Smile Now Cry Later

The old Vato Loco, stared at the pile

of trash under the bridge, to see if there

was anything of value that he could

sell.

When he was only 14 year’s he had

decided that he wanted to go down

“the road of tears,” that all locos and

locas go down.

He started drinking, doing hard drugs

and hanging with the wrong crowd.

As time passed, he learned the ways

of the streets, he dropped out of school,

and decided to get some tattoos on his

face.

To him they were a badge of honor,

but to others they were a warning to

stay away. However, to the police

they were welcome, as they helped

identify him whenever they were

looking for him.

He was in a relationship for a while

but he didn’t take it seriously and they

kept getting evicted out of apartments.

Finally, his woman decided to end the

craziness and left him for good taking

their baby along with her.

In and out of jail and then prison he

went locked up for years at a time.  

And the only thing he had to his name

were the clothes on his back and the

tear stained letters his mother wrote

to him while she was still alive.

He was approaching sixty-five years

old when he left prison for the final

time, and the years of hard partying

was beginning to take its toll upon

his once proud, strong, body.

Now, here he was, no money, no

family, with multiple health issues

and staring only at a pile of trash

instead of cash. Living under a bridge

is not exactly where he thought he

would end up someday.

Make sure that you avoid the

traps of “Living Mi Vida Loca,”

in your life, because it seems sweet

at first but it’s just an illusion which

hides the poison within this lifestyle.

Life can be very beautiful if we

choose to live it on the good side,

or it can become a living nightmare

if we choose to live it on the bad

side of life, and Smile Now Cry Later.

Frank Solis Copyright 2020

All Rights Reserved

Mirage Santana

Real Locos vs Wannabe Locos

Whenever I see young Chicano’s

Who are fascinated by “the

supposed coolness of la vida loca,”

I know that their minds are stuck in

closed mode.

In other words they are just imitating

someone else “who they think is cool.”

But in reality, they are not thinking

the situation out clearly.

Real locos, are hardcore drug and

alcohol users, their minds are hell

bent on self-destruction, and don’t

care what anyone else thinks!

They also usually spend a great part

of their lives in and out of jails and

prisons as criminals and bringing

grief and sadness upon their loved

ones.

Wannabe locos, are those who like

to flirt with the danger of having

others think they are being cool in

order to be popular.

Unfortunately, some play with

the fire until they get burned,

because they mistake being cool

for being a fool!

Young people, what is so cool

about destroying your life while

fattening up a drug dealers pockets

or supporting a rapper who doesn’t

live by the senseless violence he

preaches?

Or sharing a joint and picking

up an incurable disease?  Or

being locked away and losing

the best years of your life, only

to come out with grey hair to a

world you no longer understand?

Make no mistake, living la vida

loca is only a tragic dead end!

Young people if you want all the

good things in life, all you have to

do is “avoid la vida loca, and fight

for the good things you want with

all your heart!”

“If you fight, you could lose.

If you don’t fight, you’ve already

lost.”  - Cesar Chavez

Frank Solis Copyright 2020

All Rights Reserved

Santana - Maria Maria ft. The Product G&B (Official Video)

The Dishwasher and the Idiot

Once upon a time, there was a

young Chicano who had dreams

of owning his own restaurant.

He worked as a dishwasher for two

years, but one day the cook did not

show up, and he was asked to learn

how to cook.

It took time but he eventually learned

the trade, since that was his passion

he stayed in that position for a few

years and eventually, he decided to 
go to school and become a chef.

During this time, there was a young

loco who, used to make fun of

him and call him busboy, wimp and

other not so nice names each time he

passed by the corner liquor store

on his way home.

But he just ignored the insults and

kept going his own way instead of

choosing to follow the wrong crowd.

While the idiot, kept getting deeper

and deeper in trouble.

A few years later the used to be

dishwasher opened up his own small

restaurant, which became very popular.

One day a customer asked the young

restaurant owner how much he made

per week.

The young man replied, “Oh about

a hundred thousand dollars per week.”

Right then, a customer came in and

said that there was some idiot outside

bothering customers and asking for

spare change!

Can you imagine a vato loco who thinks 

he’s all macho asking for a spare quarter?

Young people choose a career wisely,

because in this life we each choose and

make our own destiny!  

 
Frank Solis Copyright 2020
All Rights Reserved

New Year's Day

When New Year's Day comes
what exactly does it mean?
Actually, it can mean several
things, but usually it is a time
to think of new beginnings.

A time to reflect upon our lives
and see if there is way to make
them better. It is also a time for
us to think about making
amends for past mistakes.

You see, we humans are not
"forever," at least not in the
physical sense, as we too often
forget the vibrancy and joy of
being young and take it out on
our loved ones.

Sadly, far too many times when
we become angry at the ones
we love we forget to say, "I'm
sorry." Love, then becomes only
an empty word without any true
meaning, a word we only use for
convenience in order for us to
get our own way.

Then when New Year's Eve
comes, we jump up and down
like grasshoppers celebrating
what we think is our happiness
without realizing that each time
we shout, "Happy New Year's,"
we are actually one more year
closer to our own demise.

That is why it's important for us
to treat our loved ones and other
people with respect, kindness and
love, and to give thanks for another
year given to us by the very source
of all love, a little baby born on -
Christmas Day in a Manger.

Frank Solis Copyright 2019
All Rights Reserved

La Bamba / Ritchie Valens