A retired San Antonio teacher had no idea her diary documenting life on the West Side would be a time capsule of culture.
Teresa Villarreal Rodriguez published a book of short stories last month called “Home, Where Memories Wait To Be Remembered.”Rodriguez grew up without knowing her biological mother. The mystery of her heritage inspired her to document her memories to pass on.
“I grew up in a part of town that was vilified, isolated, forgotten and called ‘off limits,’” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to capture that vibrancy of the West Side, the loudness, you know, the color. The traditions that were being celebrated in that part of town.” At the beginning of every year, she and her religious aunt would do a deep clean of the house. She would sweep every corner, open the windows and clean out any bad energy.