The Last Time

PHOTO Collage:
Mary Genoveva Leyba-Lucero

"A relationship is like a shock. It has to constantly move forward or it dies."
-Woody Allen to Diane Keaton on a TWA Flight
"Annie Hall", 1977 Film

Today, December 8, 2010 is the MEMORIAL Service for my maternal grandmother, Mary Genevieve Leyba-Lucero in San Leandro, CA. She was born on July 10, 1913 in Cerrillos, New Mexico and passed away on December 5, 2010 in Walnut Creek, California.  She will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren and many great and great-great children.

Below is a bit of insight about my grandmother's maiden name (LEYBA) and her married name (LUCERO).

The surname LEYBA has been identified by the Holy Office of the Catholic Church of Spain as a Sephardic (Jewish) surname. If you are interested in researching this aspect of the LEYBA family line, you are invited to visit Sephardim.com, located at http://www.sephardim.com
The LUCERO name originates in SPAIN.  The surname LUCERO in New Mexico translates to "The Morning Star" (the planet Venus) or "El Lucero de la Manana". The work "luz" (pronounced luce) means "light or candlelight". There is a Coat of Arms for the LUCERO name that is available throught the Historical Research Center. It has a knights armor with three feathers on top. There is bright yellow, smiling sun on the shield. It is of royal blue and bright yellow color.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Lucero, Lucío, Lucio, Luz, de Luz, de la Luz, Luzío, de Luzío, Luzio and many more.

First found in Aragon, an important Christian kingdom of medieval Spain.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Early migrants to the New World included Juan Luz, who sailed to America in 1527; Francisco de Luzío sailed to Guatemala in 1538; Alonso de Luz sailed to Peru in 1592.

The Lucio name is also quite common in Italy.

Twenty-five years ago today

December 8, 1985
Sunday

On Sunday morning at 10:30AM Chad and I finally got up out of bed. We went bicycling to Ole’s Waffle Shop. We shared a great breakfast or so I thought.
Chad announced, “That’s the last time I want to go there because I prefer a quiet setting on Sunday mornings.”
I would have to concur with that statement.

After our breakfast we walked our bikes and browsed through a few Park Street stores. We gave South Shore Shopping Center a quick run over, too. We returned to my house where we both took a nap together. Then we got up and ________.

 I drove Chad home to Castro Valley.

Then we went to the Ice-Cream Dock for avocado cheeseburgers. We returned to my place. All in all there was a lot of good that took place over the weekend. Chad did claim I ‘cut him down’ and made him feel foolish a few too many times. He may have been correct. Perhaps I was a bit harsh but then maybe it was because of Friday night. He made me feel hurt inside (especially when he doesn’t allow me to touch. He’s working on it though. Things will hopefully blow over for the best.
I stopped at my mom and dad’s house on the way back. Mom and Dad were involved in a movie, so I left not long after my arrival (thirty minutes to be exact).

Once home I telephoned Chad.
“I just want to wish you a happy month-a-versary.”
We both forgot.
“Good night.”
“Good night.”

"Let's start over."
-as heard in the 1997 Hong Kong film
HAPPY TOGETHER