I knew I was asking for trouble

Many people tell me, babies are not sinners. And I answer, I know they are not sinners knowingly, but take away their milk bottle before they are done eating and see how they react. Or, as they get to be two years old and take away their toys and see how they react. Try to put them to sleep when they don't want to and see what happens. I know that they are not fully cognizant of what they are doing as babies or children under the age of accountability. But as I see it, as time goes by those tantrums that those babies are performing when they don't get their way, at any given moment in time, will be perfected as they become more fine tuned. And with time and age those awful tantrums will be better defined and refined works of art that we call manipulation and exploitation skills. And as for us grown ups who know about practicing such great arts because we have become experts at it, we know that is sin. And as players given an opportunity, we all will use these cards for manipulating and or exploiting others if it serves a dire purpose to our benefit. Heck, even grandma will do it. It's not right or just, but it's a fact of life. Just look at our Politicians and Big Business, even the Supreme Court Judges, all of us are guilty. I know I am. That's why I'll use this Segway to say that from the age of 13 years old I had planned to get myself arrested and get sent to Gatesville Reform School. 

The reason for this was because for certain Mexican kids in the Barrio in San Marcos it was a Rite of Passage. It was an initiation process towards being recognized with The Vatos Locos of which I wanted to be a member of. These guys were not pleased with the status quo and neither was I. However, I had to build a jacket with enough crimes to get me to this place that I had only heard of. Yet, I was never a stupid kid. So I had to do some serious thinking about what crimes to commit. I never consulted other like minded kids or older guys about what I was thinking. I never made the mistake of making confessions to no one, not even to Priest. I liked to reason with myself only back then. Therefore I picked burglary as a safe nonviolent way to get locked up. I reasoned that burglary would also get me less time in prison. Well, maybe I was Stupid after all! As time goes by you'll see why. Anyway, besides, I was in no hurry to take my leave from this beautiful town of San Marcos and its River at the age of thirteen. Man, we were River Rats growing up then. 

Whether we were prohibited from walking through certain sections of town and or swim in certain areas of the river, we had fun among all the kids that frequented this great River. Many times after las piscas, we bathed here in this crystal clear fresh cool waters. Especially in the special areas of the river that we called "El Paso Bridge" and "La Isla", and "La Black Pipe." Way back then we didn't know that the huge black pipe that crossed over the river by about 8 feet high was a sewage line! Nonetheless, people today cannot imagine how pristine and immensely beautiful everything about the natural landscape at our river was. The flora and fauna was in abundance and extremely pristine back then. It was no wonder the pale leaders in town wanted access to this river for themselves. The river was full of different schools of fish and crawfish were thick everywhere you looked. But look at the River now... You should have seen the turtles of every size and kind sleeping on the fallen tree branches that had fallen half way into the river. The dead branches of these trees served as resting and sleeping quarters for the turtles and river snakes that laid almost side by side. This side by side business reminds about a song Kat Wright sang that I love titled "By my side," that is a great song. But, back to The San Marcos River of yesterday, not only was there plenty of pretty plants, shrubs, and trees, and plenty of wild life, the river was thick with different kinds of big schools of fish. One could see massive schools of fish swimming openly and freely in the clear cool waters. It was no wonder a movie of Tarzan was filmed here because of this amazing natural wonder that existed here back then. These sites that once existed throughout Central Texas way back yonder resembled those natural tropical jungles of Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and parts of Old Mexico. These sites would truly make one want to beat their chest like King Kong and let out loud cry like the wild man Tarzan. Then swing and dive into the river on a vine. But oh shit, look at the river now, the landscape is not natural anymore. And where are the flora and fauna gone, and the minnows? So leaving this massively beautiful river was deliberately delayed by me, and so was my initiation, until I had just turned 15 years old. And I got what I wanted. I went looking for trouble and The Great State of Texas accommodated me well. But, I was like that two year old that isn't gonna give up the fight that easy! And is gonna stare you down even if he looses, with his hair is all tangled up after the struggle. And even if I am left all bloodied and beaten; like the great Comanche Warriors, I will live to fight another day! 

Guys, I have a granddaughter who was like that when she was a baby about 3 or 4 years old and didn't get her way. Her name is Katherine and we call her Kat Kat. It was hell dealing with her. She is the baby for my five beautiful grandchildren. I have four girls and one boy. I really have three granddaughters but one of my girls walked into our lives at the age of three years old with doll in her arms from the neighborhood and joined the family. Even though she has her own family. Her name is Nina Elizabeth! They are grown now with babies of their own. And none of them have turned out like me. Thank "God"! But!, they all still try to sneak some tricks on me once in a while. The landscapes change, but people don't. It's people that change the landscape. Good night guys, let us sleep on that. And let us reflect on what it was like in those good ole days that walk with us side by side when we were young. If it's okay, let's listen to Roy Clark sing..., " Yesterday, when I was Young." 

Thanks again Amigos.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Respectfully,                                                                                                                                                                                                               Ruben N. Gutierrez