Elsie M. Padilla 1990 – 1999

1990

Elsie posing for a Christmas function.

Elsie 1990 W GOOG

Els relaxing with her favorite dog Googs. Googs got his name from Danielle who couldn’t say, “Auntie Lisa” and instead said, “Auntie Googie” which got shortened to “Goog”- there after our dog’s was known as “The Googs.”

Here Els is at the Grand Canyon. AP and his girlfriend Nikki, Els and Pete all made the trip for Lisa’s Masters degree graduation. We stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way. We stayed overnight there and made the trip into hot hot Phoenix the next day.

Pete’s friend Jesso worked at Hertz Rent-a-Car and got mom Els and Pete a great deal on the Lincoln Continental; that is, to drive it back from Phoenix after the graduation. Driving that vehicle was a joy. It was like driving from my couch. That car could fly! We stopped in Antonito on the way back. Here Els poses in front of Cora’s and Ellen’s houses.

Els showed Pete the house where she grew up. It was an old abandoned adobe house with thick dirt walls. It was in a terrible state of disrepair and was literally falling down around us. Every step a potential danger. Soon after this trip, the house was in such poor shape it was declared a danger and torn down.

Els and Lisa at Lisa’s graduation. Lisa graduated with a Masters degree in Sports Administration. She also served as an ASU Assistant Softball Coach under Linda Wells.

Here Els relaxes as she watches the beautiful sunrise in the Grand Canyon.

Els at Quitman house.

1991

Elsie 1990 Anselmo 2

Elsie posing with her brother Anselmo Trujillo. He was in town for their mom’s funeral.

Els traveling with her sisters Mary and Alice to the Cayman Islands.

Els somewhere in the Caymans.

Els in Jamaica. “Jamacian me crazy mon!”

Dave Trujillo’s boys at Grandma trujillo’s funeral.

I’m not sure where this picture was taken. Perhaps in the Caribbean?

1992

At Quitman house lawn with The Googs and Ern’s dog.

Christmas at Quitman house. Stephanie and Nikki with Els.

Els and I with Chris and Alicia Gonzalez. These were my two friends from ASU graduate school. Today both Chris and Alicia are professors in San Marcos, California.

Els with her sisters Stella and Lovada.

This picture was taken in San Luis, Colorado at the “Stations of the Cross” in the nearby hills. Els was starting to use a cane.

1993

Els at HUD on lunch break. Els was the life of the party… er… I mean office.

Els with her HUD group.

Els and I traveled to “The Heads” and to Yellowstone that summer. Our family learned to always pose for a picture at each of the state lines. Here Els poses at the Montana border.

Els and Pete witnessed Old faithful. The standard news pictures make it seem as though the geyser is out in the woods. The geyser is in the middle of a small resort town.

Els at “The Heads” – Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota.

Els posing with the Yellowstone River Falls in the distance. She had such good luck on that trip. We left with no reservations. Not to mention that most reservations are booked 6 months in advance of the actual stay. Els found a way and she and Pete got a cabin in the middle of the park. Els and AP know all the “tricks” of travel.

1994

Els in South America. This was in front of a church in Argentina?

Els posing with an alligator she caught on the Amazon River. Els isn’t afraid of too many things. But she is deathly afraid of caterpillars. Alligators however; no problem.