One Man's Musings

 I was born in Mexico. I was taught how to read and communicate in Spanish. I was, in my own estimation, an average student who was not particularly fond of reading. There was, however, an early interest in the English language. I loved movies, particularly the ones filmed in Hollywood. I remember asking my dad to take me to see West Side Story for the sixteenth birthdate. I hated having to read the sub-titles to understand the dialog. I remember thinking: I've got to learn English. I immigrated to United States when I was twenty-one years old. My first English teacher was Dr. Kaplan, who was an instructor with the Mott Adult HS. I graduated from Central HS, Flint, Michigan, then enrolled to college in the fall of 1969. There are three life events that aroused my interest in reading, particularly in the English language. The first was a college professor who encouraged me to read, Thank you Dr. Cyril Leeder, Flint Community Junior College. The second event was being promoted by Mr....

Bernardino Brambila Cueva was born on September 24, 1770 (http:/FamilyTree.com) He was born in Tecolotlan, Mexico. He is my third great grandfather. He married Maria Josefa Gomez Rosales, who was born on November 20, 1789. They had twelve children. The second born was my second-great grandfather Casildo Brambila Gomez, born April 2, 1802. Bernardino was the son of Jose Reyes de la Brambilla Ortega and Margarita de Jesus Cueva Benavidez. Bernardino's grandparents were Agustin de la Brambilla and Antonia Gonzalez de Leon. Agustin and Antonia were, in turn, the children of Jose de la Brambilla and Juana Guijarro. The above information comes from my grandfather's notes, and FamilyTree.Com.

  I arrived in Michigan It was a foggy summer afternoon when I arrived in Michigan fifty-two years ago. The year was 1968. I had an uneventful four-hour flight from Guadalajara, Mexico to Chicago. The 45-minute trip from Chicago to Flint was on an old prop engine commuter airplane. My brother in-law Robert Gatrell, my sister Connie and my niece Ana Lourdes picked me up from the airport, I had been admitted to the US as a foreign student. I was a high school drop-out in Mexico. I did not know what to expect regarding high school requirements to obtain a diploma in the US, but I had the most fervent desire to graduate. My English vocabulary was rudimentary at best; my slang vocabulary was non-existent. I had previously met Bob some years back when he married my sister. I knew little about Bob. He was previously married, and he worked as a general foreman. Bob’s kids from the previous marriage were all adults, except for Mark, a sixteen-year-old who was also a member of Bob’s fa...