[inspirational brass melody]
- Lourdes Villanueva: Everywhere we went,
even if we were gonna be there for four weeks, six weeks,
picking the crops,
my mother would make sure that they enrolled us in school.
And Spanish was not allowed in the school systems.
Even out in the playground.
I mean, they used to have the little playground patrols,
which were our friends that were supposed to turn you in
if you were speaking Spanish out in the playground,
which, of course,
I was always in trouble, because I was speaking Spanish.
Then, of course, in the ninth grade is,
when you started working for credits to graduate.
And we never stayed in one place long enough to get any credits.
So, why even bother?
I thought I knew everything that I needed to know at that time,
and got married at 18, and had you.
You pretty much grew up in the back of the pickup truck.
I was picking crops, and in my breaks,
I had to change your diaper, and do whatever needed to be done,
and continue on working.
And, I always thought that you need to do what I didn't do,
which is finish your education first.
- Roger Villanueva: You always said that you were gonna lead by example.
And I remember when you got your GED.
You were in the fields.
And instead of having lunch,
you would have your books, and you'd be studying.
After that, I remember that you said, you know,
"I'm gonna go to the community college at night."
And I remember you taking one class,
and you started off like that.
And then Dad was the one to take care of us, to cook for us.
And we hated the beans and eggs
'cause that's all he ever knew how to cook for us.
I can remember us stuffing it under the refrigerator,
and then, we would act like our plates were done.
He used to make us eat everything
because he wanted us to appreciate
everything that we had
because I know that both of y'all
came from basically nothing.
And, I mean, I was just so proud the day that you graduated.
- I had to hurry up and graduate before you guys did
because I knew you guys were coming right behind me and...
- Yeah, well, I really thought that was something special.
If I was to have the choice to choose another mother,
I would never choose anybody else but you.
And when I look for my partner, I always said,
"If my wife can be
"half the woman that my mother is,
I will be okay."
And I know I've never told you that, but that's the way I feel.
♪♪