Word Salad and a bowl of Alphabet Soup

I am a retired police officer by profession. I was born in Harlingen, Texas. Our family migrated to West Texas in the early 1960’s. As a pre-teen, I sold popcorn inside a movie theater back in Harlingen. Growing up, we worked in the cotton fields hoeing weeds in the summer and picking cotton in the fall. Back then, we earned twenty-five or thirty cents an hour. We worked ten-hour days under the hot summer sun. But it meant growing up, feeling grateful for what God gave us and sleeping with a full stomach. At times, it was fun because we made friends who were also helping their parents. Our family survived poverty. Thanks to our parents, we all graduated high school at New Deal ISD, which is in Lubbock County, Texas. I attended Texas Tech University but dropped out in order to marry my high school sweetheart. In 2022, we celebrated 50 years of marriage. I still love my beautiful wife with all my heart. Orelia is still the apple of my eye and my best friend. My jobs took me from working the fields, a slaughterhouse, a warehouse, and driving big trucks. From there, I went to work for the Lubbock Police Department as a patrolman. During my many years of working, many friends have touched my life. Forty years ago, I stated writing poetry. They were put away and I recently decided to have them published. My wife, Orelia (Cookie) is, and will always be, my inspiration. Having her as my biggest critic, I am grateful and thankful to her for allowing me to continue to write my stories and my poems. Honey, thank 'you' for your unconditional love and support! I love you forever and always. May God forever bless you. Love always and forever, 'Mi Chorreada!'