This week we had the honor and privilege to have my son Manuel
and his wife Susanne visit. Also, our granddaughter Amanda returned
from her first year in college. We took this opportunity to go
visit with our grandson Adam down at Cal Poly. It was very
enjoyable. A few hours with him and lunch together made for a very
pleasant weekend.
Editor,
This week we had the honor and privilege to have my son Manuel and his wife Susanne visit. Also, our granddaughter Amanda returned from her first year in college. We took this opportunity to go visit with our grandson Adam down at Cal Poly. It was very enjoyable. A few hours with him and lunch together made for a very pleasant weekend.
This year, we missed our Holy Ghost Portuguese Celebration, an event that I am a big believer of and a tradition I hope will last forever. We stopped there Saturday night for the changing of the queens and a little dance. I’d like to congratulate all of the committee for everything they have done to make everybody comfortable. The hall looked great. The extension did make things much more practical.
When they started planning that, I suggested they dig a cellar in there to give more room for the kitchen and maybe add a cooler. I thought that would be a great benefit, but because it was my idea, it didn’t work out. I am sure by now they must regret it. I give these people all of the credit for the hard work they put there, but I have to say they only remember what they have done. They have forgotten the ones who built the hall and took care of it all those years ago.
When they took over, and started the remodel, they had no debt and $50, 000 in reserve. My wife and I were involved for over 30 years and tried to bring our family into the tradition. We worked and made donation including many cows. One year because of drought, we didn’t donate a cow. One ignorant person took the opportunity to spread the rumor that my family was stealing meat. We used to help with our children, grandchildren and in-laws with the intention that one day they would get interested in continuing to be involved if we weren’t there anymore. The ignorant one who spread the rumors convinced a few other ignorant people and the rumors spread all the way to Fremont where some of our relatives live. Our family was so offended, that the kids never went back and if it wasn’t for my wife we would have never gone back either.
I’m proud I planted the belief in my son that every year he donates a cow to the Gilroy celebration. After what happened here, I still donated a couple of cows just to compensate for the meat they tried to condemn my family with stealing. After that, I decided to help other celebrations instead of just helping here. They started against me because we have very old bylaws that include all of the happenings throughout the years. Some of the ignorant people came up with the idea to make new bylaws. To me, the old bylaws have too much sentiment and I couldn’t see changing them. The result: They came up with a story and somebody loses the old bylaws. Now they complain people don’t come help.
What they did to our family, I will never forget. This includes a few jealous ones. I call them a bad disease that causes many problems in places where people get together. I can proudly say that none of them are more honest than my family or run their business better than my family has. So if you see it the way I see it, there’s lots of room for improvement.
Amadeu Lima, Hollister
