Today is the first installment of the life stories found in my book, "Spirits of Cibola County". I chose the story of Gene Antes 1937-2021 because he was my friend and my daughter's Godfather.
Really knowing a person requires viewing from the inside. A casual observer might say Gene is a severely disabled individual and feel sorry for him. People who have taken the time to disregard his physical appearance, due to a serious defect caused by thalidomide, know someone forgot to tell him he is different. He jokes that he has no mirrors in his house. Born in Ohio, he has ten brothers and sisters.
Gene started first grade in a special school, until his parents told him he didn't have to go there if he didn't want to. He didn't and went to regular schools for the remainder of his formal education, ending with a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami of Ohio University.
Being a history and geography buff and developing a love of books early in life created a lifetime sense of adventure and a love of people. An aptitude test in high school indicated he would be an accountant for a paper company, and lo and behold, five years later he was. Accounting has always been useful when he has needed a job.
Nine years later, Gene became an explorer and California was his first venture. He spent two years traveling and making new friends. He has had a support group of friends all through his life. Wanting to travel while he was still physically able to do so he moved on to Alaska. He wanted to hunt, fish and work for an oil company. He worked as an accountant instead.
One of his goals, when he was young, was to work in the Indian Missions for a year. A friend, who became a Franciscan Priest, was assigned to the Laguna Indian Reservation near Grants. Gene came with him and stayed.
At one time he tried to return to Ohio, where his mother still resided. It did not work out. He loves this area and the people who live here. He came for adventure and stayed because the people accepted him and made him feel at home.
From 1978-1985 Gene worked for the Laguna tribe, learning and teaching home repair skills. A home improvement program was funded by the government to teach residents skills needed to find jobs on their own. The job was fun and he loved using his hands to fix things. He rebuilt old homes until the program funds ran out and the job ended.
For the next five years, the casual observer might say, Gene was a bum. Looking closer, it might have been the portion pf his life that allowed the greatest lessons to be learned and taught. He did not have a job, but worked every day.
If somebody had a problem, he felt it was his job to help fix it. In return for his expertise, people often fed him. Gene had a routine of friends he visited. Many gratefully trusted him with their most treasured possessions. He was the person people called if they needed a house sitter, a repairman, an accountant or a friend.
Gene and his wife, Rose have known each other for twenty-five years. He believes she chased him until he caught her. They made a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada with the intention of getting married. It blew their minds, it was unreal, make believe. They came back home and set a date to be married in the Cubero Catholic Church with family and friends present.
Gene retired from the New Mexico Highway Department as a traffic tech. He was doing work he had wanted to do all his life. He has fulfilled his dream. The major part of his day was spent traveling the highways and byways, talking to people. Wanting to be a mountain man, he feels fortunate to live at the base of beautiful Mt. Taylor. His advice to others is to follow your dreams.
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