Due to technical difficulties with a scanner, I am only posting a small amount of photos for the bio-blurb.

Both of my parents are from small towns in Chihuahua Mexico. Ignacio & Antonia (my parents) met in 1952 at a dance and it was magic.

As soon as he swept her off her feet, my dad left his sweetheart to come to America via the Bracero program to earn & save-up. He went to central California picked cotton, fruit or vegetables.
 
He returned home in the winter of 1954 & married the shy Antonia. They settled in & soon they had their first baby & my big brother, Guadalupe. By 1957, my dad talked my mother into immigrating to the USA. They were expecting their 2nd child (me) when they came & settled in Los Angeles, Ca. In no time, they had three more boys; Enrique, Ignacio Jr & Diego. I was/am the only girl.  Me, Nacho & Diego circa 1961  The Franco kids circa 1962

I grew up in a democratic home, my brothers & voted on everything (it was always 4/1)..,you may have guessed that I was always the on the losing end of this balloting process. I never had a chance watching what I wanted on the one and only TV we had. Though, today I can hold conversations with any man on the Rifleman, Bonanza, Monster movies, war or westerns, you get the idea.

In the summer of 1999, my parents decided to join me on my 2nd trip to Europe, it was their first real vacation. We had a blast in Rome, Venice & Florence while in Italy, then an even better time in Madrid, Cordoba, Toledo, Asturias, Granada & the island of Mallorca (My Spanish friends took very good care of us).

Both of them spoke of their trip with great fondness, which has pleased me immensely.

My parents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary Dec 26, 2004. Unfortunately, my mother passed in Aug 2005 (3/years after a massive stroke).
Big brother & parents in 2003

She remained shy throughout her life, but she welcomed everyone into her home and into her heart. She loved everyone and she was loved back by everyone. Her Memorial was beautiful, she was showered with love, respect & flowers. I am fortunate that we cherished each other in life, no regrets that I didn’t say ‘I love you’ enough. We were best friends.

She left her children a beautiful legacy to try to emulate.
The Franco Family circa 2005