Joe Montez

There are so many stories that I remember about my grandfather, but one of the best ones for me was always about when him and my grandmother, Rose started dating. They met on a blind date on the bridge behind Our Lady of Guadalupe Church here in Santa Fe...well...maybe it wasn't a complete blind date. My grandfather knew he was going to be going out with him as he set it up through a mutual friend they both worked with. At that time my grandma didn't really like my grandfather because she thought he was a very conceited person. Lol...she used to tell me that when she saw him and their other friends that the first thought in her head was: "OH NO! Its him!" They began dating in 1946. This story is one my grandpa often shared with us and used to make me laugh so hard. It just goes to show how different dating was back in those days. One time, my grandfather went to go pick up my grandma for a date. As soon as she was in the car he asked her: "So, Rose, where do you want to go today?" My grandmother's response: "To confession!" So my grandfather took her to confession and he went into the confessional as well. It had been many years since my grandfather had gone to confession so he wasn't quite sure what to expect. So he sat there and waited until the priest started talking to him. The priest asked him at one point: "So Joe, do you have a girlfriend?" My grandpa answered: "Yes I do." The priest continued: "And do you treat your girlfriend good?" My grandpa replied: "Oh yes, Father....I take her to the movies and even buy her popcorn!" I remember my childhood being filled with loving memories of my grandparents and was blessed to live with both of them my entire life. My grandfather was in many ways a substitute father for me. He stepped into that role when I was only two years old and took care of me, provided for me, loved me in the best way he could. I remember times he took me to school and to work as I got older but my best