their code to change blocking assignments. George said that even in later years, he never felt John was farther away from him than his guard position. Even the simple act of gathering firewood was special, involving the hunters' children. John would stop the jeep and order “termites attack” or “termites retreat,” making the simple chore fun. He also felt that you had to seize the moment. If you only had an hour to spare, you took it. Many special memories come from stealing a little slice of time.

Our ears still await the daily phone call, with his cheerful, “Hey, you birds, what's goin' on?” and can't believe the countless stories of sports and hunting will only be heard in memory from now on. John had a phenomenal memory and was one of the most cheerful and thoughtful persons we knew. God speed, old friend.

Talented Roberto “Bobby” Rodriguez celebrated his birthday at the beautiful home he shared with his late mom María A. Rodriguez. He inherited her love of antiques and for creating beautiful things. The home is a masterpiece of collected and created items. Their Christmas trees and decorations became famous through the years. Bobby has worked at Joe Brand for many years. He showed us an article we wrote many years ago featuring his mom and the beautiful traditions she began.

Bobby and his friend David Martinez have added even more exquisite details to the home and gardens. Helping celebrate were his nieces and nephews and many friends. Mike and Diana Perez are with UISD and LISD, he as an air condition tech and she as a teacher. Other relatives included nephew Jorge de la Garza and nieces Josie de la Garza and Jeannie Gutierrez. Linda and Seymon Deutsch and M. D. and Lenora Brand are part of Bobby's Joe Brand “family.”

Bobby worked with the late Mary Louise Longoria and has remained friends with her daughter Chacha and her husband Willie Cavazos. Many of Bobby's friends came during the evening including Tani and Tony Sanchez, Janice Gonzalez, Allison Salido, Niti Volpe, Mina Hachar, Mary Lamar Killam, Diana Gutierrez, Orieta Perez, and many more.

Mariachis played their joyful music in the exotic gardens and guests were serenaded by talented Roberto Wedequenski. One is transported to some exotic locale when visiting the gardens. Bravo, Bobby!

We were fortunate to be friends with Enrique “Kike” Mejia, Jr., and his lovely wife Amira Escutia Mejia since schooldays at Martin High. Kike was another popular athlete and Amira a sweet beauty whom we elected to be our Prom Queen. They both achieved honorable careers in education. Kike was part of the MHS basketball team that won State in 1956. He garnered many sports honors through the years for himself and later for the athletes he coached. He taught and coached at Holding Institute and had been at St. Augustine for 24 years, where he was athletic director. Amira served as principal of Holding Institute and later of Santo Niño Elementary. She also taught biology and was an administrator for UISD. She couldn't remain retired, and now serves as a field mentor for TAMIU and consultant for St. Augustine.

Kike's St. Aug teams achieved over 500 victories and competed in the state finals in 1991 and semi-finals in 1993, 1994, 1996, and 1997. He also coached baseball, golf, and cross country. During his tenure, St. Aug teams began playing the local 5A varsities, not just the junior varsities. He was patient and saw the good in everyone he met. Kike brought peace to his students and will be remembered by the Peace Garden and Walkway. He and Amira raised two children, Enrique, Jr., dubbed Henry, and Denise. They were the proud grandparents of Sarah, Miguel, and Enrique A. IV.

We learned that there are over 200,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries. There are only three in Texas -- in Austin at the campus of St. Edward's University, in San Antonio at the University of the Incarnate Word, and on a ranch in the Hill Country. Now there is one on the campus of St. Augustine School.

The pole is made of western cedar and is eight feet tall. It reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth” on all four sides. The message can be read in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French. St. Augustine hopes their pole will remind students and faculty to pray for peace. They feel it is a small way to help build a culture of peace in our world, one person at a time. They dedicated their Peace Pole in September, the same month we remember the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. They also celebrate the International Day of Peace in September, a day the United Nations calls for an international global ceasefire.

Maggie Rubio is justly proud of her grandchildren. They both have Olympics ambitions and are working very hard to achieve their goals. Dylan and Dayna Jasinsky are the children of Maggie's daughter Cordie and her husband Mike. They live in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Dylan Jasinsky has been skiing competitively for four years. The 9 th grader is enrolled at Rowmark Ski Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah. His ski activities don't take away from Dylan's school marks. He maintains a straight A average. Rowmark Academy was named the number one ski academy in the United States. Students train at the Olympic park in Park City Utah. Dylan attended Carrabbassett Valley Academy in Maine last year and has also had extensive training in Austria. Dylan's accomplishments include Junior Olympics for the 2002-2003 ski season and also the 2003-2004 ski season. He also made the Eastern Regional Team while attending school in Maine. His hopes and dreams are to make the US Ski Team and race for the US in the Olympics.

Dylan's sister Dayna's love is horseback riding, which she has been doing for four years. Her paint pony is “Coke Float.” The 12-year-old 7 th grader, like her brother, maintains an A average. Her accomplishments for 2004 include Tucson, Arizona's February “Horse Shows in the Sun,” where Dayna was Short Stirrup Hunter Champion for Week 3 and Reserve Champion Short Stirrup Hunter for Week 5. In June at Castle Rock, Colorado she was Champion Short Stirrup Hunter as well as Low Pony Jumper Champion. In September at the New Mexico State Fair, she was the Champion Short Stirrup Hunter. Dayna's goals are to make the U.S. Equestrian Team and represent her country at the Olympics.

The kids are fortunate that their parents back them all the way. Good luck to them!

Our little cul-de-sac neighborhood is excited that yet another youngster will join us when our delightful neighbors, Jennifer and Vince Clark, have their first child any moment now. Ann Neel and I gave a baby shower and invited Jen's music- and animal-loving pals. Ann, with her gracious attention to detail, arranged for the cute invitations and a cake to match. Our trip to California, long-planned, came at about the same time, and Ann really helped get it together. Our thanks to a dear friend for her help, which included vases of flowers from her garden, which is always in seasonal blossoms.

Jen's parents, Bob and Sandra Cahill, were able to join us. They are in the process of moving to Marble Falls, which will put them closer to their daughter and her little family. On a recent weekend, while the couple was out of town for a family baby shower, their friends got together to re-decorate the nursery room. It is worthy of an episode on HGTV! The “junk room” that housed Vince's drum set and various computers, etc., was transformed into a repainted nursery with a Winnie the Pooh theme that Pooh himself would have loved! Shower guests walked across the street to view the handiwork, which included a mural on the wall, straight from the pages of Pooh's life. The walls had been repainted, yellow and white curtains hung, little tables painted yellow, the crib set up. Vince had been in on the secret, but Jen was blown away when they returned home and their friends were assembled and their masterpiece unveiled. Back at the party, guests sampled goodies spread on the dining room table. Ann's famous punch was served and finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, and other delectables were spread. More food was displayed in the den. It was nice to have Bob Cahill, George Neel, Vince, and Barry be part of the shower.

The guest list included fellow teachers, musical friends, and animal lovers from the Laredo Animal Protective Society. Jen and Vince serve on the board. We learned that Patricia Arambula is the wife of Matias III. His dad, Matias, Jr., has been a friend and fellow journalist for years. Mat III teaches at the magnet school with Vince. Dr. Susan Berdahl, Mary Grace Carroll, and Bede Leyendecker are fellow teachers. Ann Neel is a talented pianist and shares Jennifer's love of music.

Jennifer is on the music faculty at Texas A & M International University and Vince teaches at the Vidal Treviño Magnet School. A special surprise was when the mariachi group Los Arrieros burst through the door to serenade the future parents. Many of them are Jennifer's students at TAMIU. The rest are students at Laredo Community College or professionals. What a joyful addition to any occasion, especially since many are Jen's students.