Hurrince Laura

Called Kristi yesterday to make sure she had everything prepared and she said they were fine.....this morning, it turns out the hurricane ws the strongest storm to ever hit the US, wow- crazy!

COVID Update in Travis-Austin

Anniversary

We celebrated out anniversary being taking a couple of days off...I tried to buy him a couple of gifts but we kept running into issues so he finally said, you paid for my car to get fixed, that's my gift. We went to Lucy's where the staff wished us well and bought us a shot. Then we went to hang out with Demi at The Park in south austin then we went back to his place ti skinny dip in his pool- what a night.

MOM and Rachel Visit!!!!!!

I was working when someone who looked like mom was walking to the door and then I opened the door and saw her, I started crying.....she had a blanket and covered me and we hugged so hard and we both cried. Then I did the same for both Anissa and Rachel...hope I didn't freak them out bc I cried. They brought us food from Panachitos and other household supplies. Mom took some sage from our backyard and Jaime gave her some seeds from Lucifer's plants, strangely enough the seeds popped and made everyone laughed. we gave them directions to Sallys' and other department staores- they also came to shop in austin...they finally made it home around 4:30pm, whew...what a day- emotionally and apparently both James and Amber knew they were going to surprise me. I guess they were scared about my depression....

Luke's Birthday- he is now 11 yrs old

Esurance update

The second claim is almost about to be settled....it has two complainants, but one of the settled, so waiting on the other on to do so too....fingers crossed this comes to close soon.

Historic Day for the Democrats and the country

Kamala Harris is picked for VP by Biden.....first black woman to be on a Presidential ticket! Amazing news.....let's go get that fucker out!

Obama already mentioned Joe Biden picked a good one.....let's hope.

Biden Picks California Senator Kamala Harris as His Running Mate!!!

News article about Aunt...great article!

Elaine Ayala

Ayala: Honoring a soft-spoken icon

Elaine Ayala Aug. 11, 2020

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Dora Jordan, seen in a 2006 photo taken at her retirement, was a special event coordinator at the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. Long-time city retirees are at work to get a park named for Jordan who died in July.

Photo: Courtesy photo

By many accounts, Aurora “Dora” Jordan wasn’t a flashy person. In her youth, she might have been crowned reina of a South Side nightclub known as “El Ranchito.” No doubt she loved music and dancing. After all, she married into a famous musical family.

But Jordan preferred being backstage, where detail work ensured the success of every event she helped plan.

She was involved in a lot of them, from San Antonio’s New Year’s Eve celebrations when they were first held in front of the Alamo to Jazz’SAlive festivals at Travis Park.

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She oversaw the details of dedications for new parks. She organized social events and served as a translator when the presidents of six Latin American countries came to San Antonio in 1992.

As a special events coordinator for the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, she was the first to arrive to make sure the correct streets were closed and the last to leave after overseeing the work of cleaning crews.

Jordan had been retired for years when she died in July at 75, another victim of the coronavirus pandemic. The elaborate funeral she planned was not to be — “due to COVID-19,” as her death notice said.

Since then, three of her friends — Mary Ellen Rodriguez, 82, Grace Herrera, 82, and Angie Perez, 70 — have being talking about having a park named for Jordan.

The process is long and arduous, requiring petitions, hearings and even door-to-door campaigns in a park’s neighborhood.

It will be a while before the project develops legs, though several influential people, including activist Rosie Castro, are already behind the initiative.

That’s because they knew the woman Jordan was — dedicated, demanding, deserving. They know she was a person who, in her own day, wouldn’t have been considered for such an honor.

In that era, schools, libraries, streets, parks and arenas rarely were named for deserving women, especially women of color.

But it’s a new day, and the nation is being forced to reckon with a history of slights, injustices and racism. A new willingness has emerged not only to consider such overdue acknowledgment but to will it into reality.

Jordan was like so many young, ambitious Mexican American women in San Antonio in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. They had to work so much harder for what they achieved.

They were smart and capable but weren’t always able to go to college. But once hired, they figured out how to survive and succeed.

They were Rosie the Riveter types who listened when they were told to learn to type because it was going to come in handy someday. They pushed each other to take college courses and looked out for one another when job openings were posted.

They couldn’t become generals or directors of departments, but they took notes, sometimes literally, because they had mastered an archaic language called shorthand and took dictation.

As the “Hamilton” song goes, they were in the rooms where decisions were made, and they learned it wasn’t so hard to make things happen.

Carol O’Malley, who worked for the parks department and later operated a San Antonio river barge company, remembered when Jordan was involved in planning dignitary visits, including that of Pope John Paul II in 1987, and in bringing Mexican songstress Lola Beltrán to San Antonio for a concert benefiting parks.

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Jordan was briefly married to professional percussionist Bonifacio Jordan, brother of the late accordion legend Esteban “Steve” Jordan.

Her son, also named Bonifacio Jordan, said his mother died a month after her sister’s death, also of COVID-19. It has been a trying couple of months for the family. They’re touched by the thought of having a park named for her, but they haven’t gotten their hopes up.

But if you ask Rodriguez, Herrera and Perez, many city government retirees are just as interested in seeing Dora Jordan receive her due.

They’ve all been in the rooms where decisions are made, and they think it’s probably best if city officials just get behind them.

They already have a piece of undeveloped parkland in mind, and they don’t sound like women who’ll take “no” for an answer.

Dora Jordan was like that.

They recalled how she encouraged other women to get ahead, apply for better jobs, report injustices and speak up for themselves.

“She’d say, ‘No te dejes,’” said Perez, using a Spanish phrase that’s loaded with attitude and that advises the hearer to speak up, defend themself, don’t get discouraged and don’t accept defeat.

Monday Mom Call....

Woke up this morning to hear David (James' boss) crying on the phone and he explained what happened with his relationship over the weekend. Turns out David had a breakdown in front of her family, something he hid from them. They broke up because David has not dealt with his childhood trauma, like James and has mental issues. He confided in James all all his issues and find James someone who understands and can relate. Meanwhile, I went upstairs to talk to mom and she started crying when she told me about her visit to one of her cousin's house- Lala. I told her that I completely understand bc she was heart broken she could not hug her, which is why I haven't been able to visit them in 8 months now....hell, I was crying too, but did not let her know it. These times in our country are getting worst and worst and not sure how much longer I can live like this. I don't let what I do at work (the job has out grown me), James still has issues, if we were to get laid off or retire- what would we do for money...and at our age?

I doubt I will be alive by the end of the year.......

Wyll's birthday today

Not much going on, we met up for beers than came home. Spoke to mom to compliment her hair and she told me that the city of san antonio is dedicating a park to Aunt, which I broke down crying, but I hope to see it come true...

Had to calm James through his meds

I was out an about but when I got home, he was worried about how he came across to someone who called from work...he was his boss's POC this week and weekend, so I asked him what happened and what did he say...he started to freak out, but I held his hand and we talked about what he said and texted. Turned out the other person understood, so crisis avoided....although, I did tell him tomorrow he should follow up with his boss to give him a heads up about how he might have "appeared" when responding while under the influence of his meds. I stayed with him u ntil he said he was fine was going to bed, so I came downstairs...it was 8:30 PM CT on a Friday....hope he feels better tomorrow. My role never ends...

Austin is doing better than any Texas city.....the Prez said" it is what it is" when talking about 160,000 deaths!

Firday- took the day off

James had his therapy session and he told me he cried and told him stories he has never told anyone else, not even me. I didn't ask bc I want him to release it and not feel the need to tell me. As long as he has his help- that's fine with me.