Manuel Lucero

For those of you who do not know my Tio Manuel, he was a Wonderful Gift to our family…to me. Since hearing of my Tio’s passing I have been filled with memories that at times seem overwhelming. All my memories are happy and warm….and when I allow myself to go back into that sacred space of my heart I can hear his voice, his laughter, I can see his beautiful face ever so clearly. Like a trusted old friend my Tio has always been there for me. I can’t remember a time when he did not make himself available to me. Often time I’d stop by his house unexpectedly and he would stop everything he was doing to give me his full attention. His words of wisdom, encouragements and his loving arms have helped shape me into the person I am today. I can’t image my life without my Tio or going to New Mexico without visiting him. He touched my life in ways nobody else could. He had a tenderness about him that was very rare and sincere. My Tio never raised his voice at me but the simple look of disappointment in his eyes told me when I was wrong. Today on my way to church to pray a Divine Chapel for Tio Manuel, I drove past an old school building, just as I was passing the bell in the bell tower began to ring, upon hearing the chime…it took me right back to my Tio’s old classroom, where I meet Mrs. G. Tia Helen G., thank you so much for loving and caring from my Tio all these years. You brought so much joy and happiness to him. You changed his life! You completed him! I do not have the words to express my gratitude for all you’ve done for him; right to the very last moments of his life. You have been such an inspiration to me. Thank you. I love you. Tio Manuel, I will miss you. But I find comfort knowing that you are now with our Holy Mother Mary, with our Precious Jesus, our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit, and with our family who have gone before us. Today finds you in the company of the Angels and Saints. God Bless, I love you. Your niec