Thursday, March 8, 2001: A year ago when I left Corpus Christi for the last time to head to San Antonio for the remainder of the week and then back to New York, I doubted that I would ever return.  My experiences had been too special, the moments too precious, and at times even a little coincidental.  I couldn't see how another trip could match it or be as special. Then on March 8th, I woke up with a strong feeling that I had to go back.  I suddenly missed Corpus Christi -- its distinctive buildings, Tex-Mex atmosphere, and Selena and her monuments terribly.  I even missed the strong gulf sea breeze.  Maybe it was the coming Selena releases:  "Y Sus Inicios/The Early Years" and "Selena Live:  the last concert."  Maybe it was that Mirador de la Flor had changed with the erection of  barrier to discourage graffiti, or maybe it was something else.  Regardless, I didn't try to figure it out nor have I given it a thought since.  Instead, knowing that short vacation would do me good, I booked my flight, car rental, and hotel reservation that same day over the Internet.  And then I awaited the day of my departure.  Though only a month away, it seemed painfully slow to come, but finally it did arrive. Friday, April 6, 2001: I left for La Guardia Airport at 5:15 AM.  The ride was smooth and quick, I had no problems getting a printed seating receipt for my E-ticket and my flight boarded on time.  Everything proceed smoothly until the plane had taxied out onto the runway.  Afterwards, the plane didn't take off until 8:05 AM even though it was scheduled to leave at 7:00 AM, due to heavy congestion. By the time my plane had arrived to Houston, I had only 10 minutes to catch my connecting flight.  It was already boarding by the time I got to the gate.  Again, once the plane had taxied onto the runway there was another wait.  Although the pilot had announced that there were 10 to 15 planes ahead, the wait was thankfully only a little more than a half-hour. Despite these delays, my flight landed just past noon at Corpus Christi International Airport.  The time zone change proved most beneficial, having provided a one hour cushion. After picking up my suitcase and rental car, I drove the 10 minutes to my hotel -- The Day's Inn, where I checked into Room 201.  Like the year before, I chose to stay at The Day's Inn since it was a convenient distance from every Selena site.  After all, the establishment wasn't to blame for Selena's death. With some 30 minutes to go before the Selena Museum reopened for its afternoon hours, I refreshed and unpacked my suitcase to occupy the time.  When I got to the Selena Museum at 1:00 PM, I was the first person there that afternoon.  Again cameras weren't allowed and again I was permitted to take photographs in the Q-Production's offices. Once in the Museum, having obtained permission to record the contents of Texas Senate Resolution No. 619, which had been adopted on April 3, 1995 to honor Selena's "life, career, and personal convictions," I set out on the daunting task.  S.R. No. 619 was quite long; it took up 4 pages of text consisting of 30-35 lines and about 300 words on each page.  I wasn't going to pass up the opportunity like the year before when I had mistaknely believed that I could avoid all the writing and find it in a book someewhere in Texas, which proved not to be the case.  After 2 hours and 45 minutes of non-stop writing (it probably took a little longer since I wanted to be sure that every word was legible), I finally completed writing and verifying its contents.  Though my hand ached, I had learned new information about Selena:  the Quintanilla's did celebrate birthdays and special occassions "quinceaneras" and Selena had also performed in Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Argentina. With this task complete,  I viewed the Selena Museum's many exhibits consisting of clothing, trophies, awards, photos, pictures, the Red Camaro, and handwritten letters from all over the world.  Some of the exhibits had been moved since my last visit to make better use of the Museum's space. As I toured the Museum, I couldn't help but wonder where Selena would be today if that cruel March 31st, 1995 hadn't been.  While without a doubt Selena would've been an international music star having won more Grammys and Tejano Awards, she would've also been a leading actress challenging for her share of Oscars because of her abundance of natural-born gifts -- beauty, poise, intelligence, and humility.  In addition, Selena in all probability would've been a proud, loving mother because of her love for children and animals.  Sadly, one can only view Selena's future in retrospect based on everything she had accomplished in her brief 23 years, which as S.R. No. 619 so eloquently put it, "is something others try to spend a life-time attempting to achieve, and perhaps never do..."  With this in mind, I found it very comforting that the Selena Museum, Mirador de la Flor, and many websites and clubs exist to pay tribute to and remember her wonderful life which has touched and continues to touch so many of us. After touring the Selena Museum, I made a contribution to The Selena Foundation (which keeps Selena's dream of helping people and community alive), and bought several items at the Gift Shop. When I walked into a nearby office to make my donation, I found Suzette Arriaga, Selena's sister working on a design for the Selena Etc. boutique.  From a brief look at her work, I could clearly see that she shared Selena's passion and talent for fashion and clothing.  Though our conversation was brief, it was a special moment.  Later, when I was taking photos inside the Q-Productions offices, I noticed that Selena's mother, Marcella was working in an upstairs office and that a recording session was underway in a nearby room, which may have included Selena's father, Abraham, and/or brother A.B. III.  As I took pictures, I noticed that there were several new items in the Q-Production's offices:  one was of a life-like pen-and-ink drawing of Selena, and another, an award, certainly destined to be added to the Museum's collection.  It was given by Planet Publishing Corporation and consisted of a diamond-shaped piece of glass with a white rose, Selena's name, and a moving saying, "Your Beauty, Grace, Courage, and Love Will Continue To Inspire Us," etched into it.

Selena Remembered

Copyright 2001 -- All Rights Reserved; No Part may be duplicated without permission from MOCKBA1 except the Selena Sites photos which have been given to the public domain.  Selena Photo between White Roses is property of EMI-Latin.  Background designed by MOCKBA1.  For Permission to use, contact MOCKBA1.

Friday, April 6, 2001-Sunday, April 8, 2001 Corpus Christi, Texas