Femia the Firstborn

Fact: María Eufemia Haas Argaez was born March 20, 1941, in Nunkiní, Campeche, México.

Circumstances surrounding the birth: uncertain and unverifiable.

Carlota, the birth mother, lay in the hospital during one of the final bouts with the illness that ended her life, and called for Femia. She related her version of the event in this one and only memorable conversation.

The town festival was to begin so Carlota dressed for the occasion: huipil, festive regional dress, hair pulled back with a big red bow, and high heels.
Her Mamá asked: Where are you going?! Look at you about to give birth! You are not going anywhere!
Headstrong and only 13, Carlota determined to go anyway, jumped over the albarrada (stone fence) then fell or fainted and never knew what happened.
When Carlota awoke, she was in one hammock and there was a baby in another.

Was she married at the time? Femia has pondered this question over the years.
As far as everyone knew Carlota Argaez and Marcelino Haas Haas had been married and there are documents to prove it, however the reliability of the dates is in question.

Among those earliest memories, there are none of the young woman doing "motherly" chores, instead images of piles of unfinished laundry. Food was scarce. Femia from an early age learned to be resourceful in order to provide for her younger siblings. The neighbors often looked out for the youngsters and little Femia made sure her brothers got something. Where were the young parents? Frequently out partying.

Was there no family support? Probably not. His sisters never liked or accepted Carlota. And she maintained that these "aunts" had sold Femia to the missionaries, perhaps because they were being paid for all the work they did at the mission school she assumed they had been reimbursed for the child as well.

After a very rocky start, many fights, seasons of separation, and three children, Carlota and Marcelino parted ways forever.