This is a personal memoir written by Art Moreno of El Paso, Texas, for his sons. The author explains that he never knew his own father's life story, so he is writing down his own memories to share with his children. The document is structured in parts covering his early childhood, lessons learned, growing up, adventures, school years, early career, and life on the road.
Dad's Story: A Life's Journey - Memories for My Sons is a personal memoir written by Art Moreno of El Paso, Texas, for his sons. The author explains that he never knew his own father's life story, so he is writing down his own memories to share with his children. The document is structured in parts covering his early childhood, lessons learned, growing up, adventures, school years, early career, and life on the road.
The foreword, dated February 14, 2009, describes the author's motivation: since he never knew his father's life growing up, he wants to give his sons insight into his own life. He recalls his father working as a jeweler, Greco-Roman wrestler, night watchman at Globe Mills, and photographer with a darkroom at 1229 W. Main.
Part I: The Beginning covers the author's earliest memories, including attending Jesus & Mary Academy at age 4 or 5. He describes getting a penny weekly allowance to buy BB Bat candy from the Corner Grocery across the street. He recounts incidents with Madre Pilar, who made him share his candy and pencils with classmates.
The memoir describes the author's grandmother Welita (Guadalupe), who listened to an RCA radio with a dog-and-Victrola trademark, rolled her own cigarettes from Prince Albert tobacco, and kept a worn white leather coin purse. She made cottage cheese and asaderos from milk obtained at El Corralon, a lot on 7th and Mesa Streets where a cow was kept.
Part II: Lessons Learned includes memories of playing in an army surplus junkyard with friends Sonny Alvarez, Pablo Dow, Manuel Sandoval, and George Maynes. The author describes collecting discarded Christmas trees to burn in the arroyo in front of his house, and playing roller skate hockey with the burnt tree posts. He recalls an incident where bullets thrown into the fire by Joe Veytia exploded.
The text ends with a story about Armando Flores and the author's brothers Oscar and Ruben. The author includes a prank where his brothers filled a popcorn bag with fresh cow manure, though he later clarifies he loves his brothers. The document continues with additional parts not included in the provided text.