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Pictures from Blues Festival

 

See You on Friday!

Tom: We Will Miss You!

We had a couple of frazzling days starting on the 16th of September. I got a call early morning that my sister's husband had keeled over and died. It hit me pretty hard for a moment because my brother-in-law was like a big brother to me. Still, I managed to practice with the guys that evening and it was like good therapy playing and working out the songs. It's weird how music soothes the soul.


However, the impact of his death did not hit me until I saw his picture in the Obit section of the newspaper and I cried like a baby until I got it all out. We had the wake Thursday night and the Funeral today. I was nervous and all bent out of shape because I got so behind in all my work, and then after the Mass and the burial today...tranquility set in when we all went to my sister's house to eat and talk. It's amazing as to how many emotions you go through when things like this happen. Thank God my sister is strong and is taking everything well.

I had a very special relationship with Tom, and like I said he was like a big brother to me. He always helped me out in many different ways. I remember he used to work at the Bus Depot until Midnight, so I would usually go out and party in Juarez, and be back in El Paso in enough time to catch a ride home with him. I did not have a car at the time, so it was great to be able to depend on him for a ride. He was always cheerful and was sincerely interested in whatever I was into at the time.

Later on he sold me a car and had me make monthly payments. I did not make very much money, but I usually managed to make the payments. Inevitably came that time when I could not make a couple of payments, but Tom believed in me and eventually I paid the car off. He could have easily taken it away from me, but he was too generous to do that.

More later...

Here is what the obituary said:

Tomas Varela, 65, passed away Tuesday, September 16, 2008. Tom was born in Ft. Hancock, TX and retired from the El Paso Police Department. He was preceded in death by his parents Felix and Maria, and his sister, Oralia. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; children, David, Tisha, Steven and Celina; daughters-in-law, DeAnna and Monica; his grandchildren, Christopher, Patrick, Georgia and Alison; sisters, Carmen, Olga, Mary; brother, Felix Jr., and many other loving relatives and friends. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, and will be greatly missed. Visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 18th from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. with Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Funeral Home-Carolina. Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, Sept. 19th at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in his name to the El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association, 747 E. San Antonio Ave, Suite 103, El Paso, TX 79901. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery. ARRANGEMENTS BY HILLCREST FUNERAL HOME. www.hillcrestfuneralhome.org 1060 Carolina Dr. 598-3332

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Mom We Can Hear You Playing

Dear Mom,

Even though you are gone you live in my heart like a song that never ends. It is ironic that the book you wrote, "The Song of Time" is so true today. I thank you for all the wonderful qualities you bestowed on me. You gave me the gift of music, or learning and of believing in myself. You supported me when no one else knew how, and you never gave up on me.

to be continued...

Photos from the Riviera

Starting & Keeping a Band

Only a very few things are harder that trying to start and keep a band. All the odds are against you and you must really want to venture out and do this. While some people will support you and give you encouragement, others will simply not care. Even your own family will not back you up sometimes. After all, who wants to practice three times or more a week, look for work at clubs who don't want to pay you enough, and then spend lots of time trying to figure out how to pay and maintain your equipment? Well, I do.

I love the music business and I don't care how hard it is. I consider all of this a serious hobby and I don't expect to get rich from it. There is nothing that makes me feel better than to play before a live audience.

A Sub is Teaching for me Tomorrow

A sub is teaching for me tomorrow. Lord, I've divided my day into hours and minutes and written detailed lesson plans. The sub should have no problems knowing what to do. But, Lord, You know she won't do it the way I do. She'll forget the way to write the reminder on the board. She'll pronounce a few names wrong. She will give the students too long for restroom breaks. She will probably forget to send them to the library.

Dear God:

I want to thank you for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed; I am thanking you right now. I am thinking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me. This was given to me by a very inspired young man...Thanks!

The Gipsy Kings Return to El Paso

Members of the Gipsy Kings performed Tuesday, February 6, 2007 at the El Paso County Coliseum. (Rubén R. Ramirez / El Paso Times)

The Gipsy Kings are by far one of my favorite groups. I had seen them before during their first visit to El Paso, missed their second concert, so I could not miss this one. I'm glad I didn't. Although I did not appreciate the venue, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I was dead tired that particular day. You know, one of those days when everything at work goes awry. However, I pushed myself to get to the coliseum a little early to buy my ticket. I hadn't been to the coliseum in a long time, so I wanted to make sure I had plenty of time to get a good parking space. After driving in a circle around the place, I finally found the entrance to the parking lot. As I walk up to the ticket windows, I notice that there is a big sign that says "Cash Only!" Of course, I expected to pay with my credit card. The lady at the ticket booth said that I could go inside and get cash from the ATM machine, and after paying the required $2.00 fee, I got my cash and purchased a $ 42.00 ticket. The lady graciously reminded me that the ticket price included my parking fee; I felt so much better knowing I had gotten such a bargain.

I made my way into the coliseum and was scouting around for my seat and already I regretted not bringing my binoculars. Just as I was climbing the stairs to look for my spot, I heard someone yell my name and motion for me to come over. It was one of my acquaintances, Paco, a guy I met at school. We had actually talked about going to this concert together, but never got in touch with each other. Coincidentally, we had gotten seats across the aisle from each other. The seats were too far away from the stage, but it was great knowing I had a buddy to enjoy the concert with.

The concert started at exactly 8:00 p.m. I couldn't believe that a concert could start on time. When the lights dimmed, the crowd started changing seats and moving to the front to occupy those seats which had not been sold. Paco had gone off somewhere and I found myself surrounded by empty seats. When he finally showed up, he said, "Follow me, I know where we can get good seats!" I quickly followed not knowing what to expect. Paco walked quickly and we settled on some box seats that were stage left. As soon as we got comfortable, however, a man came up to me and said I was sitting in his seat. I apologized, and found plenty of empty seats right above us. We settled into those seats for the first part of the concert. Paco was really hyper that night and started clapping his hands flamenco style and dancing right where we were sitting.

Unfortunately, the crowd that night was rather subdued. The first concert I had been to was much more exciting with women and girls rushing to the stage to dance. I saw one person in the third row center dancing, but other than that it seemed that only Paco was the life of the party.


To be continued...

More Than A Father-in-law "Mas Que Mi Suegro"

It was late on a Tuesday afternoon in July when my wife got the phone call that her Dad was in the hospital.

Fue martes por la tarde cuando mi esposa recibio la llamada que su padre estaba en el hospital.

A couple of hours later, my wife called and cried out, " My dad died!" I was at the park with the kids, and my wife asked me not to let the kids know yet.

Un par de horas despues, llamo mi esposa y grito, "Se murio mi papa!". Yo estaba en el parque con los niños y mi esposa me pedió que no se los contara todavia.

I called my father-in-law "apa" and he was very special to me. I had lost my dad when I was seventeen, so apa became my dad. I remember the very first day I met him. I was standing outside his house waiting for his daughter to come out. He said hello and asked me to come in the house. This was a very special moment for me because I had been going out with my future bride for six months, and by him welcoming me to his house he was in fact approving the fact that I was seeing his daughter.

Le llamaba "apa" a mi suegro porque era una persona muy especial para mi. Yo habia perdido a mi padre cuando solo tenia diecisiete años y mi apa fue como mi segundo padre. Nunca olvidare el primer día que lo conocí. Un día cuando estaba afuera de la casa esperando a su hija me saludó y me dió el pase a la casa. Esto fue un momento muy especial para mi porque significaba que aprobaba mi relación con mi futura esposa.

I have very fond memories of apa. We got along very well and I loved his quiet, but friendly manner. I remember once he and I were working in my back yard; it must have been about ten years ago. After a couple of hours of pulling weeds and clearing out all the stuff that accumalates in one's yard, I needed a break. I suggested to him, "Hey apa, let's take a little break". He just kept on working and said, " You go ahead son, I'm OK." He had a lot more stamina and energy than I had and he did not take a break until lunch time.

Tengo recuerdos muy bonitos de apa. Nos llevabamos muy bien y me encantaba su manera de ser. Recuerdo una vez que estuvimos trabajando en mi jardin. Ha de ser como diez años atrás. Depues de dos horas de sacar yerbas y limpiando todo el mugrero que se amontona en el jardin, necesitaba descansar. Le surgerí que tomaranos un descanso, pero el no quizo y me comentó, "Adelante, mijo. Yo estoy bien." Mi apa tenía mucha mas fuerza y animo que yo, y no descansó hasta la hora de la comida.

A continuación...To be continued...

The 70's Are Back & Kids Are Into It!

I just finished reading an article in a major publication about how young kids are listening to Led Zepellin, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and other artists of the 70's. I found it hard to believe that so many could be listening to that era of music. There are a couple of young, teenage bands in my neighborhood, and the music coming out of their garages is anything but the music of the 70's. So, I just chalked up the article to wishful thinking.

Two young teens proved me wrong. One day as I was walking around the hallways at school, two very young looking individuals were jamming on a guitar. I was going to the breakroom, so I asked them if they would mind following me there and playing a little for me. I told them I was a musician, too and was always looking to hear what young people were playing nowadays. They were happy to oblige, and and soon as we sat down the guitarist started playing the riff to Led Zepellin's "Baby I'm Going to Leave You". I was taken aback as to how accurate he was playing it and I started to sing it. The young kid's eyes grew big as he realized that I knew the words to the song, and there we were the three of us singing. We proceeded to play and sing to the much jaded " Stairway to Heaven", and worked our way through "Sunshine of Your Love". People started to look and listen to what we were doing, but we didn't care because we were into it.
It was one of the best jam sessions I had been to in a long time.