Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki Last night was an incredible night. My family, our friends and anyone who has ever stopped to listen to my father´s amazing life story have all been waiting anxiously for something like this to happen to him. I´d like to share his story and my thoughts with you all. My dad´s 81 years old but nobody can believe it: energetic, lively, well-humored, still does carpentry work, runs in Griffith Park, etc. Unbelievable. He´s lived up until now a amazing life. When he was about 17, just having ended WWII, he hopped on a ship headed for Argentina and left his mother and 9 brothers and sisters in Spain, who were suffering the consequences of the Depression. In order for them to be able to eat and live, he went in search for money with his flamenco dancing. He danced all over South America, Cuba, and Puerto Rico meeting my mother along the way who was a ballet and folklore dancer. Together, they continued to work dancing. From South America up to the states and even into eastern Canada, New York, all the states in the area, and finally Hollywood where they set up camp. (I´m leaving so much out. He really should write an auto-biography.) I have to add that on this long tour that begun in the late 40´s, seeing that he has always been a very charismatic man and not at all shy, he worked with all of the great flamenco dancers, guitarrists and singers. Later met loads of actors and industry people in the U.S., working with them on TV shows, on stage, and movies. In L.A., he opened ElCid, spanish restaurant on Sunset Bl. He worked in the morning in his spanish carpentry business and at night at the Cid dancing until 4a.m. He left the restaurant but to this day he has never stopped working, not one day, always creating his own businesses. But throughout his whole life, he has never forgotten his hometown. I have heard him talking about Marchena and his love for his people for as long as I can remember. Last year, at last, a well known spanish writer set up an interview for him on a TV show over here in Sevilla. Little by little, he´s getting offers to speak up and be known. He and my mom are here in Sevilla now because my father was invited as the guest of honor at the flamenco and guitar festival in his hometown, Marchena, which has played a very important part of flamenco history in the past, and still does today. He was awarded for his dancing career, who he danced with and for never forgetting his roots and his hometown. I can´t express how I felt last night sitting in the audience seeing how my father accepted his award on stage with the colorfully lit 14th century church where he was baptized in 1926 as a backdrop. And it just brought tears to my eyes while listening to his speech, hearing how his voice trembled from gratitude and seeing that smile on his face. I don´t think I´ve ever seen my father this happy and so deeply affected by this recognition, so well deserved, that he is finally experiencing. And I have never felt so proud of him.
Originally Posted By LuLu Awesome!!! I suggest you urge your dad to write his story... or at least make sure someone writes down all the details for posterity. Having lost my dad recently, I can tell you how much this will mean to you and your family, and how much you'll regret it if you don't! And you seem like a pretty good writer yourself, maybe you could write his biography ??? Anyway, big congrats to your dad and your family, this is very cool!
Originally Posted By gardenrooms Your dad sounds like an amazing person. Maybe if he doesn't want to write his biography you could talk him into recording it for you, a little each day or week.
Originally Posted By threeundertwo What a great story! I second the idea of getting all the history. If nothing else, get him to talk about his past and record his voice, for someone to write out later. I have a family history that a cousin collected from a great uncle and it's just amazing. A real treasure. Thanks for sharing this!
Originally Posted By bloona That was beautiful to read. Congratulations to him, and the pride you feel for him is obvious and much deserved. thank you for sharing that story.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 That is wonderful tiki. I strongly urge you to just sit with your father and videotape him answering questions from you and other family members for future generations to see. What a awesome story and honor for him. ;>
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki Many thanks to everyone. Today has been a very calm & relaxed day at home with the family. We have all been so nervous for weeks but today we were finally breathing pure tranquility! Since I was a little girl I´ve heard people tell my dad again & again that he should write all this down or tape it. But we´ve all realized that we can´t force him to do it (typical proud spanish man!)& that he should do it on his own. What´s sad to me is that I actually think that it just isn´t going to happen. But we won´t give up! Maybe last night´s event will give him a little push & he´ll finally convince himself to do something.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 I understand tiki, my grandma loved to talk about my grandpa's history as an Indian - she grew up here in California but from her or my other relatives from Spain - nothing. It's was/is like pulling teeth. Aye yi yi!
Originally Posted By Pixie Glitter What an amazing man! Thanks for sharing the story with us, tiki. Perhaps you could sweet talk your father into recording his story as a gift for you?
Originally Posted By LuLu >>But we´ve all realized that we can´t force him to do it & that he should do it on his own.<< Still, you should write down everything you know, and ask him questions when you need to "fill in the blanks." If he doesn't like answering the questions, at least you'll have something written down. And maybe it would even push him to write something on his own!
Originally Posted By smedley Congratulations to your father, I too hope he changes his mind and records his exploits for posterity
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki Since I´m proudly sending this footage out to everyone I know, I thought I´d share it here also. The first footage is an interview the local TV channel set up with my dad a week or so before the festival. ("Un Marchenero en Hollywood", middle column) The old black and white photos shown in between are mostly him and my mom. And the second footage is him accepting his award on stage at the festival.("Fiesta de la Guitarra 2007", bottom left hand corner) <a href="http://www.rtvmarchena.es/informativostv.htm" target="_blank">http://www.rtvmarchena.es/info rmativostv.htm</a> My apologies to those who do not speak spanish!!
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki There I go again. I could watch it a thousand times and I´ll always get all teary eyed. :') I put myself in his shoes and think about what a fulfilling experience it must have been for him. It happened a month ago, him and my mom flew back home 2 weeks ago and I very often still think about all that happened to him in such a short period of time. I think it was a bit overwhelming for him, in a good way. I often think about his reactions to all of it and I saw such a sensitive side of him that I had never seen before and that really touched me deep down. Just to see him so happy, it all opened up my eyes and I saw another person in him. Sorry to go on and on and on about it but it´s clear to me that this has been one of the best experiences of my life.
Originally Posted By LuLu That is sooooo cool! I'm happy to say I was able to pick up some of the meaning. Happy b/c when in France, I loved it so much I thought I might want to retire to Europe, but figured I'd never pick up French, but could probably get Spanish. Maybe I was right! Hopefully we'll be able to meet and talk when you come to CA next year Anyway, this honor is so wonderful - congrats to your dad and family!
Originally Posted By beamerdog Wonderful footage. What was he talking about when he wiped a tear from his eye? (Unfortunately I studied French for a foreign language.) I'm lucky that I found a copy of an interview that my brother had done with my dad many years ago. And, my son interviewed his zeda for a class paper, so we have him taped. The last question he asked was, "Grandpop, would you like to add anything?" And my dad replied, "I don't buy green bananas anymore." You might find that you father would be more willing to talk about things to one or more of the grandchildren or another young person. It's so obvious how vibrant and involved in life he is.
Originally Posted By Lisann22 Awesome footage. What a fantastic tribute to your dad. I love the old pictures!!!
Originally Posted By tiki tiki tiki tiki LuLu, IMO Spanish is not hard at all and if compared to French it´s much easier. I´m glad you could pick up a few things! I would love to be able to translate it all but it´s just too much. Beamerdog, before he wipes a tear away he´s saying how this recognition is the best thing that has ever happened to him and if the city of Sevilla was to have presented him such an honor it wouldn´t have meant as much. He was also just overwhelmed with all the recognition he got, he wasn´t expecting any of it. And as far as talking to people, we wouldn´t be surprised if we found him talking to a rock because he talks to EVERYONE! If you make eye contact with him, watch out, he will talk your ear off!! Lisann, I looove old pics too! I can spend hours looking through all of theirs.
