When Melvin Mark Valdez's sister was born, his father moved the entire family from Colorado to Costilla, New Mexico, planning to become a farmer and rancher. But he could not make ends meet, so he had jobs on the side – plumbing, carpentry, highway construction, and more. He even sold Christmas trees, coal, and apples before ending up Farmington, New Mexico, building houses. In this book, the author shares stories about some of the oldest communities in the United States as well as a detailed family history. An educator by profession, he recalls how a fellow attendee at a conference noticed an accent in his speech and asked where he came from. "I'm New Mexican," was his reply, and one of his friends informed her that many New Mexicans have been in New Mexico since their ancestors came in 1598. While they traveled through Mexico, they were from Spain – just like other settlers of North and South America. Many married Aztec or Myan women as they were soldiers who had come alone. If you want to learn more about the early history of Southwest and enjoy stories about family, you'll treasure My Chronicles of the Last Lovatos.