Overcomes Life’s Hardships
Part one of two
One day I was driving north to Rosarito near Fox studio. On the right-hand side are a series of
little artisan shops that display the bright Talavera pottery, wood furniture, rustic doors and Polo’s
Gallery where you find Mexico’s master painters. I’ve driven this for more than twenty years way back
when it was a dusty two-lane road. Just as I passed a long-necked giraffe with flirty eyelashes and two
vicious sabretooth tigers creeping out into the road, I heard a whisper, “There is a story here.” I’ve
learned to trust the whisper; it is never wrong.
As I sped past, I made the first available U-turn, circled back and parked. I have often said that
everyone has a story worthy to tell and all that is needed is a Teller to transcribe it. And sure enough
there was the story; a six-foot fellow, hidden behind dark sunglasses with an iPhone in his hand leaning
up against a rearing silver stallion. Maybe it was because of the massive metallic fantasy creatures that
surrounded him that my first impression of Jose’ Hernández was that he would be the hero for this story
that was about to come alive.
This is a story of hardship and adversity, and a man who overcame both to create a business
with hardly a peso in his pocket. I was already seeing the story in a movie form, having all the necessary
elements that create an adventure story. One important criterion is having a lead character that we care
about. Usually, it is a person who is forced into being brave and becomes a hero.
The best movies have heart, love and adventure that inspires us to face extreme challenges and
not to give up. The first scene in Jose’s movie would have us flying over massive mountains ranges to the
state of Michoacán, known to some as the Soul of Mexico. Zooming in we see a feisty little kid with wild
red hair playing with his mates. His friends called him Rojo; later translated to Red, which he goes by
today. His father gave him the red hair gene from his Scottish ancestors making it all way to Mexico. The
early times were difficult and the family was poor. In 1986 Red’s parents split up. Totally disillusioned
the thirteen-year-old ran away. He jumped an old steamer locomotive, the Monster Bee, that hauled
freight north. His accommodation was the roof. It was a dangerous way to travel. The young adventurer
rode the Bee all the way to Tijuana. then crossed into California where he located extended family.
Now the movie turns dark and the music threatening. It seems our hero always has to be
challenged in some way. Little Red could not have been prepared for what came next. While the
extended family took him in, they were involved in a dubious lifestyle. Red was put to work helping the
family run things to people who would pay. Destiny would continue to play havoc with his life. Forced
through many hardships, in which he admits he could have died, he was apprehended and sent to prison
as a youth. Yet this misfortune gave him an opportunity to acquire his first skill when they put him in the
welding shop and he learned the principles of engineering.
Fate kicked Red hard. At 18 he was deported back into Tijuana. Again, he was on the street
without money and seemingly without a future. Yet he had learned something quite important about
himself. Red wanted a solid life and he wanted work that would give him the opportunity. Here is where
the mystery of a good movie has us sitting on the edge of our seats. We wonder, “How is this kid on the
streets of Tijuana ever going to make it?” Yet love found a way.
Destiny began to call him. He ventured south to Rosarito. Finally, fate turned a kind eye on Red
and he met and fell in love with Claudia, his wife of thirty years. Love has a way of changing things and
has been known to make a miraculous turn for the good. Stay tuned for the miracles.
