My Corner of Heaven- Chapter 2

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Transcript of My Corner of Heaven- Chapter 2

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    2. T I I [ P A T I I T O S U C C [ S S v

    "Grandpa, why did so many people bring you presents?Why are you so famous? I want as many friends as youwhen I grow up!"

    Luisito's inquisitive words from the party lodgedthemselves in Don Mario's mind. He resolved to sharehis experience and wisdom with Luisito and his othergrandchildren. Life had given him important keys totheir future happiness and success. He desired to teachthem the best way to live.

    Noone gave Mario a roadmap to life when he wasyoung. His father died much too early. His mother'sguidance, though inspiring, was more spiritual thanpractical. She could do little to prepare him for thedifficult cultural transition ahead. His wisdom came fromreal-life experience and keen observation. Itwas a first-hand education paid for in sweat, tears, and dedicatedwork.

    Don Mario remembered himself as an eighteen yearold. He knew so little then! He had no notion of theadventures ahead. The choices he faced would lead himto places unimagined in his wildest dreams.

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    His mother's death left him with few reasons toremain in Mexico. He and his brothers were orphaned.They needed money to survive and had no way of earningit at home.

    The promise of decent wages in the United Statespropelled his decision to leave. His brothers, still young,stayed behind with relatives. Don Mario would sendmoney back as soon as possible. Of course, there wasno guarantee he would make it to the border - much lessget across. Even if he did, there was no way to ensurehe could find a job. Truly, there were no guarantees onthis exodus.

    He found a traveling partner in Ruben, his trustedchildhood friend. Practically brothers, they had playedtogether as little boys. Though the details of Ruben'shome situation differed from Mario's, their motivationswere nearly identical. Both were hungry. Both had tocare for their family. Both were desperate for a realfuture.

    Together, Ruben and Mario made the arduous trekacross the border. The young men endured hardship uponhardship as they pressed north. Harsh weather bore downon them. They went without water for days through thearid desert, twice passing ragged, dried corpses of otherswho had succumbed to the heat. Thieves tried to stealtheir backpacks. Hunger challenged their determination.By the time Ruben and Mario reached California, thetwo young men were utterly distressed.

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    Eventually, friends steered them to the orange grovesnorth of Los Angeles - to the rural town of Filmore -where they found work as laborers on a ranch. Theyarrived destitute and famished. Their money and foodwas gone. Ranch wages were low, but to Ruben andMario it was like striking gold. Their starting pay wasten times what they could make in Mexico. The longjourney was over and they felt glad to be employed.

    Previous work experience didn't prepare Mario andRuben for the intense labor on a commercial ranch.Mario's sore muscles nearly paralyzed him after just oneday. His hands, arms, legs, and back reverberated pain.Reaching and bending all day under the hot sun left himexhausted.

    But other men worked so hard it encouraged Marioto gut it out. He remembered what his mother used tosay ...

    "Always show a good face to bad weather. "The words gave him determination to continue. He

    applied the principle to every obstacle he faced.The first week was excruciating. Mario's body

    protested the harsh work. The afternoon sun burned hisskin and sucked his strength. Thoms cut his fingers andhands. Dust made it difficult to breathe. Sometimes itseemed impossible to pick another orange.

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    The two young men earned 50 cents for every binof oranges they picked. The first day, Ruben and Mariocollected a third of what the other men earned. Itembarrassed them to be so far behind. Mario resolvedto do better.

    It took months to catch up with those accustomedto the work. Even as he improved, Mario barely madeenough for rent and basic food. Still, Mario shared whathe could with his brothers back home.

    The workers lived in miserable conditions. Marioslept on a concrete floor. A single blanket protected himfrom the cold. They lived in close quarters with ten tofifteen people per cabin. Sanitation didn't exist. Mariolikened living on the ranch to camping full time - withoutgear.

    The workers bought used clothes, making them looklike vagabonds. Of course, the image was an illusion.They worked hard and long to earn their wages andpay their way. The harshness of their situation stood instark contrast to the wealth and lifestyle of mainstreamAmerica.

    Entire families worked the fields. Men came acrossthe border first to establish a way for their wives andchildren. On the ranch, laboring families struggledtogether. They faced wind-chilled mornings. Icy rainpummeled their tin-roofed shelters at night. Some daysit rained so hard that everyone went to work soaking wet,slipping and sliding in rivers of mud.

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    Abuse was ever-present. Bitter, frustrated mentreated other workers badly. They were hardest on newarrivals - those who couldn't speak English and didn'tknow their way around. They took their anger out onanyone vulnerable enough to accept it.

    Mario felt compassion for the weak around him. Heknew their loneliness. They longed for a kind hand oradvice - anything to help navigate the strange new worldin which they toiled. Ranch workers appeared tough andhardened to outsiders, but in truth, most were desperateand fearful.

    Mario never allowed fear to defeat him. Recallinghis mother's perseverance and faith, he refused to give into thoughts of failure. Her memory gave him courage.

    Back in his living room, the now mature Don Mariothought about the steps he had taken on his way tosuccess. He recognized them as simple concepts, yetthey made all the difference in determining the outcomeof his life.

    "Success requires dedicated, sustained work andstaying mindful of other peoples' needs." Don Mariosaid to himself. "My grandchildren must set achievable,worthwhile goals that lift up themselves and those aroundthem. They must courageously persevere until their goalsare achieved. Successful people never give up."

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    Mentally, Don Mario recognized four important keysto success:

    Set achievable, worthwhile goals.

    Bury your fear of failure andnever give up.

    Overcome obstacles withdedicated, sustained work.

    Show friendship andcompassion to other people.

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    1. Set achievable, worthwhile goals.Back in Mexico, Mario clearly saw that his homeland

    held no future for him. Staying in the country he lovedwould mean a lifetime of privation. Mario set the goalpermanently in his mind: he would provide a morecomfortable life for himself and his brothers. Theirmutual need outweighed his natural inclination to remainat home.

    The trip to California was risky and dangerous. Itwas also, undoubtedly, their best hope.

    2. Bury your fear of failure and never give up.Mario chose to bury his fear with his mother. Fear

    wore workers around him. Anxiety drowned out theirhope and stifled their reason. Mario banished fear fromhis being.

    He swore to himself that he would never fall short offully achieving his goals. Once started, he was true tohis word. He courageously marched the long road out ofpoverty and never gave up.

    The road started with a dangerous journey out ofMexico. It led to an American society that confusedand intimidated him. He was isolated in an immigrantsubculture. He didn't speak English and his educationwas limited.

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    Many around him gave up. Some families reachedthe border only to tum around. Some gave up shortlyafter crossing. Some even quit after finding employment!Backbreaking work and homesickness overwhelmedthem.

    Don Mario never turned back. Fully committed, heprovided for himself and his brothers - no matter whathappened.

    3. Overcome all difficulties and obstacles withdedicated, sustained work.Mario's mother taught him to face daily struggles

    head on. Ignoring or avoiding problems only made themworse. He overcame his difficulties one at a time. Hemade it to California. He learned and mastered English.He grew strong and productive. It took total, unrelentingcommitment to his goals. It required sustained, dedicatedeffort.

    His persistent, unstoppable drive turned a life withoutoptions into one rich with opportunity.

    4. Show friendship and compassion to otherpeople.Mario learned the meaning of human vulnerability

    from his experiences in California. His fellow immigrantsneeded one another's support. Teamwork was vital totheir survival. This remained true for strong individuals- like Mario - as well as for the weak.

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    Mario and Ruben's friendship was fundamental totheir success. Neither could have made it into the u.s.without the aid of the other. They made critical decisionstogether and kept each other out of trouble.

    On the ranch, Mario saw how circles of friendsprovided a safety net for those who fell ill or lost jobs.Their unity healed wounds and created comfort for thosehurting or in need.

    Mario helped those around him. They helped himin return. As Mario emulated the selfless love of hismother, life became more enjoyable. Adversity becamemore tolerable.

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