MI VIDA LOCA, MY CRAZY LIFE
A Biographical and Historical Account of the Life of a Native New Mexican in the Twentieth Century
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
According to the stories of my birth, it all started sometime after midnight on the frigid morning of January 4th 1933 in the adobe house belonging to my tia (aunt) Ramoncita Gutierrez de Trujillo. This adobe house, according to my recollection, was nestled in the foothills of the San Pedro Mountains in La Jara, New Mexico, USA. La Jara is located near Cuba, New Mexico, USA. Growing up, and every time that I visit there, I remember thinking that this must be the most beautiful spot on earth. I still feel that way. The feelings of joy, peace, happiness, nostalgia and tranquility that I felt then still do come over me when I stand on the spot where the home I was born in once stood. The house is gone now, but the memories still linger. Old timers (of which I am one now) used to say that the reason one felt that way about one’s birthplace was because that was where one’s ombligo (umbilical cord) was buried. You’re probably thinking, “Aw, that’s an old wife’s tale.” Perhaps it is, but I like to think that my umbilical cord is still attached to Mother Earth there.
Select Format
Book Details
About the Book
This book is about what life was like in the twentieth century as experienced by one who was born in a small farming and ranching community during the Great Depression and grew up with, lived among, played with, and worked with people of Hispanic descent like himself, and then in a small New Mexico city among people whose descendants came mostly from Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Indigenous People who were here first. Almost his entire life and career were spent living among, and/or working with, and for the people of the Navajo, Zuni, Acoma, Laguna, Apache, Hoopa and Yurok Tribes and served in an Administrative capacity with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs. From a small boy herding sheep in the foothills of the San Pedro Mountains of Northern New Mexico to a country boy living in the city, to a young man serving his country during the Korean Conflict (sometimes referred to as The Forgotten War and Frozen Chosin), to working for his Country in a Branch of the Federal Government that provides human services and assistance to the Indigenous Peoples of this country, to raising a family of eight children, and the adventures he and his family had along the way while living and working in various Indian Reservations located throughout New Mexico, Arizona and California. This was a journey of Learning, Living, and Loving that taught the author and his family the true meaning of the word love; love of God, love of self, love for one and other, and love for others. It has been a life mostly happy, sometimes sad, sometimes funny, sometimes full of grief and tears, but always full of love and thankfulness to our Creator who is the source of our strength and who makes everything possible. Everything that’s written herein has been gleaned from the life and experiences of the author during his eighty-five (and counting) years on this planet, conversations with his parents and his numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, co-workers, and other native New Mexicans who have lived and experienced the kind of lives written about in this book. For accuracy and veracity, he has referenced the works of other New Mexico authors and on-line services such as Wikipedia. He has tried to be as true and accurate as possible in his account and asks for the readers forgiveness for any information which may be found to be erroneously and unintentionally presented.
About the Author
Medardo Gonzales was born in La Jara, a ranching and farming community in the foothills of the beautiful San Pedro Mountains in Sandoval County, New Mexico near Cuba, New Mexico. He attended La Jara Community School until seventh grade, and after the family moved to Gallup, New Mexico, he attended Sacred Heart Cathedral High School graduating in 1952. In 1953 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Korea until his release from active duty in 1955. He worked for the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs in various areas of administration in supervisory, management, and training positions from September of 1956 until his retirement in December of 1981. After his retirement, he worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Continental Divide Training Center as a contract Course Developer and Instructor, then for the University of New Mexico, Gallup Campus as a Community Development Specialist, and then for the Bill Oliver Training Corporation of Albuquerque, New Mexico as a sales representative, trainer, and instructor. When the Corporation closed due to the ill health of the owner, Medardo opened his own training enterprise in Gallup, New Mexico which he operated for six years and then opened a flower and gift shop in Grants, New Mexico which he operated until the end of 2012 when he moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico where he presently lives. This is his second book. His first book, which came out on February 1, 2019 and entitled Live to Love, Love to Live, is published by Sunstone Press of Santa Fe, New Mexico and available from Amazon. Medardo is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled Veterans of America, served as commander of the DAV Chapter in Grants, New Mexico, President of the AARP Chapter in Grants, New Mexico, President of Saint Paul’s Parish Council in Crownpoint, New Mexico, and President of Saint Eleanor’s Parish Council in Ruidoso, New Mexico. Before he left Gallup in 1961 he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the VFW in Gallup, and in 1975, while stationed in Crownpont. he joined the Cursillo Movement of the Diocese of Gallup, New Mexico. He was an active member of the Cursillos until his retirement from civil service in 1981.