My Friend Mario
Prologue…
Over the course of my lifetime, I have been blessed with many friends. Many of my friendships were casual, and as I walk along the path of my later years, most of them have faded. But a few of my friendships have survived over the years, and they are very special to me. Recently, one of these special friends got married, and had a son. A couple of days ago he and his lovely wife brought their new son over so Dorothy and I could meet him, hold him, and enjoy the love and excitement that only a newborn can engender. As I basked in the glow of that visit, I decided to write a little blog about my extraordinary friend Mario. Thanks for your steadfast friendship Mario!
The Beginning…
I can remember the day I met Mario Alberto Zapata Martinez (Mario Zapata) like it was yesterday. I used to hire Bucky J’s Marine in McQueeney to service and work on my boat. They had sent several different guys out over the years, but one day they sent Mario Zapata. I knew he was a new guy since I hadn’t seen him before. As was my custom, I went down to watch him work, and to see if he wanted a cold water or a soda. As we chatted, it didn’t take me long to figure out that his was an exceptional young man. He seemed very young, so I asked him where he learned to work on boats. His reply was something like “I have just taught myself, I can pretty much fix anything, boats, cars, lawnmowers, you name it I can fix it.” The way he said it was not in a boastful manner, but just a statement of a well known fact. Before he finished my boat up he asked if I ever had a problem with the battery draining when I didn’t use the boat for a while. When I replied in the affirmative, he said, I have a used battery cut-off in my truck; I would be glad to put it in for you. Well, I am always cautious, having learned long ago there is no such thing as a free lunch. So I asked what that would cost, and he said, “Oh no, this is not part of Bucky J’s, this is a part that is mine, and I will be happy to put it in your boat so it is put to good use”. Well, he put that cut-off in and it served me well for many years, until the day I sold my boat.
Mario didn’t work for Bucky J’s very long, but by the time he left their employ, we were fast friends. He still came and worked on my boat when it needed something, often protesting when I paid him. One of the first times he was out at my place, he noticed I had about four old weed-eaters laying around, and asked if I wanted to sell them. I said, they are junk, I will give them to you. I figured he wanted them for parts, but later he told me he fixed each of them and sold them. Mario was a hustler, but I say that in a good way. Over the years he fixed my lawn mower, the turn signals on my Airstream, my golf cart, the wiring for my new front door bell, and kept my boat running like new– you name it, Mario fixed it for me. I always paid him, and he always protested.
But our friendship has not been a one way street. Mario has sought legal advice from me, and Dorothy, on several occasions. As any boat owner will tell you, you have to run a boat to keep it in tip-top condition. Once my four older grandchildren were not a part of your lives anymore, I found it depressing to look at the boat, much less take it out for a ride. So I seldom used it, and realized that was not good for the boat. So I asked Mario if, in return for using the boat when he wanted, he would periodically run the boat and make sure it stayed in good working order. He agreed, and, after putting him on my boat insurance as a driver, he would run my boat, and, on occasion take his friends and family out on the boat. We would also let him use the boathouse and the patio by the water to cook out, etc. I daresay it was a beneficial arrangement for us both!
In the Fall of 2019, as I was fixing to leave on a month long trip to Australia, GBRA threatened to drain the lake while I was going to be out of the country. I asked Mario to pull the boat out for me, which he did. A couple of months earlier, I had decided to sell my boat, since it looked like the lake was going to be dry for an extended period while they fixed the dam. Mario said he would try to find a buyer for the boat, but I went ahead and ran an ad on Boat-Trader. A young gentleman from Houston was very interested in the boat. Mario sent him a video of the boat, then took him out on it when the fellow asked to come up and see the boat in person. We reached an agreement that involved a substantial down payment, with the balance being due while I was in Australia. Mario was going to turn the boat over to the gentleman once he made the final payment. The fellow failed to pay as agreed and therefore forfeited his down payment. Mario helped Dorothy deal with him (he was not happy about losing his down payment) since I was in Australia. I was very grateful that Mario was there to help Dorothy. Not long after I got home from my trip, Mario told me he had found another buyer, who in fact ended up buying the boat and consummating the sale. I paid Mario a nice commission for his help in selling my boat.
After I sold my boat, the boat lift, of course, was empty. Several months later Mario asked if he could keep a small fishing boat there until they in fact drained the lake. Mario LOVES to fish! He had come out many times to fish off my dock before he bought his little boat. Once he had the little boat, he came out often to take it out to fish, then would usually fish for a while from the dock when he came back. Bottom line…I can’t honestly say I know anyone who enjoys fishing as much as Mario. Here are a few pictures of Mario doing what he loves…fishing!
Over the past ten plus years of our friendship, Mario has done many nice things for Dorothy and I. Just to give you one example of his kind and generous nature — about a year ago I was out of town on one of my hiking trips and a strong storm brought down a HUGE limb off of one of the pecan trees in our backyard. Dorothy called Mario, hoping he could recommend someone to come take care of the limb. Without hesitation, Mario said “Don’t worry Dorothy, I will take care of it.” And he did. It took him two days to cut it up and haul it off, and of course he wouldn’t let Dorothy pay him. Since I travel quite a lot, it is a great comfort to me to know that Mario is always willing to help Dorothy with anything that might come up. Thank you Mario!
A New Chapter In The Life of Mario…
Over the years of our friendship, I had always hoped and prayed that Mario would find the right person to share his love and life with. That prayer was answered when Mario introduced us to Monserrat Villagomez (Monse). Before we met Monse, Mario had told me that he thought he had found the girl that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. So it was not a big surprize when we were invited to their wedding, which took place on November 2, 2024 on the Faust Street Bridge in New Braunfels, Texas. It was a high honor for me to officiate the wedding — what a beautiful and happy day!
In short order we were delighted to attend a baby shower for Mario and Monse. Family and friends gathered at Lake Dunlap to celebrate the couple and the upcoming birth of their first child. It was a jovial affair, with plenty of hugs, laughs, and tamales!
On January 14, 2025, Mario and Monse welcomed their son Christian Carter Zapata to this world. We were so happy to hear that both mother and child were healthy, and that the Zapata union was now officially a family. On March 9, 2025 we got to meet Christian, as he and his mom and dad came out to our McQueeney lakehouse for lunch. It was such a treat to get to hold Christian — meeting him was much like a fine spring day, filled with God’s beauty and Grace. Thank you Mario and Monse for bringing your son out to meet us and brighten our day!
Epilogue….
Well, there you have it — my introduction to my friend Mario, his lovely wife Monse, and their beautiful son Christian. As I get near the end of my path, I am most grateful that God has blessed me with such fine friends. I am supremely grateful that Mario was put in my path, and that we become friends. Thank you God, and thank you Mario!