Trunk Treasure in Tucson

"That we women who here to fore have had to sit quietly at home and wait for news from the battlefront have been given that great privilege of doing our small part".  Ida Cecelia Habeger

So wrote the author's grandmother as she sailed into Honfleur Harbor, France, in 1917, to begin her assignment as a Red Cross nurse in World War I.

When the "forbidden" trunk of her youth was finally opened after the death of both of her parents, this maternal grandmother's journal was one of the first treasures to be found. Grace, who was given the middle name Cecelia after her, never knew this grandmother and immediately became intrigued to know more about her and other family members.

It began a family journey of discovery. Hundreds of letters revealed personalities, life-changing events, and the joys and sorrows lived during tumultuous times in America- the Flu Pandemic of 1918, WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII. She discovered the special romance and enduring love of her parents and the origin of her family's taco tradition. Historic details, original artwork by the author, letters between family members and delicious recipes combine to tell this compelling story of a transplanted 20th century American family in the Southwest.

"One of the traditions that brings us together as a family is our love of Tucson style Mexican food. For special occasions, my mother would make tacos. Why tacos? I have discovered that the taco tradition started with my maternal grandmother, Ida Cecelia Habeger, whom we called Nana. Nana was a fabulous cook and she made her tacos fresh from the tortilla factory. My mother and father met in fifth grade at Samuel Hughes Elementary School on 5th Street, in Tucson, and it seemed from stories told it was "love at first sight". Mom would invite Dad and his best friend, Tom Rorbach over for her mother's famous taco dinners. My grandparents loved to see how many the boys could eat and teased them that they both had "hollow legs". In one of Mom's letters she reminds Dad that he holds the record at eating seven tacos! My parents literally fell in love over taco dinners in Tucson! The taco tradition continues to this day, and remain a favorite in our family! 

At the beginning of each chapter are my original watercolors of the Sonoran Desert, a lists of historic events taking place in Arizona and the world, and family pictures throughout. The letters are transcribed in their original form although a few corrections were made for comprehension. Included in Tacos Amores in Tucson, is a chapter of delicious family recipes that were shared and written by hand among family members and friends before access to the internet. The four branches of our family tree that Mom started years ago are at the back of the book for your reference.