What mementos from you past to you keep?

[GLASNOST]

Back in the sixties, when my hair was long, the border crossing guards into El Paso would ask me, "What are you bringing over the border?" I would always reply, "Good memories, Ese!" Go ahead and ask me if they pulled my car apart looking for drugs. Yep, every time! Anyway, still today memories are all that I keep.

I've gone back and forth across that border crossing more times than I can count as well as at Palomas, Nogales, Algodonez and Tijuana and I've never been looked at twice.

I've only been across Juarez, Tijuana, Eagle Pass, Laredo, and Brownsville. I was living in ABQ at the time. Anyway, that was back in the late sixties/early seventies and I had long hair. Plus, I always called them "Ese"! I mean, they were going to search my car anyway with stern looks on their faces so at least I could have some fun.

 

[Concerned American]

I've only been across Juarez, Tijuana, Eagle Pass, Laredo, and Brownsville. I was living in ABQ at the time. Anyway, that was back in the late sixties/early seventies and I had long hair. Plus, I always called them "Ese"! I mean, they were going to search my car anyway with stern looks on their faces so at least I could have some fun.

It was during the same period that I lived in Las Cruces and Deming and time spent in the military when I was going there. In more recent times, I've flown and vacationed all over the interior. I love Mexico.

 

[GLASNOST]

It was during the same period that I lived in Las Cruces and Deming

Wow!

and time spent in the military when I was going there.

I was stationed at Sandia (Army) Base while it was still divided west part Kirkland Air Force, East part Sandia Army Base. The proper name was actually Sandia Consolodated Base because there were two sailors (yes, only two!) in the baracks behind mine and I think there were Marines there too but I never saw them.

In more recent times, I've flown and vacationed all over the interior. I love Mexico.

I loved Mexico too. I hitch-hiked down to Veracruz once, smiling all the way. These days I'm nowhere near Mexico. Do they still have a Pepsi Cola plant in every town, village, and arroyo?

 

[Bitterhook]

Back in the sixties, when my hair was long, the border crossing guards into El Paso would ask me, "What are you bringing over the border?" I would always reply, "Good memories, Ese!" Go ahead and ask me if they pulled my car apart looking for drugs. Yep, every time! Anyway, still today memories are all that I keep.

It's a lot quicker and with less hassle in Mexico, because I have been dove hunting not far from Juarez on a few occasions, and the driver passing a small envelope out the window to the Police or Federales (more than once) was a great deal quicker than them tossing the vehicle and going through everyone's luggage, guns and identification.

However, you are correct and the memories stick, like the time when our guide who called himself "Elvis' turned us onto some Rio Turkeys instead of doves for the day, that are really hard to hunt but a lot of fun just the same. And you reminded me that I do have a tailfeather from one of those toms around here somewhere.

 

[sealybobo]

Some of my dad's tools. Old family photos.

View attachment 1212202

I always wanted to put my dad's craftsman tool box in my garage. I don't have any tools. His tool box is full of anything you would ever need. But I don't do that kind of work. I pay other people to do that kind of work for me. So my brother bought a hunting property. Built an amazing home with a garage that looks like a barn up north Michigan.

My dad was giving everything away thinking he was going to an assisted living place. Instead of putting it in my garage, I told my brother I would take the tool box up to his place up north. It gets used all the time now. It would have sat in my garage and rusted.

 

[sealybobo]

Wow what did he use, steel wool?

You know I believe he did

 

[GLASNOST]

It's a lot quicker and with less hassle in Mexico, because I have been dove hunting not far from Juarez on a few occasions, and the driver passing a small envelope out the window to the Police or Federales (more than once) was a great deal quicker than them tossing the vehicle and going through everyone's luggage, guns and identification.

I'm glad to hear it! Is Rosita still running that fast-buck bar in Boy's Town?

 

[GLASNOST]

I always wanted ... dad's craftsman tool box

View attachment 1212449

Looks good! Does Craftsman still honour its life-time guarantee?

 

[sealybobo]

Looks goog! Does Craftsman still honour its life-time guarantee?

I don't know. That's just a picture off the web. My dad's looks just like it though.

 

[GLASNOST]

I don't know. That's just a picture off the web. My dad's looks just like it though.

I worked for a short time for Sears in a land far, far away. All you had to do was give me the broken tool and I'd give you a new one. It was that simple.

 

[Bitterhook]

I'm glad to hear it! Is Rosita still running that fast-buck bar in Boy's Town?

I don't know Rosita or Boy's Town, however we weren't in Juarez if that makes a difference.
The places we stayed were pretty much self-contained with their own staff and a bar of their own.
I know, I know, us gringos can be snobs.

 

[sealybobo]

I worked for a short time for Sears in a land far, far away. All you had to do was give me the broken tool and I'd give you a new one. It was that simple.

Oh I remember breaking my grandmother's shovel from the 1950's and doing that. You could barely read CRAFTSMAN on it but they exchanged it. I tried digging up a bush with real deep roots and broke the shovel.

My brother worked at Sears while going to college. He made a lot of money selling appliances. He was able to buy a used car because of the commissions.

I remember going from $5 hr to tip jobs in college. What a difference! I was a waiter at a popular restaurant for a bit but the best job I had was being a bellman, valet, chauffer for a hotel. TIPS! If I didn't go to college I'd probably be a 55 year old bellman at a hotel but I'd be a rich one. Need a hooker or some cocaine? LOL

 

[sealybobo]

I don't know Rosita or Boy's Town, however we weren't in Juarez if that makes a difference.
The places we stayed were pretty much self-contained with their staff and a bar of their own.
I know, I know, us gringos can be snobs.

View attachment 1212452

You don't go out of the resort. Not unless you want to be kidnapped, put in a square box the size of a coffin for a year, all while they blare the same song over and over and over non stop 24/7. With light in the box so you are also sleep deprived. And they ask your family for more money than they can come up with. Chances of survival are like 10%.

 

[Bitterhook]

You don't go out of the resort. Not unless you want to be kidnapped, put in a square box the size of a coffin for a year, all while they blare the same song over and over and over non stop 24/7. With light in the box so you are also sleep deprived. And they ask your family for more money than they can come up with. Chances of survival are like 10%.

The places we stayed were pretty nice, but they weren't "budget trips" if that makes a difference, and I have seen worse.
I had great times, and more fun than some guided hunting trips I have taken here in the states.

Not to mention there are times I have felt safer in Mexico than around parts of Memphis. Mobile or New Orleans.



Edit:
Back on topic, I do think I also have a hurricane glass from Pat O'Brien's somewhere around here.
Damn, this just keeps getting better and I might have more mementoes than I first thought.
Shit, I have an LSU football signed by Les Miles, and I probably need to take another look around the house.

 

[GLASNOST]

I don't know Rosita or Boy's Town,

Boy's Town was the red light district in Laredo ..... not that I'd know anything about that.

 

[sealybobo]

The places we stayed were pretty nice, but they weren't "budget trips" if that makes a difference, and I have seen worse.
I had great times, and more fun than some guided hunting trips I have taken here in the states.

Hey, I'm in Florida right now. After work I take my dog to these amazing parks or a walk on the beach on the ocean. I notice when it starts getting dark the bums move in. I think they hang out at the dog park at night. It has benches, bathrooms, a roof over the tables if it rains. So it's not really safe to leave your resort here in the USA. LOL.

Las Olas

 

[GLASNOST]

Oh I remember breaking my grandmother's shovel from the 1950's and doing that. You could barely read CRAFTSMAN on it but they exchanged it.

It was some guarantee. Can you imagine that once you bought it you'd have it for life. Believe or not, it was true!

My brother worked at Sears while going to college. He made a lot of money selling appliances. He was able to buy a used car because of the commissions.

I don't remember if I got any commision.

I was a waiter at a popular restaurant for a bit but the best job I had was being a bellman, valet, chauffer for a hotel.

I was a bus boy until I went into the Army.

If I didn't go to college I'd probably be a 55 year old bellman at a hotel but I'd be a rich one. Need a hooker or some cocaine?

Settle down now!

 

[GLASNOST]

Boy's Town was the red light district in Laredo ..... not that I'd know anything about that.

I just looked on Google ..... it's still there!!!

 

[Bitterhook]

I just looked on Google ..... it's still there!!!

You might want to be careful about what kind of mementoes you might pick up there.
I wouldn't know though because I don't have much use for the red-light district.

 

[MarathonMike]

I've gone back and forth across that border crossing more times than I can count as well as at Palomas, Nogales, Algodonez and Tijuana and I've never been looked at twice.

Yep I've been through those stations many times as well. I have a lot of great memories from those days, too bad the Cartels have taken over.