Jessie Tellez circa 1940 (Tijuana)

Today my grandmother Jessie, born Maria de Jesus Tellez Vizcarra in Cananea, Sonora is 85 years old! A graduate of Belmont High School, first Mexican-American president of her PTA and American Legion and resident of her Rampart-Echo Park neighborhood for more than 70 years. She is the jewel of our family, beautiful, kind, thoughtful and mischievously flirty.
She managed to buy a house, take care her of her young baby and work at Bullock’s downtown while my grandfather was away during World War Two, amazing! Throughout the years, her home has been a refuge for our immediate family and those from faraway. Not judgmental about our lives and choices but supportive always. Her sense of humor has kept us all going through difficult times and she’s notorious for playing practical jokes. She’s even survived the venom of a scorpion and a black widow! How’s that for tough?
Happy Birthday Grandma!