User Posts : Bakersfield.com

THE FACE IN THE MIRROR

Every morning when I awaken , I have to look at myself in the mirror, and give thanks, that I am still here. Eight months ago I was diagnosed with the same cancer, that took Senator Kennedy's life, the brain cancer is, Glioblastoma. Through-out my stay in the hospital, and my radiation and chemo treatments, I was treated with such kindness and respect, by all those involved with my care. I am still taking oral chemo until the end of November, maybe we'll know more about my outcome.... I never had a seizure, headaches, or any other symptoms. My forgetfulness of names, and forgetting my passwords on the computer were signs that all was not well. My sisters noticed and rushed me to the hospital themselves, if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be here now. Sometimes, I sit and notice how blue the sky is, or I watch my neighbors dogs across the street playing tag. The little things in life do mean alot. I was a Teachers Aide, at Eissler School, I miss the children, their laughter, the noise after recess. The staff, some who were my breakfast and lunch buddies, such is life, you take it one day at a time.....................

THANK YOU, "DADDY"

My "Daddy," as I always called him, has been gone since 2002. I will always miss him; you see, he was my rock, that strong shoulder we all need to move on in life. After my "Mama" passed away he lived with me almost three years; he was the early bird, and always liked his breakfast around seven in the morning. As I look back, those were the best of times. I have so many special memories with him, over coffee. I would cook his favorite dishes, and make his coffee, just the way he liked it. We really got to know each other really well. I had never seen my "Daddy" laugh, much less talk alot. He had always been a very serious, stern, and hardworking man. He loved to reminisce about my "Mama", and how they'd met. And of course, he always wanted to go back to San Miguel, N. M., where he was born and raised. Their would always be laughter, and tears, during our many breakfasts together. I consider myself very lucky, to have known this wonderful, sensitive, man, I called "Daddy"..............

I Remember "Mama".........

Mother, Mama, Mom, Mumsy, Ahm, Ama, Makuahine, Matka, Muter, Okaasan, Nana, Maman, Mae, whatever language you speak, she is "Mother." She is unconditional love, support, and strength. "Mama" as I called her, gave me all of the above and more. After my "Mama" passed away, I sat down and gathered my warm thoughts of her, and realized what a strong woman she really was. "Mama" was beautiful, loving and kind. Every night before she went to bed, she would hold a small picture to her bosom, smiling at times, and there would also be tears. This was a picture filled with love. The deep love a mother and daughter hold for each other. The same love for my "Mama", that I will cherish forever, and never forget............................

Thank-you, Mrs. Eleanor Lauritzen

In the 1960s I was a student at Emerson Jr. High . My English and homeroom teacher then was Eleanor Lauritzen, a beautiful lady of impeccable dress. With her encouragement, and great teaching skills, I turned out to be a very good speller. I was encouraged by Mrs. Lauritzen to enter our school spelling bee. Being a shy kid, I hesitantly agreed, and much to my delight and her's, I came in third.

After the spelling bee I stood there dumbfounded, and proud of my little trophy. A photo was taken of the winners and it appeared in The Bakersfield Californian. When the chaos of the spelling bee was over she approached me and put her arm around my shoulder and whispered to me how proud I had made her.

That was a moment of great importance to me then as a kid. That little touch of kindness to me would be a memory I would never forget. I loved Mrs. Lauritzen dearly, with her passing at 94, I must say she was a wonderful person and a great teacher. She contributed to my best memories of school, and I will never forget her.

To Sir With Love

I was saddened to read my favorite sixth grade teacher, Mr. Warren Buck Sr., had passed away. He was the most influential person in my young life, because he taught me how easy it was to learn, and gave me the confidence to go after those good grades I achieved in school. Mr. Buck was my teacher at Longfellow school in the late fifties. Our class was mixed with Mexican, Chinese, White and Black students, those were restless times. Mr. Buck taught us all how to get along, and treat each other with respect and kindness, and that being poor was not a sin. He also instilled that you had to learn to get ahead, he always had a certain gentleness that made him very easy to relate, and confide in. Through the years I have often thought of him and my wonderful grade school memories. Thank-you, Mr. Buck.

Band of Brothers, Remembering Our Veterans

This Veterans Day, let us salute and honor our Veterans. We must always remember their sacrifices. Let us all be grateful, and say a special prayer for them all.

Santiago's

I've been reading about the fight outside of Santiago's restaurant . Some people are blaming Mr. Santiago Figueroa, for lack of security, which is totally unfair. I have frequented Santiago's many a time, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, every time I've been there, the customers eating, are enjoying their delicious Mexican food and minding their own business. The staff , always gives you very good service. Mr. Santiago Figueroa always pitches in when needed, seeing that you are being served as soon as possible and making sure every thing runs smooth. Their Thursday Mariachi evenings get pretty busy and sometimes you might have to wait a little, but you don't mind. Once you leave a restaurant or any other place in the evening, I feel one should be careful. When trouble happens in a restaurant it's usually people who know each other . Mr. Santiago Figueroa has no control over what happens outside his place. Santiago's is one of the best Mexican and Seafood Restaurants in town and only by hard work , and good management on his part was this achieved. I know his good customers will support him through this.

The Father Brown I knew

In 1964 a young priest named Father Tod Brown, an assistant pastor at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, knocked on the Martinez family's front door forever changing the lives of the five younger siblings. Father Brown, with his pleasant demeanor and his long black coat, impressed upon my parents the importance of religion over a mug of hot coffee. My parents promised Father Brown that we would all be in Church and begin our religious training for Holy Communion and Confirmation as soon as possible. The good Father had been walking the neighborhood streets of 34th to 40th street in the evening darkness looking for families to attend his church. In the mid sixties the neighborhoods in that vicinity had a large influx of hardworking, Mexican families new to the area. By the following week we were all enrolled in catechism classes and going to the ten o'clock mass on Sunday. Father Brown had also gone into other homes and all together we numbered around twenty boys and girls, between the ages of nine to sixteen that had been Baptized, but for various reasons never received the other sacraments. With Father Brown's guidance and patience we eventually made our Holy Communion and Confirmation, some of us as teenagers. We also attended and graduated from CCD classes, catechism for high-school age teens. My mother always considered Father Brown a blessing in disguise, showing up at the right time and answering her prayers. After my mother passed, I was putting some of her things away and came across an envelope with yellowed newspaper clippings, these news clippings were about Father Brown' s rise to Monsignor then Bishop, and all the good works for his parish in Bakersfield and Fresno. My sisters and I believed in Father Brown then, and now, we will always be grateful to him for going that extra mile in our direction.

Eisslers Lunch Ladies

The new school year has just started and everyone is hoping this year will be the best yet. So in order to get through the school day, we must feed our " tummy", as well as the brain. First we must have a very good breakfast, and a well balanced lunch. This is where our wonderful lunch ladies come in, Rita Mendez, our Cafeteria Manager and her great staff, Bea, Jeannie and Wanda. These ladies prepare and serve up the best breakfast and lunch, with an extra serving of love and understanding. There are certain students with allergies and religious reasons for not eating certain foods, but never fear, these hard working ladies would never allow anything to happen to their Eissler kids. Sometimes when parents send their children to school, they really don't know how lucky they are to have loving people like Rita, Bea, Jeannie and Wanda watch out for their children. You know it will be a great year with the A-Team that runs the Eissler Cafeteria!

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Have you ever volunteered for some job, and after you did it, you were really proud of yourself? Go to the Eagles on Friday evening for their delicious steak/chicken dinner and all the trimmings, believe me you will not be disappointed.

This meal is prepared and set up by volunteers. Greg and his staff in the kitchen work very hard to give you the best, these people are all volunteer members. Alphonso, Adolph Arnie, and Gary work hard at the bar area, making sure things run smooth, again volunteer members. The ladies of the Auxiliary, Ruth, Helen, Mary Ann, and Adella who work faithfully at all the functions, selling tickets for this event or a dinner dance, also member volunteers.

Many members at the Eagles go beyond the call of duty, coming after work, giving up a lot of tv time or missing watching their children's sporting events. Does being a volunteer require a special drive in oneself? I do know one thing about people who volunteer for whatever the cause, are very generous in life and in giving. I've only named a fraction of volunteer members but I know to make the Eagles run so well, it takes a lot of hands.

War is Hell

This war is in a no win situation, going no where quick! Too many of our young men and women are coming home without limbs and brain injuries, not to mention the huge death toll thus far! One death was one too many. The poor care? What is that all about? Everyone was shocked and appalled at the situation at Walter Reed Hospital..The politicians and big wigs in the military all knew that hospital was in that condition since the Vietnam war, remember the movie "Born On The Fourth Of July"? Our military deserves better than that! I don't question anyones patriotism, when they speak against this privatized war. That's their right as Americans. This war is about oil, money and of course greed, all the evils that make a war what it is, hell!

Eastside Loses Good Friend

The other day a great friend of an old eastside neighborhood passed away, he wasn't rich, famous or a professional person and he didn't drive a fancy car. This simple, kind man, Arthur "Gordo" Arias was well known for his kindness and friendships to everyone he knew. He lived by Our Lady Of Guadalupe Church, a parish he loved, and supported all his life, and Union Cemetery , where generations of his family are buried and now, he too rests. He was a very prominent fixture in the old neighborhood. Gordo, never failed to extend his hand and smile. His family and neighbors and the homeless he befriended will certainly miss him. He recently became a member of the Eagles, where he like to spend his Friday evenings enjoying a steak dinner, but spent the evening shaking hands and patting people on the back, just like a politician. People like Gordo do not look for recognition in life, they just live it. This wonderful man spread what is called " the milk of human kindness" something which is missing in life today, maybe we can all learn from Gordo. The old neighborhood will never be the same without him.