2015 by the University of New Mexico Press
All rights reserved. Published 2015
Printed in the United States of America
20 19 18 17 16 15 1 2 3 4 5 6
The Library of Congress has cataloged the printed edition as follows:
Schaefer, Stacy B., 1956
Amadas blessings from the peyote gardens of South Texas / Stacy B. Schaefer.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8263-5621-5 (paperback) ISBN 978-0-8263-5622-2 (electronic)
1. Cardenas, Amada. 2. Mexican American womenBiography. 3. Mexican AmericansSocial life and customs. 4. Mexican AmericansReligion. 5. Peyotism. 6. Native American Church of North America. I. Title.
E184.M5S322 2015
305.4886872073dc23
2015004415
Cover photo: Close-up of Amada making a peyote chief, 1995. Courtesy of Stacy B. Schaefer. Designed by Lila Sanchez
Acknowledgments
Writing this book has provided me with profound insights into the beauty that humanity is capable of expressing. Amada manifested this beauty in her character and reflected the divine nature of the world.
I am eternally grateful to have known Amada as a friend and a mentor, and I feel extremely fortunate to have shared moments of life with her and to have seen how her presence has positively influenced so many people in a kind and charitable wayin the peyote way. The experiences I have had with Amada and at Amadas home began the life-changing journey I have taken that led to the research and writing of this book. Along the way many people have generously contributed their time, their thoughts, and their friendship.
First and foremost, I want to thank the members of Amadas family whom I had the pleasure and honor to know. I feel blessed to have been accepted as a family member. I send a heartfelt thanks to Amadas son, Claudio Jr., for his friendship and generosity, for his patience and willingness to answer so many of my questions, and for sharing with me important information, documents, photographs, and even a part of his and his familys history, to make this book possible. I always looked forward to seeing Claudio, Joanne, the granddaughters, and whomever of the kids visited with Amada. I also have fond memories of the few times that Claudio accompanied Jim, Bear, and me for a day in Nuevo Laredo to rendezvous with members of my Huichol family. Many warm thanks go out to Claudios wife, Joanne; their children, Alan, Cheryl, and Vicki; Amadas sister Andrea, whom Amada and I would visit in Laredo, and her niece, Gloria; Geraldine, another of Amadas nieces in Laredo; Amadas brother, Juan Guerra, and family; and the Guadiano members of Amadas family from Benavides and San Antonio, who would also visit. Nora Martinez, her husband, Isidro, and children, Gracie and Abel, and Gracies husband, James, became Amadas family in their home in the latter part of her life. They, too, shared their home, meals, friendship, hospitality, and the spice of Tejano life with me. Until she had to return to Monterrey, shortly after which she passed away, Noras ta (Aunt) Ana had a quiet but supportive presence at Amadas house. I would also like to recognize Noras mother, the late Teresa Johnson, who brought her spunk and laughter to the ambiance at Amadas. I appreciate the phone calls she would make to me at Amadas house to check in when Amada was unable to come to the phone.
My dear husband, Jim, whom Amada also adored, has been my sincere, loving, and supportive compaero, sharing in our visits with Amada in South Texas along with the many other worlds we travel together. I feel so fortunate for his editorial flair through the numerous versions of the book manuscript and for the map. I am beholden to John Byram and the staff at the University of New Mexico Press for recognizing the importance of telling Amadas story and for their expertise and professionalism in manifesting this labor of love into book form. Many thanks go out especially to Jessica Knauss for her care and meticulous editing skills; Lila Sanchez for the beautiful cover design, which truly captures Amadas essence; Beth Hadas for her summarizing craft; as well as to James Ayers, Marie Switzer Landau, and Maya Allen-Gallegos. I am also grateful to Norma Cant and the anonymous reviewer for the time and thought they put toward contributing many germane comments and suggestions that further strengthened the content and quality of this book.
The wonders of synchronicity have been key in my meeting Amada and the many people and experiences that have unfolded as a result. I wish to thank Sheila and Tom Pozorski, who, early in my tenure at University of TexasPan American (UTPA, now University of Texas Rio Grande Valley [UTRGV]), gave me the newspaper feature about peyote dealers from the McAllen Monitor that spurred me to learn more, and who have been genuinely supportive of this project. I am grateful to Amando Reyna and the Reyna family, the peyote dealers in Rio Grande City who first told me of Amada and encouraged me to visit her. I am also thankful to the other peyote dealers I got to knowSalvador Johnson and his wife, Vicenta, who have warmly greeted and extended to me their big Tejano hospitality; Mauro Morales, always a gentleman and kind person; and Miguel Rodriguez, who could make anyone laugh with his sense of humor. Jody Patterson from the Department of Public Safety has been helpful in providing information about the peyote trade.
In Laredo, I wish to acknowledge Cathy Kazen and the late Jackie Geissler, and her husband Richard, for their friendships and hospitality. Rosie and Ricardo de Anda were most gracious in inviting Amada and me to the festive Tejano events they held at their house in Laredo. Jose Moreno from Special Collections at the Laredo Public Library was extremely helpful in locating information and references for this book. I applaud his efforts and those of the Texas Historical Commission in working to recognize Amada and the important role she and Claudio Sr. had in the cultural history of the area and beyond. I am thankful to Carolyn Boyd and the Shumla Staff in West Texas for the hospitality they extended and for the brainstorming sessions we have had at the White Shamans Cave and other impressive ancient rock art sites.
My gratitude to Gary and Debbie Perez is immeasurable. They gave me their friendship and included me in social networks, and they do so much in Amadas memory to maintain her place and continue the peyote traditions there. Thanks to Gary for his creative ideas, the wisdom he has imparted, and his wildly amusing sense of humor. I would like to recognize Cristala for introducing the Perezes kids, Autumn and Cameron, to Amada, and for connecting me with Gary and Debbie in 2004. I will always remember my first visit with the Perez family, which took place at the San Antonio Missions followed by a meal at Elvia Cristans family restaurant in San Antonio. Little did any of us know at that time the vital role Gary and Debbie Perez would take in keeping Amadas place open and her wishes vibrantly alive. Special thanks go out to Donna and Will Dozier for their efforts and the contributions they make to Amadas home.
