Another New Year's Resolution

Around this time of the year many

of us become very excited. It's a

brand New Year and the stars are

in alignment for us to become wildly

successful.

Well, at least that's what the local

psychic said. The psychic was also

nice enough to take off our hands

the fifty dollar bill we had stashed

away in return for us putting our

faith in the  crystal ball she bought

at the dollar store.

So, after consulting the psychic, we

read our horoscope which informed

us that an astute person would soon

separate us from our hard earned

money, however that this New Year

we would become rich beyond our

wildest dreams.

Armed with such knowledge we

embark on a major spending spree.

lavish dinning, champagne, a trip to

Vegas with some special friends,

nothing is too good for a future

millionaire, right?

So on New Year's Eve, we kiss the

honey bunny at midnight for good

luck, eat our twelve grapes, and wolf

down an extra helping of black eyed

peas for good measure.

When the clock strikes twelve our

hearts soar like New Year's Eve

fireworks. After this we wait, and

wait, and wait. Suddenly three months

have passed and this New Year starts

to look a lot like last year. Just what

went wrong.

The truth is, that most people who

achieve wonderful things each New

Year is because they make plans to

get what they desire. These people

also take action on making their plans

a reality. Finally, these people never

give up, and they keep on trying until

they reach their goals.

So, don't be surprised if you happen to

pass by some nice restaurant and see

a psychic enjoying a nice steak dinner.

You see, they saw that steak dinner

coming the minute you walked

through the door!

Frank Solis Copyright 2017

All Rights Reserved

De Colores ~ Joan Baez ~

Little Tony and the Gift of Knowledge

Little Tony watched sadly as a grown

man dug through a garbage can. The

man eventually found a half empty

soda and started drinking it.

Down the street a young Chicano

Couple eyes wide from drugs sat

huddled together whispering  and

scheming, as Tony walked by deep

in thought.

He had watched his mom rubbing her

aching feet each night from her job at

the motel. He knew he wanted to help

her and make this a good Christmas

but he didn’t know how.

As he passed by a store he ran into one

of the school counselors. “Tony, how

are you,” asked Paul. “I’m okay, I guess

just trying to figure out what career to

choose when I graduate.”

“Hey, I can help you with that. Just 

come by my office anytime and we can 

go over all the career choices you can 

make.”“Cool, said Tony, and thanks 

Paul for letting me  know.”

First thing Monday, Tony dropped by

Paul’s office, “Hi Tony, great to see you,

the first thing we have to determine is

where your interests and talents lie.

For that, we shall have you take some

career assessment tests.”

Tony, took the tests and waited until

Paul came back with the results. “Well

Tony, it looks like you have a strong

aptitude for all things mechanical. ,

have you ever thought about being

an engineer or maybe an auto

technician?”

“Yea,” replied Tony, “I love lowriders

and classic cars.” “Tony, the college

down the street has a great automotive

program, I am going to send you there

to meet with the program director,

okay?”

Tony couldn’t believe it, here he was

so close to Christmas and hopefully

soon he might have some good news

for his mom.  A few days later after

meeting with the schools automotive

director he was told he could enroll

there as soon as he finished up his 

senior year.

Later that day when he got home his

mom was already home. “Tony, is that

you mijo?” “Yes mom and I have some

news for you.” Oh no, don’t’ tell me

you got the grocers daughter pregnant?” 

No, mom it’s nothing like that.”

“I applied to the automotive program

at the college and got accepted.” “Oh,

mijo, that’s wonderful!” replied his mom.

“It’s only a two year program and after

 that I’ll have a real great job. Then

maybe someday I can even open up 

our own auto repair shop and you 

won’t have to work anymore.

 Tony’s mom, was weeping now.

“Tony, you don’t know how many

nights I’ve stayed up worried about

you, but now I don’t have to worry

anymore. Now, mijo the only thing

I have to worry about is how to keep

that cute cachetona at the grocery

store from trapping you!”

They both laughed, and hugged each

other. “You know mom, the

 knowledge that I have gained in

school has been the best Christmas

gift of all and I owe it all to you and

to a little baby born in Bethlehem.

Note: Knowledge is power, and it

comes only through learning and 

education.Education, takes many

forms from books, to on the job 

training to trade schools and also

colleges and universities.

Merry Christmas 2017 to all!

Copyright 2017 Frank Solis

All Rights Reserved

Streets of Blood 3

Sirens wail, as two young Chicano's

lay still upon the cold hard pavement.

“Did anyone see who shot them?”

Asked a policeman of the slowly

gathering crowd.

But nobody knew or saw anything.

Many parents were silently thankful

It wasn’t there kids. The sound of

blood gurgling came from one of the

young men.

“Help him,” screamed a woman who

stood nearby as the paramedics arrived

and worked hard to stabilize them.

Working feverishly they loaded them

upon the ambulance.

Outside the ambulance friends,

and relatives gathered, and a little

girl was holding her teddy bear, as she

took in the scene while her mother

and sisters cried tears of desperation.

The police asked the one who was

conscious what had happened and

were met with the usual silence of

barrio streets machismo.

The little girl holding the teddy bear

Asked, “What happened to daddy?”

as the ambulance rolled away lights

still flashing they pull into the hospital.

Days later, flowers are laid upon the

grave of one of the young men, as

prayers are said over another life

wasted over senseless and stupid

machismo. 

Now besides a grave, a little girl 

clutches the teddy bear her father 

had just given her. It was to become 

her only memory.

Senseless violence and machismo

does not rep La Raza. It only destroys

the hopes and dreams of those we

love the most!

 Copyright 2017 Frank Solis

All Rights Reserved

What is life really about?

Brilliant minds lost in the vortex of their

sadness. It strikes me every day as I see

more and more young Chicano's trying to 

figure out what life is really about.

I see eyes searching but never seeing,

ears intent on listening but hardly anyone

speaks to them. Millions of young brown

faces eager to learn yet so few teachers 
are found.

Young people, life is about happiness

and enjoying oneself and the most

important thing is the love you share with 

your loved ones. It’s about seeing the smile 

on a quinceañeras face and watching a baby

chewing on its hand.

It’s about seeing the smile on that special

persons face when you tell them you just

got a job and watching them beam with

pride when you get your first paycheck.

Life is about many such wonderful and

precious things such as good friends,

respect, love, and honor.

Life can be whatever you choose for it

to be. Just as keys are used to turn locks

so the choices you make in life are the 
keys to the happiness you seek.

Take a look at the alcoholic, drowning

in his self-made misery or the drug

addict who will steal from his own

mother if given half the chance.

The person who engages in unsafe sex

until they find out they have picked up

an incurable disease. And finally the

tough guy who followed “the wrong

crowd without thinking,” and now

spends all his time locked up away 

from his loved ones.

That is not life, it is death! Those who

want to achieve all the wonderful things

of life have to turn their backs on all the

“fake pleasures and fake people,” who

only seek to destroy ones happiness in

life!

If you take a look at the “real locos and

locas on the streets,” you will find that

just as fire can burn the flesh, uncontrolled

bad habits and bad choices can only destroy 
ones happiness!