Interview with a septuagenarian

Interview was conducted with my grandmother

A few things about interview

• Speaks no English. Entire interview conducted in Spanish over the phone

• Was not as personal, but still got interesting info.

• Mom thought it would be good idea to jog her memory

Place of Birth

• Born Feb 4th 1931 Sabinas, Mexico• Moved to Musquiz at age 6• Moved to Acuna at age 15

Big Moves

• Her father was musician. Moved to Acuna to because was bigger city and would have better chance of getting gigs

• Not common way to make living at the time, as is now.

• 70 mile move, but was considered huge at the time.

• Lived there most of her life

• Was youngest of 7 children. Big families were common. 10+ children not uncommon

• When asked about why so many children

• Stated people were not educated on birth control. Did not even know what condoms were

• Also, no TV

• People had cars, but electricity and plumbing, were commodity

• Did not have plumbing in their home until early 60’s. Until that time they had outhouse.

• Did not own a TV until late 70’s

• Crossing the border was common then as is now. Not as big of an influx

• Decided against it because already had steady employment

• Work superseded education

• Grandmother elementary school education grandfather middle school

• Great Depression did not affect much, due to not many US jobs in Mexico.

• Did not affect them a lot because they were already poor

Costs of Living (40’s)

• 1 Kilo tortillas – about 10-15 cents • Gas – about 15 cents a gallon• Cost of average home 500 – 1000 USD• Grandfather made around 500$ USD per year• Things were cheaper, but people did not make very

much money

Next Generation (my parents)

• Work still superseded education, but grandparents did emphasize importance of higher education

• My mother 1st person in family to graduate from college

• Currently resides in US on Visa

• Moved to US after grandfather died

• Decided it would be good idea hometown no longer safe

• Suffers from Parkinson’s Disease

• Keeps hands occupied by knitting

THE END