Bob’s Blog

Riding with Kurt is never dull, so it seems.
From the mundane, to the extreme
You’ll never know what he’ll find.
Pretty standard stuff sometimes,
Then other days, totally off-the-wall findings, you must bear in mind.

But the best part of his calling is his personality, combined with his wit, most of all.
From his many ways to describe things, his numerous lines and his calls.
My personal favorite is his “nutjob”, describing a looney one,
To “what the hell!” as his opening line, his pun; he’s always out there working hard but most of all, still having fun.

Now he is a valuable resource for me and countless others;
From the work we do, to hunting and sports, to how rice is grown,
From the complicated stuff that I don’t understand, He’ll have a way of explaining it,
Making it seem simple somehow through his common sense, which to me, no one can teach you, and is all homegrown.

Now one thing that Kurt is not;
He won’t brag of his accomplishments and many awards that he’s got,
At first seems a bit shy but once he’s gotten your trust,
You’ll have a friend for life, I would bet, a great partner robust!

Robert Collazo,  12/20/08.

Non-Fiction, Poetry

Growing up in a large extended family as a young child
Some memorable Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties come to mind.
The first thing, of course, all the good stuff my Tias would all bring; boy, that sure brings a smile,
From the best home-made tamales of all kinds; to the hottest salsa’s; all kind of Mexican food intertwined,
To the best empanadas with most and best sugar unrefined.
The only time a year you wouldn’t get your hand slapped for eating too much food,
My brothers, cousins and I, we would see who could eat the most; at times pretty crude,
No one dared to fall behind.

As my brothers, cousins, and I got older, these parties at my brother Frank and Cousin Charlie now grow louder & louder.
From the Rock & Roll/Mexican music of our parents to the Tejano/Pop music being played now; but still recall those long ago parties getting sips of beer from our dads playing poker,
To all the carne asada you wanted from the pit and the smoker.
Then, who could forget that New Year’s party when my Tia Bula starting having contractions?
Remembering Tio Raul trying to put on his wife’s coat; to almost forgetting his pregnant wife, all panicky and what a reaction; combined with all the family’s commotion!
Then after, the lighting of firecrackers celebrating the new baby & New Year on the front lawn.
I bet not one Collazo in San Antonio from that time doesn’t recall the great times we have shared as a family,
The grand old times we have all undergone!

Robert Collazo, 12/20/08;  [Tio = Uncle; Tia = Aunt; Carne Asada = BBQ]

Non-Fiction, Poetry

According to my Dad, Roberto Gerardo Collazo, during the time that his ancestors were immigrating into the United States, in the year 1908, the revolution of the Mexican government was taking place.   It was during this time, that my Grandfather, Gerardo Collazo, at 8 years old; my Great-Grandmother, Juanita Aurajo (maidan name) Collazo; Gerardo’s brother, Antonio; and Gerardo’s sister, Juanita, crossed into the United States. In the confusion and turmoil of the Mexican revolution, Gerardo’s other brother, Ignacio, was lost.

My Dad does not recall if Ignacio was older or younger than he.  Since Gerardo was 8 years old at the time, he may not have had too many memories of him.  Hence, Dad recalls that his dad, Gerardo, never spoke about his brother Ignacio. However, Dad stated that he imagined that his dad named one of his sons after his brother, Ignacio, in honor of his brother.

On June 22, 1919, Gerardo Collazo married Manuela Garcia. Manuela’s Dad’s name was Inocencio Garcia; and her Mom’s name was _________ (if you know the name of her Mom, please leave me a comment so that I can update this).

Between the years of 1920 and 1937, Gerardo and Manuelita (as she was affectionately called), had one daughter and ten sons, Trini, Pedro, Rodolfo, Jose, Ignacio, Luis, Roberto Gerardo (called Lalo), Raul, Gorge, Oscar, and Fernando.

January 5, 1951, Roberto Gerardo Collazo married Maria de Jesus Elizondo. Maria’s Dad was named Franciso Allen Elizondo; Maria’s Mom’s name was Manuela Escamilla Elizondo.

________________________________________________________________________________

I will try to update this post, as I get more Collazo roots information.   Any Collazo folks out there that have more information than what I have posted here, please leave me your comments; or drop me an email at bobnterry <at> mac dot com – so that I can update this blog.  Much Thanks!

Robert Collazo, 12/14/08.

Non-Fiction

Mom, does it seem that long ago
When we were all young? When life was not complicated, and much loved flowed
In that little house on 38 Street,
When my brothers and I always shared laughter and all kinds of noise, and life was always sweet?

Do you recall the greatest of times when we would all go to the state park camping?
We would all jam, all crowed into the tiniest of cabin,
But it didn’t matter much since we all felt like millionaires,
With all the fun we would have, all the laughter we shared.

Of course, you must recall the early years with our lean times; but yet I can recall much joy
Where my brothers and I would get that lone toy that Bill would later destroy?
Since the spirit of Christmas was always there
The lean times didn’t matter because love flowed much with your tenderness, and loving care of us.

Do you recall the best of times when we made that trip to Mexico?
Dad drove like a crazy Mexican in that hectic traffic, & we’d all hold our breath, but things were still so “magnifico”.
Even when we all got sick in that distant land, we still all felt safe because of you.
It was our first out-of-country of adventure, you might say, our grand debut.

Your 77th birthday is here, a Great-Grandma now too; but still there is much laughter and to do in that house now on Pepperwood.
To all your large family now, you’ve been quite supportive, and always understood,
You’ve been the light for us all, the glue that kept us together; the most
And best Mom to your Sons and their families.  So, now to you we toast!

Happy Birthday Mom, from all your family. We love You!

Robert Collazo, 12/06/08; edited on 12/21/08 -

Non-Fiction, Poetry

Ms. Lillian loved to sing gospel all of her life,
Spending 69 years with her husband as a devoted wife.
The sweetest woman in her little town, and loved by all so much,
She would bake hundreds of the best tasting fruitcakes, for her friends at Christmas, and she’d load them down with all kind of goodies and such.

Ms. Lillian spent over 30 years working as a postal employee, for she was very devoted.
She then wrote for the local newspaper to let everyone know what was going on, it should be noted.
But many folks do not know that years ago, she personally knew Tom Landry, and all the Dallas Cowboys,
However, to all, she was just Lillian; but her home was special for it was always filled with friends, family, laughter, and all kinds of beautiful noise.

Ms. Lillian always had a garden that was so organized, and always so neat,
Her son, Gary, would always say that his Mom could plant cheerios and grow donuts, which he said really made him feel special, and complete.
Besides her husband, and her son, Ms. Lillian had three grandsons that she adored.
They surely were her true calling, the apples of her eye; some say, her greatest reward.

One of Ms. Lillian’s finest attributes was her willingness to reach out to people in need.
So compassionate about the struggles and illnesses of others that she had to succeed
In helping her fellow man whenever she could.
For it was always her positive and optimistic outlook that saw the good in everyone, and that you know, she really understood.

Ms. Lillian’s favorite time of year was the Yuletide, for this was when she would set out her large, yet beautiful Christmas light display.
When you rode by their house, folks would swear they really heard Santa’s bells from his sleigh.
But above all that’s been written, she was a very loving individual, and was quite the one of a kind.
Ms. Lillian will be sorely missed, and will surely be remembered truly as a Jewell; you surely could say, one of Quinlan’s finest of wines.

Robert Collazo, 12/1/08.

Non-Fiction, Poetry