From the

Ican’t help but think of poetry every April, beginning with T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland,” which opens:

“April is the cruellest month, breeding Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing Memory and desire, stirring Dull roots with spring rain. Winter kept us warm, covering Earth in forgetful snow, feeding A little life with dried tubers.”

A bleak reminder of modern struggle from a 20th century poet.

April is also the birth (and death) month of William Shakespeare, who warned that “rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,” which couldn’t be more true of El Paso during this time of year.

Foreboding aside, the Bard also has this to say about springtime:

“It was a lover and his lass, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, That o’er the green corn-field did pass, In the springtime, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.”

In keeping with the springtime theme of birth, growth, and renewal, I welcome you to our human interest issue.

Sometimes you have to hunt for stories, other times they land in your inbox.

This month, our cover star, Horacio Gutierrez Jr., is featured thanks to the submission of a reader who wrote-in to recommend we showcase the soccer supernova turned reality tv star. To her, I say, thank you, thank you, thank you!

A lifetime ago, I covered music, tv, and film that required me to spend a lot of time with public figures just before Instagram exploded.

But this did not prepare me for covering Horacio.

When I mentioned writing a story about him to younger members of our staff or mentees, each time I was met with a sigh and whisper of his name followed by, “I LOVE him.”

I can’t thank Horacio enough for not only driving from San Diego to El Paso for a weekend photoshoot and interview, but also for being so willing to quite literally go wherever the wind blew us.

Another poet once wrote that “April showers bring May flowers” and we’re excited to shower you with El Paso’s leading home and construction professionals and real estate agents to ensure your home can weather whatever comes your way.

This month, we also reflect on the very human impact that COVID-19 has had over the course of the last three years, especially on the border. Dr. Alozie once again graces our pages, and I can’t think of a better person to share his thoughts, experiences, and knowledge on this crazy time in global history. I say this often but somehow never enough: we’re SO lucky to have doctors like Dr. Alozie in El Paso.

Stories of survival from other inspiring El Pasoans in this issue, I’m certain, will plant seeds of creativity in readers, if not least of all, out of human interest.

You’ll meet filmmaker Alfonso Loya, whose production company won the Grand Jury award for Best Web Series at the New York International Film Festival for his tv series on immigration; Anderson, a patient from El Paso Children’s Hospital who was recently named a Children’s Miracle Network 2023 national champion; and Mia, a volunteer at the El Paso Animal Rescue League who helps adoptable dogs find furever homes, and has also earned more than $1 million in college scholarships.

Here’s to continued forward motion and growth.

May we continue to bloom.