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The poetic proverbs known to nuevomexicanos as dichos are particular to their places of origin. In these reflections on the dichos of the Chimayó Valley in northern New Mexico native son Don J. Usner has written a memoir that is also a valuable source of information on the rich language and culture of the region. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs that Usner, who is also known for his photographic work, took of the people and places that he writes about, this book is a one-of-a-kind introduction to the real New Mexico.

Usner has known Chimayó since he was a boy visiting his grandmother and the other village elders, who taught him genealogies going back to family origins in Spain. The Spanish he learned there was embedded in dichos and cuentos. This book is the result of Usner’s research into these memorable sayings, and it preserves a language and a culture on the verge on dissolution. It is a gateway into a uniquely New Mexican way of life.

The poetic proverbs known to nuevomexicanos as dichos are particular to their places of origin. In these reflections on the dichos of the Chimayó Valley in northern New Mexico native son Don J. Usner has written a memoir that is also a valuable source of information on the rich language and culture of the region. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs that Usner, who is also known for his photographic work, took of the people and places that he writes about, this book is a one-of-a-kind introduction to the real New Mexico.

Usner has known Chimayó since he was a boy visiting his grandmother and the other village elders, who taught him genealogies going back to family origins in Spain. The Spanish he learned there was embedded in dichos and cuentos. This book is the result of Usner’s research into these memorable sayings, and it preserves a language and a culture on the verge on dissolution. It is a gateway into a uniquely New Mexican way of life.

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright
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  1. Contents
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  1. Prologue: Dichos, Performance, and Place
  2. Enrique R. Lamadrid
  3. pp. vii-viii
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  1. Introduction: Language at the Heart of Place
  2. pp. 1-14
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  1. Esequiel and Magdalena in La Cuchilla
  2. pp. 15-28
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  1. Dichos About Mortality
  2. pp. 29-30
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  1. Tomasita’s Chile Colorado from the Plaza de Abajo
  2. pp. 31-37
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  1. Dichos About Friendship and Enmity
  2. pp. 38-40
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  1. Lorencito in the Plaza del Cerro
  2. pp. 41-45
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  1. Dichos About Fate and Hardship
  2. pp. 46-50
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  1. Benerito on La Otra Banda
  2. pp. 51-55
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 56-58
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  1. Grabielita in Ranchitos
  2. pp. 59-62
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 63-66
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  1. Esequiel in Los Ojuelos
  2. pp. 67-70
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 71-74
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  1. Juan Trujillo and the Capilla de San Antonio del Potrero
  2. pp. 75-82
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 83-86
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  1. Alonzo’s Horses in Los Ojuelos
  2. pp. 87-91
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 92-94
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  1. Santos Ortiz’s House
  2. pp. 95-99
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 100-102
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  1. Aaron Martinez in Los Ranchos
  2. pp. 103-107
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 108-110
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  1. El Oratorio de San Buenaventura
  2. pp. 111-117
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 118-120
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  1. A Pachanga in Rincon de los Trujillos
  2. pp. 121-126
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 127-130
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  1. Adios Andariego
  2. pp. 131-134
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 135-136
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  1. Esequiel Takes a Spin
  2. pp. 137-141
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  1. Dichos About Character
  2. pp. 142-144
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  1. Salomón
  2. pp. 145-147
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  1. Dichos About Health
  2. pp. 148-150
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  1. Don Patricio Cruz’s House on the Hill
  2. pp. 151-154
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  1. Dichos About Truth
  2. pp. 155-158
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  1. Narciso Trujillo in Los Pachecos
  2. pp. 159-164
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  1. Dichos About Looks and Appearance
  2. pp. 165-168
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  1. The Capilla de Santa Rita in Chimayó Abajo
  2. pp. 169-176
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  1. Consejos (Counsel or Advice)
  2. pp. 177-182
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  1. Tom Montoya and the Maytag Roller
  2. pp. 183-185
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  1. Dichos About Work and Money
  2. pp. 186-188
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  1. Wolfie and Another Corona
  2. pp. 189-197
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  1. Dichos About Love and Family
  2. pp. 198-200
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  1. Grabielita on La Pascua
  2. pp. 201-206
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  1. Dichos About Children and Child Rearing
  2. pp. 207-210
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  1. At the Campo Santo on Memorial Day
  2. pp. 211-216
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  1. Dichos About Faith
  2. pp. 217-220
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  1. Tomasita’s Green Chile
  2. pp. 221-224
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  1. Dichos About Food
  2. pp. 225-228
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  1. Postscript
  2. pp. 229-232
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  1. Back Cover
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