Step into the life of Maria Daisy Quintana in this heartfelt autobiography, chronicling her family's roots and her own personal journey across the American West. Beginning with the 1921 union of her parents, Manuel Atocha Quintana and María Guadalupe "Lupita" Martínez, in the vibrant village of Peñasco, New Mexico, Daisy recounts the joys and struggles that shaped her family's resilience. From the breathtaking beauty of Llano de San Juan to the sorrow of being forced from their ancestral lands, Daisy captures the essence of family and survival.
The narrative takes a poignant turn with Manuel's summers spent as a Wyoming sheepherder and the tragic loss of Lupita and their infant son Franklin in 1938-an event that redefined the Quintanas' lives. In 1940, Manuel returns with a new wife, Emilia, setting the stage for new family dynamics that would challenge and deepen Daisy's understanding of love and belonging. Daisy's life, marked by change and adaptation, unfolds as she marries Ernest Clay Shields in 1948 and embarks on a nomadic path through New Mexico, Colorado, California, and Nevada. From the Spanish-speaking haven of northern New Mexico to an English-speaking world, Daisy's journey reflects both the physical and cultural transitions that defined her life.
In this deeply personal and moving account, Daisy weaves a tapestry of loss, joy, heartache, and love, inviting readers into a life story filled with strength, family bonds, and the enduring spirit of the American Southwest.