Husband, father, Agriculturist, Businessman, volunteer in service to numerous social service organizations, Paul can add Poet to his list of accomplishments with this ode to Hortensia, his wife for 66 years.
His surname is Milan because he was raised at the Milan Ranch, the future Village of Milan, where his family was engaged in carrot farming.
He graduated with honors from Grants Union High School, then attended NMA&M where he received a BS in General Agriculture also with honors. The mining industry, needing water, bought the Milan Ranch with its water rights, so Paul decided to study business, and enrolled at Mexico City College. This new direction in a new place was what brought him to Hortensia. They married in 1958, and Paul brought her to Grants where he began a career in banking at Grants State Bank. He was graduated by the Colorado School of Banking, again with honors. Along with his bank work, he and Hortensia managed the Milan Motor Hotel, had four children, and served on several service and business entities.
Not finished educating himself, with family he moved to Las Cruces to pursue an MBA from NMSU, which he earned in 1971. In order to find work to support his family, he moved to Dallas Texas. In 1995 he and his family moved back to Grants, and Paul took up the position of vice-Chairman of the Board of Grants State Bank Everywhere they lived was an opportunity for community involvement that benefited others. He has served on virtually every service organization in Grants and Milan over the years spent here, and even at ninety, continues this tradition as President of the Cibola Historical Society.
Paul is a gentleman of many talents and much goodwill, but perhaps this Ode to Hortensia stands above them all, for it expresses a love that not only endured, but energized all that this esteemed hijo de Nuevo Mexico has accomplished.
From El Viejo (Paul Milan) to his late wife Hortensia: ****Memories of 66 Years of Bliss with Hortensia Rubio de Milan*** I met you at the Mexico City Newman Club, You smiled and invited me and a friend to a German pub.
We didn’t see each other for quite a while, When we saw each other again, I recognized your beautiful smile.
Where have you been? It’s been months since I’ve seen you.
“My mother’s sick and I haven’t been playing.”
“Join us next week at Johnnie’s open house where he will be staying.” What a surprise when your entourage appeared.
Brother and sister and a suitor I feared.
I asked you for a dance that lasted all night, We exchanged phone numbers to my delight.
The courtship was rosy until your mother passed away, The “Luto” ended the dancing, parties, and getaways.
Time is healing and tested our love for each other.
Within a year we were engaged and married, blessed by my mother.
We married twice.
Once for your visa and another for life.
The pomp of the Ceremony we’ll never forget The reception was sweet and elegant.
Our honeymoon to California was a delight My three aunts accepted you at first sight.
You exclaimed “California is a place I could live” The beaches, the parks, and Disneyland so big.
Landing in Albuquerque was another story.
The trees were barren, no roofs, where was the glory?
“Where was the New Mexico that you described In terms that you said with such pride?”
Entering Grants was a new sensation All you could see were neon lights and the railroad station.
There were no sidewalks, streetlights, parks, museums or galleries.
However, there were bars and gas stations on every corner to spend miners’ salaries.
Thank you for your confidence as we struggled with salary so low Your shopping skills kept us from falling in a hole Most wives would have run as if I had the flu Managing the Milan Motel for nine years Working two jobs seven days a week with no fears.
Backing my decision to study for my MBA Moving to Las Cruces with four children at bay Graduation during a recession No jobs made me feel that we were in regression Banks were not hiring, the government froze positions The freeze was lifted, Dallas became our destination.
Twenty-five years in our beautiful ‘casa’ Eight-hour days and weekends off ‘que pasa’ Time for soccer games, music recitals, movies, eight hours sleep Parties galore, weekend trips, and promises to keep Thank you for all that you have done to keep our lives sane Anything that went wrong I take the blame.
You brought cats and dogs into our lives Pet cemeteries remind us that time flies Besides the pets you always found time to take care of us Although if I was a cat it would have been a plus Remember the time when they eliminated my job We worked as a team, no time to sob.
Thank you for supporting my decision to acquire the bank, I know my decision left your mind blank.
Back to the bank that broke our heart, I was not sure I could take a new start.
Back to Grants and the Village of Milan, We left so many friends it was hard to say “So long.”
The future was uncertain.
Will we really belong?
We fixed the old homestead, Your touch was beautiful, so everyone said.
We worked together the kids were all gone, Old friends and new made us happy again.
The loss of our boys was our biggest grief, Your strength was our only relief.
I look forward to the next sixty-six years, There will be laughter, parties, and tears, All I accomplished was because of you, You were at my back pushing me through.
Yes, there were times when you really got pissed, But thank you for sixty-six years of total bliss.
Courtesy Photo