Tuesday was hectic day for me, one that tested me on levels.  I accepted and moved new items into the collection, dealt with people who had little to no common sense, celebrated a friend’s birthday, appraised historic maps, attended a lecture by former congressman, was relieved when I got the news that my great-uncle was in a better frame of mind despite his medical issues and cried when learning about the passing of an acquaintance’s grandfather.    

At the end of the day I was exhausted, when I finally got home for the day it was going on 9 pm, typically I would have changed and went to gym for a run and workout, but I didn’t.  For the first time, in a long time I didn’t run, I didn’t cross train, I didn’t weight train … I just relaxed. I snuggled on the couch with Allyn and watch the television.   Needless to say my 18 day running streak of running 5 plus miles a day came to an end and in the end it was okay.

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One of the many pleasures of my position is that I am often invited to public events and lectures.  When one of my colleagues could not attend a lecture and donation of the Papers of the former Congressman Charles A. Gonzalez at UTSA, I gladly stepped in and attended.  Congressman Charles “Charlie” Gonzalez began his congressional career in 1999, just as I was graduating high school, I remember visiting his office during my first trip to DC.   His father was legendary Congressman Henry B. Gonzalez, who is best known for setting the filibuster record in the Chamber at the time by speaking for twenty-two straight hours against a set of bills on segregation. Charlie’s talk was an insightful view of what it was like to serve in Congress.  His talk was stimulating and showed that regardless what party you belong to you can always learn from someone.  When he was speaking of filibusters … he said that one of the questions he never asked his father and that he wished he had, was how did you do it … how did you talk for that long with a break (restroom).  

 

Congressman Gonzalez’s congressional papers, which were donated to UTSA, help to document important chapters in the histories of San Antonio, Texas, congressional policy making and Latino politics. They will provide researchers in multiple disciples with irreplaceable information about the evolving relationship between the people of San Antonio and their government. 

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Last night I read a lovely blog post made by an acquaintance about the passing of her grandfather.  It brought back to many memories on the passing of my grandfather.   You are never ready to let go of those you love dearly.  I could relate to her experience … earlier in the evening, her and young daughter had visited her grandfather; he laughed and was assumed by her young toddler.  Within an hour of returning home and putting her toddler to bed, she received a phone that her grandfather went into cardiac arrest and did not survive.   Her biggest regret of the evening was that she did not tell her grandfather that she loved him.   Her story brought back so many memories of my grandfather’s passing.  Like her my biggest regret was not telling my grandfather that I loved him.   I remember talking to him a day or two before and he was excited about my upcoming visit home.  He called me “shorty” and I called him “baldie” we joked and laughed like we normally did but I didn’t tell him I loved him.  I tried cried when read the story and I could hear my grandfather voice coming through … calling me “shorty” of course.   It reminded me that regardless how busy my life gets there is always time to tell the people who I hold the dearest that “I love” them.