I REMEMBER ANTONIO

By Roger Esty

Many years ago Antonio Aguilar came to San Diego to perform with his family and his rodeo at the Sprts Arena. His sons Pepe and Tony Jr. were still very young. Mrs. Aguilar,the beautifull and talented Flor Silvestre,and their children rode out together on magnificant horses. They were singing and the horses were prancing and moving like aquestrian dancers. The rodeo was exciting with horsemen from Jalisco riding and ropng . Behind them all were the mariachis.

Featured was Antonio riding center arena singing and putting his horse through the paces. It was like animal and man were one. Suddenly some guy staggered out with a drink to the dirt covered floor. I guess he wanted to sing or give Antonio the drink. Who knows? Before he could get close,Antonio's life long compadre,Chelelo,ran out and tackled this guy.

Then I'll never forget what happened. Antonio Aguilar became furious with his friend. In Spanish he scolded Chelelo saying all the guy wanted to do was sing with him. Antonio got off his horse and gave Chelelo a kick in the seat of his pants.

Chelelo wept. His head down.
"Largate"(go away),said Antonio.

As I went to the living room to eat the nopales,my wife was watching a movie with Antonio Aguilar. He's at a table in the cantina singing with his compadre,Chelelo. I could taste the tears on my burrito.