John Flores...And The Stuff That I Write

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December 10, 2024

Memories of happy times with those I cared about...

One of the memories that inspires me is tied to a photograph. It shows the main room of a house in southeast Fresno, a place on Butler Avenue that my father bought years ago. My brothers lived there for a long time. On summer nights, I'd join them and we’d gather in that room, talking about life, dreaming about solving the world’s problems, and sipping Pepsi (as seen in the photo). Mostly, though, we were just together, sharing time. David, Richard, and I would spend hours in deep conversation.

Eventually, my brothers had to move out, and that chapter of our lives came to an end—a chapter that spanned nearly 25 years of laughter, reflection, and connection. My brother David passed away in 2019, and to this day, I’m still hurting from his loss. His absence has left a void in my life that no amount of time seems to fill. Now, instead of sitting on that front porch watching the world go by, I find myself in front of a computer screen, reminiscing about those days.

Life moves on, but those moments remain etched in my heart. They shape the reflections I write and remind me why I do this—to capture the essence of a life well-lived and to share it with those who will come after me.