October 17, 2014: Del Rio News-Herald * Letter to the Editor * "In the spirit of Fiesta de Amistad"

In the spirit of Fiesta de Amistad

To the Editor,

A Fiesta de Amistad Fable:

Memo, the Mexican Mouse and Norton, El Ratón Norte Americano were the very best of friends and they spent many a day atop Amistad Dam, playing the famous “rat and mouse” game, it’s similar to the infamous “cat and mouse” game, but Memo and Norton knew there was no playing around with cats.

Cats were the enemy.

Memo and Norton hated cats, they despised cats, they detested cats; all they wanted to do was degrade and destroy cats.

They had always hated cats and they will always hate all cats, whether they are Mexican Cats or Gatos Norte Americanos; that is just the way things are with Memo and Norton.

Don’t even bring up the subject of cats, because they will rant and rage on and on, and they will tell you all the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things about cats.

Now I know some of you are disgusted to learn that there are rodents atop Amistad Dam, but let me tell you about Memo and Norton.

Since they crisscross the border, they are bilingual.

Memo was born in Acuña, Coahuila and Norton was born in Del Rio, Texas.

Their parents were decimated when both of them were youngsters, so they have had to fend for themselves since they were very young.

One day Norton was traveling South from Del Rio, Texas and Memo was traveling North from Acuña, Coahuila and lo and behold they met atop Amistad Dam and they have been friends ever since.

But then one sad day, Zero El Gato Grande found his way to Amistad Dam and everything changed for Memo and Norton.

They were no longer able to play atop Amistad Dam because Zero proudly prowled around hissing and chased Memo and Norton off Amistad Dam.

Zero claimed Amistad Dam all for himself and Memo scampered back into Mexico and Norton scurried back into Norte America never to play atop Amistad Dam ever again, or so they thought.

But one day it just so happened that two of the nicest, sweetest people; most endearing of couples, named Corazón and Sweetie, came to visit Amistad Dam.

Corazón is the “cat’s pajamas” and Sweetie is the “cat’s meow”.

They fortuitously found Zero and took him to their home far away from Amistad Dam, so that Memo and Norton were once again free to play their favorite game of “rat and mouse” atop Amistad Dam.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

With sincerest affection for Corazón and Sweetie,

¡Feliz Fiesta de Amistad!

Marian Casillas, Ed.D.