WHY?
It was December 24th 1996. The day had begun with an incredible sense of joy and happiness for the Villareal family. Antonio, the Father, had felt more the blessings of that day because finally he would be able to go see his parents without having to get his back wet. And he would finally be able to show them their grandchildren in person. It had been a long time since he had filed the proper paperwork so he could have permission to go across the border to Mexico through the bridge like everyone else and not have to swim across a nasty, e-coli, alligator gar infested river. And not to mention the traficantes taking their loads across, just waiting for someone to give them an excuse to try out their newly bought heavy arsenal. He was definitely grateful for that making the sign of the cross as he recalled a certain night when he almost lost his life. Ludivina, the Mother was also feeling very happy as well, because at last she was not going to have to cook that day. Her mother-in-law would have everything ready by the time they got there. Fantastic she thought. Some time to just sit back and enjoy the ride herself. She was especially happy for her kids because it had been a good year for them and they were able to get them very special gifts. Along with some for everyone else. The kids were two beautiful children. A boy,Carlos, who was just turning 12 and a girl, Maria, who had just turned 10 and carried her Grandmother’s name from her Father’s side. They had never felt more love for their parents that day, especially for Antonio because he was going to spend yet another full day with them like he had most of the year. Poor Antonio had always had to work out of town or state and spent most of the year working. Hence away from the family. This year had been a complete turn around and luckily he landed a gig that permitted him to make more money and better yet stay home. Another things the children were ecstatic about was ultimately they would get to meet their grandparents.
They arrive at his parents around four o’clock. They and more relatives all come out to greet them. One after the other they all slowly but surely emerge from what looked like a hut. A two bed, one bath oversized hut. Mexicans somehow seem to be able to cram themselves into small spaces. Dinner was to be served in about fifteen minutes which gave them enough time to settle in and freshen up. At the dinner table everyone is talking and eating. Conversations about all sorts of things are being held as the massive amounts of food are being devoured. Not one member of that family was left without someone to have a conversation with nor an empty stomach for the next few days. The overjoyous sound of kids laughing and having a good time filled the small house with a tremendous amount of Christmas Spirit. This goes on for the next few hours without hesitation. At around 9:30 Antonio calls everyone outside to them a big surprise. Many of them had never had a good Christmas memory, so he figured he would give them an unforgettable one. AND WOULD HE!! Antonio pops open his trunk and pulls out boxes full of fireworks and starts handing them out. The amount of happiness that filled the air was incomparable. Even many of the surrounding neighbors came over to get in on those good vibes. No one would forget this day for a very long time.
At 11:00 Antonio tells Ludivina that it is time to go. They had already agreed earlier that they would be greeting Christmas morning in their own cozy home. Calculating the time it would take for them to get home and the time he would take, he figured he could take off at about 11:25 11:30ish. He wanted to stick around just a little bit longer. He felt a great sense of satisfaction knowing he wouldn’t have to fear for his life that night going back home. So Ludivina heads out feeling the same sense of satisfaction knowing Antonio wouldn’t be far behind.
11:25 p.m. Antonio gets in his car and takes off. As he is heading down the quarter mile stretch to the highway, he thinks back at the many smiles his mother and father had shared throughout the whole night. He also recalled the hundreds of hugs and kisses and compliments his children had gotten from everyone. Happy was the only word to describe how he felt that very moment. Reaching the highway, Antonio stops and look towards his left and sees no one coming. He then looks to his right and sees some headlights heading his way. He suddenly feels a sense of fear, anxiety and who knows what other emotions. He looks towards the headlights again and notices that they are swaying from left to right, right to left. Probably a drunk driver. Antonio doesn’t like the looks of it so he decides it would be best not go onto the highway in front of the car. So he parks his car along the shoulder facing the headlights so he can see it go by. By now the car is but a quarter mile away and coming pretty fast. Antonio’s Eyes focused directly at those headlights the entire time.
What happens next is what might get you to open your eyes and maybe value LIFE for what it is, BEAUTIFUL. Antonio, at just the age of 32, died that night at 11:35 when the car coming towards him veered off the road and hit his head on doing about 60 miles an hour. The only injury Antonio sustained was the one that took his life. He was found sitting upright in the driver seat with a snapped neck. His wife Ludivina had not even gotten over to the United States because of heavy traffic. His children, Carlos and Maria were sound asleep in the backseat, thanks to an overjoyed day of fun their Father would never be able to give them again. As for his parents, well they got it worse since they were the first ones at the scene. The crash had been so loud, it had been heard at least a half a mile away.
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