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Another year, another year older.  I'm not talking about my age but my mother's, She will be 91 on 4th of July and as she gets older, I face reality and know that I am also getting older.  But what I am seeing is that the older she gets the healthier she becomes.  I hope that also becomes my case!!

A few years back, my mother was very forgetful, couldn't get around to good and under constant supervision.  Now, present day, she remembers everything that happened in her 91 years.  Heck I can't even remember what happened last Tuesday!!

Mother's Day is special because it is her day but let's not forget her birthday and every day of the year.  I don't see her as much as I should because she is now living in San Jose, CA but I try to go up as much as I can and know that she is in good hands with my sister, Lupe, who just became a grandma for the first time a couple of months ago.

Lupe keeps an eye on all the activity that mom does and I sometimes worry because mom is not only very active & popular in her Senior Citizen's Club in San Jose but when we get together, all she wants to do is walk around and dance.  She likes to spin around while dancing cumbias and rancheras.  Our last event, I got tired quicker than she did.  I don't know where she gets her energy.  She goes out and works in her garden and now she claims she has a "novio" at the Senior Citizens.  Another female member is jealous because she claims it's her "novio".  Watch out mom!!

Mom was born in Guadalajara, studied at a convent with nuns, met my father from Durango, married, had 5 kids (I'm the middle one) and migrated to California in 1957.  We moved to Delano in 1959 where she worked out in the fields till 1977 when she and my father moved to San Jose.  By the way, we all participated in the March to Sacramento with Cesar Chavez back when I was 16 yrs. old.  Everyone else followed to San Jose except me.  I remained in Bakersfield, this is my home.

Mom is a Great, Great Grandmother and isn't shy to express what she is thinking and how she feels about you.  "Mijo, cuanto te paseas!, comes' mucho!! Te estas poniendo gordo!!, tu pelo se esta poniendo mas blanco!!,  tu bigote esta muy largo!! Eres tan traviezo!!"  Heh! Heh! She's such a kidder!!!

We always have a blast for 4th of July and celebrate my mother's birthday with a bang.  As a matter of fact, I've spent every 4th of July with mother since she moved up there, except for one year when I was injured as a result of an accident in 1994.  The San Jose skyline lights up with fireworks for my mom.

My mother's children, I'm afraid are getting older, and I'm sure she'll out live everyone.  As long as we're still ticking, we get together as often as we can to be with mom and on this coming Mother's Day, May 13, we'll all try to be together again, God willing.

Yes, Mother's Day is special..... especially for my mother because if she would have become a nun, I wouldn't be here!  What would we do without mother's?  She will always be your mother no matter no matter what kind of person you are and where you live.  Love your mother as much as she loves you and cherish the moments you spend together.

Ama (Refujio "Cuca" Macias Serrano), te quiero mucho y te deseo muchos años mas en nuestras vidas!!  FELICIDADES!!!

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Olivia, as I mentioned yesterday, I first saw Antonio Aguilar, Flor Silvestre, Pepito and his brother Tonito at the Kern County Fairgrounds.  Of course at that time, Antonio Aguilar was my favorite and I liked the way he performed with his trained horses.

Prior to this, I never knew of Pepito and Tonito and I was really impressed by Tonito, who was older than Pepito, and also mastered the horses, like his dad.

I later provided backstage security to a performance in Fresno where the Aguilar family again performed along with another upcoming star, Gloria Montiel, who opened for Antonio.  I shook Antonio and Flor's hand as they walked by and after their performance knew that Tonito and Pepito would someday be stars themselves.  I remember Pepito getting on a set of drums on stage and "kicking butt" with those drums.  The crowd went crazy.

I actually grew up with Antonio Aguilar since my mother, "Cuca", who will be 91 on July 4th, used to take us to see Antonio Aguilar's "peliculas".. "Gabino Barrera", "Caballo prieto azabache" and "Lucio Vázquez".  She was always singing Antonio's songs around the house when making homemade tortillas.  She was actually very good.......Her singing and the tortillas.

In 1982, I drove my mother, who is from Guadalajara, to her "tierra".  We went by way of San Antonio where we visited the Alamo and made it a point to stop in Zacatecas, Antonio's birthplace.  My mother used to tells us stories of Antonio Aguilar and Flor Silvestre and how Antonio was born in Zacatecas.  I never saw anything so beautiful as the land itself with it's red rolling hills.  Of course, we were not able to find Antonio's ranch but I was honored to stop at his town and I can still picture it in my mind.

Well, Pepito cut his name short as he grew up to Pepe and I learned that his name was really "Jose Aguilar" and was born in San Antonio, Texas.  I wasn't too impressed with Pepe's involvement as a drummer with Rock Music nor with his Conga Music but in 1998 when "Por Mujeres Como Tu" came out, I really loved that song and the lyrics.  It was different, it wasn't anything like what Antonio Aguilar sings.  I asked, "Is that Pepito Aguilar?"

Pepe then came out with "Por Una Mujer Bonita" which was also a great song and after that he became a great singer, his style being different than his dad's but he still goes back to his roots and sings Maricahi Music which is my favorite.

After that I purchased his CD's and I would sing the lyrics along with Pepe as my mother used to sing Antonio's songs.  I know, I know.....people would tell me, "Don't give up your day job!" so I didn't but I still enjoy his music.  A little warning....don't ever ask me to sing anything!!

It was a couple of years ago that he performed at The Palace Gaming Center near Lemoore.  I was one of the first to buy tickets.  He had a great performance in his Mariachi outfits and the Mariachi's that accompanied him were great.  He sang all his great songs and of course I got away with taking video of his performance, until security "tried" to make me stop shooting video.  Well....they tried.

What else can I tell you, I know that Antonio and Flor are proud of Pepito and he will be remembered as well as his dad is remembered by his singing and his peliculas.  It would nice if my mother wasn't so far up in San Jose, CA that I could take her to see Pepito's concert.  From my experience, Pepe Aguilar's concerts are always packed and his performance in Bakersfield will overflow with his fans who adore his music.