I wonder what it would have been like to grow-up without you? I thought maybe we were the only twins in the world for a while. Mark and Mary... so well taken care of, spoiled and made to feel special. I felt sorry for other kid's who would never know the uniqueness of having a constant partner to grow-up with, double the goodness, double the joy of life as our childhood lived-out in tandem. With so many unspoken understanding's... what a strong, irreplaceable bond we shared, unbelievably simple yet unforgettable moments that made us feel good about our twin connection. How could we not feel special and glad to be one another's twin? You represented twins well and to this day, still very much considered, an outstanding twin brother overall. Thank you very much for the great memories!Monday, May 26, 2008
Just a Thought
I wonder what it would have been like to grow-up without you? I thought maybe we were the only twins in the world for a while. Mark and Mary... so well taken care of, spoiled and made to feel special. I felt sorry for other kid's who would never know the uniqueness of having a constant partner to grow-up with, double the goodness, double the joy of life as our childhood lived-out in tandem. With so many unspoken understanding's... what a strong, irreplaceable bond we shared, unbelievably simple yet unforgettable moments that made us feel good about our twin connection. How could we not feel special and glad to be one another's twin? You represented twins well and to this day, still very much considered, an outstanding twin brother overall. Thank you very much for the great memories!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Froggy
A bowl of corn flakes, a piece of toast, maybe some chocolate milk and we were off to see Froggy. Froggy lived next door in Fofo and Florence’s backyard in the wishing well that was made of rough mortar and baseball-size rocks.
The wishing well was falling apart. It was more than half-way filled with dirt and a variety of items like small broken pieces of charred wood and tiny pieces of concrete along with chunks of thick, green, brown and blue colored glass.
An old wooden fence separated the backyards. We had to slide one of the loose slats over so we could walk through. Just a few more steps away… our friend, our comrade and much to our delight; Froggy waited. Our treasure and gold mine of joy, serendipity!
One could sit comfortably on the short stack of lumber next to the well to lean over and look inside. There was plenty of space for someone to sit on the wall of the well and it was the most perfectly wonderful place to be in the world.
The wishing well was falling apart. It was more than half-way filled with dirt and a variety of items like small broken pieces of charred wood and tiny pieces of concrete along with chunks of thick, green, brown and blue colored glass.
An old wooden fence separated the backyards. We had to slide one of the loose slats over so we could walk through. Just a few more steps away… our friend, our comrade and much to our delight; Froggy waited. Our treasure and gold mine of joy, serendipity!
One could sit comfortably on the short stack of lumber next to the well to lean over and look inside. There was plenty of space for someone to sit on the wall of the well and it was the most perfectly wonderful place to be in the world.
The day Mark and Mary, four year old twins, setting off just after breakfast, venturing on to hunt, not exactly knowing what they were hunting for. What a discovery! Froggy was all but weathered, brittle, broken bits of discolored sponge nestled, cozy and comfy. .jpg)
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Oh sure Froggy was quiet, we didn’t care, we managed to communicate and talk about everything and nothing at all. We enjoyed the company of our friend and getting lost in the magic of youthful innocence. Those lifeless pieces of dried up sponge came to life. Our special little friend was as old as time and as brand new as the first light of day.
The short visits seemed so timeless. We reveled in our little self-contained flights of fancy where our imagination took us to far away places, questions answered, observations made and wishes granted. Froggy enhanced, entranced and enchanted the lives of two little people forever. I hope you have known a friend like Froggy somewhere in your life as well.
The short visits seemed so timeless. We reveled in our little self-contained flights of fancy where our imagination took us to far away places, questions answered, observations made and wishes granted. Froggy enhanced, entranced and enchanted the lives of two little people forever. I hope you have known a friend like Froggy somewhere in your life as well.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Mark and the Music
When Mark was a boy he dreamt of getting a band together and calling it “Mark and The Markers,” maybe headlining on The Ed Sullivan Show or American Band
stand. It was a short-lived dream and the American public was denied the thrill of ever seeing Mark and The Markers appear on national television.
Apparently his interest in basketball and baseball distracted him enough to make him forget about his musical aspirations. It wasn’t until 1983 that Mark, minus The Markers, made his radio debut at KANW after successfully completing a radio broadcasting class at T.V.I..
Mark saw this prospect as an avenue to play his favorite music, the music of Santana, Tito Puentes, Malo, War, Tower of Power, Gloria Estefan, Jose Feliciano, Axteca, etc. This also presented Mark with a challenge and an exciting “hobby” to dabble in on his days off from his job at U.S. West.
As it happened, Mark hit the ground running and quickly earned a regular spot on Saturday mornings at 89.9 KANW FM. Mark was ecstatic about the opportunity to introduce listeners to “The Latin Magic Hour” which began at noon following “The Spanish Show.” Disappointment followed after a few years of his popular noon time program as it was canceled for supposedly not attracting enough listeners. I thought about that as I savored every drop of the recent telecast of the First Annual Latino Grammy Awards Show. It was Mark's hope that one day he would be allowed to revive “The Latin Magic Hour.”
Mark turned his full attention to “The Spanish Show” and relished the idea of waking-up the “gente” of New Mexico. Songs like “Las Mananitas,” “Crei,” “Flor de Las Flores,” y “Arriba Nuevo Mexico” became his wake up calls for family and friends across the state. The dedication and request line rang off the wall and Mark needed help answering the calls. That’s where I came in. He figured since we were classmates in the radio broadcasting class, and being his twin sister, I had the minimum qualifications necessary to join him on Saturday mornings. Our Saturday morning chitchat and banter included quibbling over whose turn it was to bring in the breakfast burritos. All the sibling-sass was actually embraced by the listeners.
Mark began to think of ways to showcase the musicians and music of New Mexico. Drawing on his own wits, determination and resources, he organized the first “Latin Music Festival,” From obtaining an appropriate venue to accommodate the event, insurance, sponsors, security, to parking, food, beverages and rest rooms. Mark covered all the logistics. Entertainers like Roberto Griego, Al Hurricane & Jr., Chris Abeyta & “Lumbre Del Sol,” and “Red Wine” eagerly rallied around Mark in support of his endeavors from the get-go. Non-profit organizations became benefactors of the proceeds earned from the concerts and Mark was glad to be able to put back into the community.
Mark blazed trails in his efforts to promote New Mexico music and he was a champion of the highest caliber in satisfying the hardy appetites of his beloved fellow New Mexican’s who were hungry to hear and see their hometown, musical favorites. Little Joe Y La Familia, Ram Herrera, Jose Feliciano and Tower of Power were among the internationally known musicians brought in, as people gathered at local parks and plazas by the thousands to celebrate the savory music.
What mattered most to Mark besides his precious Nancy, Mark, Maria Elena and Sophia, was the music. Listeners taped the music and Mark took pride in knowing that the distinctive flavor of New Mexico was being heard all over the world. During the Persian Gulf conflict in 1992-93 men and women from New Mexico wrote to request songs and make dedications to their loved ones back here, at home. We received the most endearing correspondence from those deployed out at sea aboard carriers and ships. The musica nortena, including the rich, rancheras, cumbias, and mariachi sounds resonated in barracks and battalions across the other side of the globe.
All of Mark’s time and energy devoted to promoting the music was done on a volunteer basis. The rewards of his hard work were priceless. Mark and I became part of the hearts and homes of our family of listeners, and that is what kept the fire going in Mark. His infectious enthusiasm generated an excitement about New Mexican music that was awesome to witness.
Mark’s relentless pursuit of promoting la musica de la gente was stellar and was done with a combination of respect, humility and pride for the people who played and listened. Today Mark is regarded by many in the local and international music industry as a good-humored man of integrity and remains our “Mark of Excellence.”
by Mary Ellen “Maria Elena” Ipiotis
September 2000
stand. It was a short-lived dream and the American public was denied the thrill of ever seeing Mark and The Markers appear on national television.Apparently his interest in basketball and baseball distracted him enough to make him forget about his musical aspirations. It wasn’t until 1983 that Mark, minus The Markers, made his radio debut at KANW after successfully completing a radio broadcasting class at T.V.I..
Mark saw this prospect as an avenue to play his favorite music, the music of Santana, Tito Puentes, Malo, War, Tower of Power, Gloria Estefan, Jose Feliciano, Axteca, etc. This also presented Mark with a challenge and an exciting “hobby” to dabble in on his days off from his job at U.S. West.
As it happened, Mark hit the ground running and quickly earned a regular spot on Saturday mornings at 89.9 KANW FM. Mark was ecstatic about the opportunity to introduce listeners to “The Latin Magic Hour” which began at noon following “The Spanish Show.” Disappointment followed after a few years of his popular noon time program as it was canceled for supposedly not attracting enough listeners. I thought about that as I savored every drop of the recent telecast of the First Annual Latino Grammy Awards Show. It was Mark's hope that one day he would be allowed to revive “The Latin Magic Hour.”
Mark turned his full attention to “The Spanish Show” and relished the idea of waking-up the “gente” of New Mexico. Songs like “Las Mananitas,” “Crei,” “Flor de Las Flores,” y “Arriba Nuevo Mexico” became his wake up calls for family and friends across the state. The dedication and request line rang off the wall and Mark needed help answering the calls. That’s where I came in. He figured since we were classmates in the radio broadcasting class, and being his twin sister, I had the minimum qualifications necessary to join him on Saturday mornings. Our Saturday morning chitchat and banter included quibbling over whose turn it was to bring in the breakfast burritos. All the sibling-sass was actually embraced by the listeners.
Mark began to think of ways to showcase the musicians and music of New Mexico. Drawing on his own wits, determination and resources, he organized the first “Latin Music Festival,” From obtaining an appropriate venue to accommodate the event, insurance, sponsors, security, to parking, food, beverages and rest rooms. Mark covered all the logistics. Entertainers like Roberto Griego, Al Hurricane & Jr., Chris Abeyta & “Lumbre Del Sol,” and “Red Wine” eagerly rallied around Mark in support of his endeavors from the get-go. Non-profit organizations became benefactors of the proceeds earned from the concerts and Mark was glad to be able to put back into the community.
Mark blazed trails in his efforts to promote New Mexico music and he was a champion of the highest caliber in satisfying the hardy appetites of his beloved fellow New Mexican’s who were hungry to hear and see their hometown, musical favorites. Little Joe Y La Familia, Ram Herrera, Jose Feliciano and Tower of Power were among the internationally known musicians brought in, as people gathered at local parks and plazas by the thousands to celebrate the savory music.
What mattered most to Mark besides his precious Nancy, Mark, Maria Elena and Sophia, was the music. Listeners taped the music and Mark took pride in knowing that the distinctive flavor of New Mexico was being heard all over the world. During the Persian Gulf conflict in 1992-93 men and women from New Mexico wrote to request songs and make dedications to their loved ones back here, at home. We received the most endearing correspondence from those deployed out at sea aboard carriers and ships. The musica nortena, including the rich, rancheras, cumbias, and mariachi sounds resonated in barracks and battalions across the other side of the globe.
All of Mark’s time and energy devoted to promoting the music was done on a volunteer basis. The rewards of his hard work were priceless. Mark and I became part of the hearts and homes of our family of listeners, and that is what kept the fire going in Mark. His infectious enthusiasm generated an excitement about New Mexican music that was awesome to witness.
Mark’s relentless pursuit of promoting la musica de la gente was stellar and was done with a combination of respect, humility and pride for the people who played and listened. Today Mark is regarded by many in the local and international music industry as a good-humored man of integrity and remains our “Mark of Excellence.”
by Mary Ellen “Maria Elena” Ipiotis
September 2000
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