Recuerdos: A Tribute to an American Dream (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9781953447180)

This book is about inspiration found while growing up in a Mexican American family. It tells the story of the author who grew up in a caring but crazy family in El Paso Texas. Led by the grandmother matriarch, it tells of one families highs and lows, the desperate times during the mexican revolution, the families exodus into the United States, the hardships endured and the eventual struggle to succeed here. It tells of one of 21 children in the family, a girl who is known as Lencha and follows her struggles from her first work with the mighty railroads at the age of fourteen to her extended life of surviving four husbands, having six children. thirty five great grandchildren and living to the age of 90. It speaks of her influence on her grandson who is inspired by her true stories of suffrage and pain, heartiness and laughter and the lessons that come from such a life. It takes us through the boys life lessons learned and applied by being one of Lencha's grandchildren. He then matures and assimilates to life here in the United States and eventually rises to become a high-ranking federal agent within the federal government. It is a story of compelling family laughter and lamented loss. Of assimilation into the American dream and of success having been achieved paved by the sacrifices endured by those before him. It is a tribute story to them of his success well told and heartily recounted by the author. A story meant to inspire others to still believe that the American dream can be had for all.