>>Coming up on "Legacy List" with Matt Paxton.

Matt is in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia to help a couple of empty nesters downsize their family home.

Matt's in for a treat, when he realizes they used to own a popular Mexican restaurant he used to go to when he was a kid.

>>Oh, this puts me back.

>>On three.

Uno, dos, tres.

>>Oh, it's so good.

I'm gonna eat this whole thing.

>>Yes.

>>I'm Matt Paxton.

Let's do it, man.

My team of specialists, Jaime, Mike, and Avi, help me help people downsize their homes and settle estates.

As the largest population of baby boomers in American history transition towards retirement, they and their families face the overwhelming task of emptying their homes to move.

We help them sift through a lifetime of possessions, >>Bingo.

>>heirlooms, and collectibles, >>Oh my gosh.

>>She's gonna love that.

>>to help them find the missing family treasures that mean the most to them.

>>Oh my goodness.

>>Jackie Robinson.

>>And along the way, they'll discover that the most important museum in the world may be in their family's basement.

(ladies gasping) >>I've never seen that.

That is cool looking.

>>From attics to cellars, closets to cupboards we uncover the memories they want to preserve.

This is living history.

This is what we're here to find.

Let's go.

And discover the compelling personal, and often historical stories spanning generations that are their family's legacy.

>>[Female Announcer] Support for Legacy List comes from MakeSpace.

MakeSpace picks up, stores and return your items on demand.

Available for home or business.

MakeSpace provides professional movers, plus bins, blankets and a digital photo inventory.

You can find us at makespace.com.

And by ensure long-term care where we believe aging at home near friends and family is ever more possible for more people.

Learn more at insureltc.com.

AARP Virginia offering family caregiving support with prepare to care and down sizing and decluttering on line workshops designed to help organize and assess family needs Find the complete online workshop schedule At AARP.org/virtual VA The Ruth Camp Campbell Foundation (upbeat music) >>Today I'm on my way to Midlothian, Virginia to see Lisa and Michel Zajur.

The Zajurs are empty nesters, and they need to do some serious downsizing.

The Zajur family is special to me because they ran a very famous Mexican restaurant here in my hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

In fact, my mom had her first date at that restaurant.

And turns out I had my first date at that restaurant.

Not the same date.

[Matt] Hey guys.

>>Yay, you're here.

>>How are you?

>>We're so excited.

>>Good to see you, finally in person.

>>How are you doing?

>>Good morning, man.

Good to see you.

This is gorgeous.

>>Thanks.

We've been here 30 years.

We raised all three kids.

>>I have driven past this house probably 1000 times.

>>No way >>I grew up, I mean not two miles from here.

>>Wow >>You didn't mess with my mailbox, before?

>>No, we threw toilet paper in all the trees, is what we would have done.

>>Well, welcome >>Let's go check it out.

See what you got.

>>Okay.

(upbeat music) >>Come on in here we are.

>>Wow, look at this.

>>Welcome.

>>Beautiful.

>>Yeah.

>>We've been here 30 years.

And we are renovating to downsize.

>>Renovating to stay or leave?

>>We're gonna leave eventually.

>>Well, we're not sure.

>>TBD.

Okay.

All right, we'll talk about that later.

>>Come right this way.

>>Yeah, let's look at the stuff.

>>We'll show you the house.

Right this way.

This is our piano room, living room.

My parents hung out here.

We had moved them in with us.

So we had to care for them, and we moved them from Virginia Beach.

>>With all their stuff.

>>With all their stuff, yes.

>>All their stuff came.

>>So you guys have a lot of common downsizing themes.

You have your lifehood stuff, of raising your kids.

And then the parents stuff comes in.

And then the kids all bolt.

>>Yeah, they leave.

And they leave all their stuff.

>>And they don't want to take it with them.

>>So that's why it's hard to make a decision.

>>It is.

>>Tell me about this piano real quick.

>>Well this piano, a very good friend gifted it to us 30 years ago.

It's antique.

I don't know that much about it, and I've always wanted to know because whether to take it, not take it.

I need to know more about it.

>>I don't think we're gonna take it - (laughing) >>I'll find out some stuff to help you out.

>>That would be great.

That would be great, yeah.

>>I'm very curious about the state fair pictures.

>>Oh my gosh.

>>I've heard of you guys, so I know of you.

And I think I know what that is, tell me.

>>We have had something called Siesta Town for many years, in fact Lisa and I, well Lisa ran a bilingual preschool here for many years.

All the kids in the neighborhood would come here for preschool, and it was, she would teach in Spanish.

And I owned a restaurant, a very popular Mexican restaurant called La Siesta.

>>When I was in elementary school, I actually came to your father and yours restaurant.

>>No way.

>>I was at one of those cultural days.

Our school would bring us there.

>>Oh my gosh.

There's some more things over here to show you.

>>Oh, look at this.

This is beautiful.

Tell me about all this.

>>Well, one of our favorite places to go is second Zacatecas, Mexico.

That's where my family's from.

When we go on the trips to Zacatecas, we always go because they had silver mines.

It's one of the richest producing silver areas in North America.

It's the colonial city, one of five in Mexico.

And I have a lot of family there.

>>That's where the silver coins in Europe actually came from that region.

That's why so many pirate ships, because they were taking this silver before they got to Europe.

So what does your family have to do with that?

>>My grandfather in Zacatecas was the owner of 22 different silver mines.

He was a very wealthy individual at one time and had stores.

In fact, we had IOUs from Poncho Villa.

Poncho Villa used to- >>The Poncho Villa?

>>The Poncho Villa.

>>And you would take his money, and his IOUs.

>>You'd kind of have to, I think.

Yeah, yeah.

What a family story.

>>I know, I know.

>>We have lots of stories.

>>Yes, we do.

>>Well that's what life's about.

(calm music) [Matt] You've got a lot of folk art.

You've got a lot of, specifically Mexican folk art.

I just feel like the whole house is curated.

That's the word I keep thinking.

>>Wow, yeah >>And it's just stunning.

Now, this is a really clean house.

You're hiding something from me.

Where is the mess?

>>We all-- I think everybody has those places.

>>So where's the storage in this house?

>>Okay.

Well, we'll have to show you that.

>>Right this way.

>>Let's do it.

>>Do not judge me.

This is where all the stuff is from everybody.

>>Okay, so one of the challenging parts, when someone calls me and says they're thinking about downsizing, that means they have not touched the garage or the attic.

And this family was absolutely the case.

You guys are what we call the stable storage.

>>We are.

Everyone just leaves everything here.

>>And it's for free.

>>Exactly.

>>We see this all the time.

And then that's where you ended up like this.

Now is this all the stuff, or is there anywhere else in the house it is?

>>The attic upstairs >>Sadly there's another room.

>>Is it as full as this?

>>It's full of stuff.

>>Kinda, yeah.

>>I would like my garage back, too.

>>Yes, to pull in cars.

Yeah.

>>I want to go outside.

We're gonna sit down, we're gonna just kind of like go over the legacy list and really find out what the plan is gonna be today.

>>All right.

I'm so glad you're here.

>>No this is awesome.

>>Right this way.

(upbeat music) >>All right, we're here about downsizing.

Are we actually downsizing yet?

Where are you guys at in that process?

>>We're looking at the possibility of moving.

>>To kind of find something that we like.

See, that is the challenge.

We'll go look- >>So you are looking?

>>Yeah, we will look.

And then it's more money, and it's not that great.

We need to find that perfect thing.

And it hasn't jumped out, yet.

>>We've really enjoyed this home.

And it's really hard to, you know.

>>It's hard to leave.

>>It is, it really is.

>>The two hardest things in downsizing are deciding where you're gonna go, and getting started.

And the Zajurs are stuck on both of these.

This is one of my favorite parts, when we sit down and we go over the legacy list.

And obviously, if the legacy list is just a few items in the house you want us to find, or find more information on those items.

>>Okay.

>>So I think I'll start with you, Lisa.

What is your first item on the legacy list?

>>First items are the original drawings and renderings, the paintings that Michel's cousin did of the pinata story book that we wrote together.

They were really special.

And writing the book together was a labor of love.

>>Yeah, oh by they way, you wrote a book together.

We forgot that.

>>And this is a story, when the kids would come, I would tell them the story about the pinata, to give them some understanding of culture.

A pinata represents sin or temptation.

And the blindfold represents the blind faith you have in God.

And when you hit the stick, it's like you're not giving into temptation.

And then you're rewarded with the candy and treats, just like you're rewarded with Heaven.

But this is a story, is a fictitious story that we would tell kids so they could understand it in a different way, how to be a good listener.

>>What's the next item?

>>My mother and my father had a recipe book.

And it had lots of different recipes.

And it had the recipe of our white sauce.

It was virtually famous at the restaurant.

>>The greatest thing every made.

Yes, I'm aware.

>>We sold that white sauce in grocery stores.

And other restaurants tried to copy their version.

>>Never as good.

>>'Cause we were the first restaurant.

>>They're still trying today.

>>But I wanted to find that recipe book.

>>All right.

That's, I mean.

I remember eating it.

My mom bought it at the store, man.

>>Yeah, it's addicting.

>>It is so good.

>>We still get requests for it.

>>With chips, it's incredible.

Okay, what's your next?

>>Well, it's a sentimental thing, a poster with a Mexican scene of a woman being serenaded on the balcony by mariachis, and her loved one singing to her.

Michel took me to Mexico- >>The first time, actually.

>>The first time, yeah, to meet all the family.

And it looks exactly like the poster, where we were.

We were staying at his aunt's.

I looked down and there's Michel singing with the mariachis, and serenading me.

It was very, very, very romantic.

And 36 years later, still going strong, yeah.

>>Who doesn't want to be serenaded on a- >>I know.

>>on a balcony in Mexico.

That's amazing, dude.

Now wonder she said, yes.

>>Yeah, it's a girl's dream come true to be serenaded like that.

>>What other items do you have?

>>There's a ring my mom always showed me growing up.

It's a gold ring with a cameo on it.

And it was her mother's ring, Ruby, Grandma Ruby, but I never met her.

My mom said this is for you, Lisa.

I want you to always have this.

I don't know exactly where it is, so again, it's in the house.

It was something that I, was so special to my mom.

And I'm gonna pass it down to my girls, her granddaughters, too.

So that was really important.

>>Okay.

What's your next?

>>My dad, it was hard.

It's been three years ago.

My dad had gotten leukemia.

And then my mom had fallen, and broke her shoulder and her wrist.

We moved them in with us.

And then three weeks later, my dad couldn't breathe, and he died in my arms.

We were trying to give him, just trying to revive him, and it wouldn't.

>>Here?

>>Yes, yes.

He was the love of my life, like Michel is.

And so it was really hard.

And it's been hard for me to go through it, just 'cause I'm crying now and it's three years later.

There was this watch he always wore.

It was from Dr. Pepper.

He was like in the million dollar sales club.

>>He worked for Dr. Pepper?

>>He worked for Dr. Pepper.

Yes, and he always had the watch.

And he was always real proud of that.

And he was a Marine.

I know he had medals.

And I know he had like some things, like a knife.

And I thought it'd be nice to be able to pass that down to Austin, our son.

>>It's hard to go through the items of someone you just lost, especially someone who's close as your dad.

>>It's been really hard for her, too.

>>It's actually easier for a stranger to do it- >>It is.

I think so, yes.

>>then it is for you, okay.

Well, we can help with that.

Do you have any other items?

>>My grandfather in Mexico, he owned 22 silver mines in Zacatecas.

And my father would tell me stories, when they'd go into mines, and I collected silver coins.

It just, I was fascinated going in those mines myself, and just seeing how they mine it.

But I have some silver- >>I've got the coins.

>>Silver coins, and Poncho Villa silver coins.

>>Oh, really?

Okay.

>>They're not from back then.

>>Oh, they're commemorative.

>>They're replicas.

>>And then hopefully more info on the piano.

>>Yes, because we wouldn't want to sell it for 50 bucks if it's worth way more than that.

>>Sometimes downsizing, you just gotta make time for it.

>>I think so.

>>And that may be one of your biggest challenges.

>>I think one of the things- >>Is scheduling.

>>We are very, very busy.

Our schedule stays busy.

>>You'll help anyone else, but yourself.

>>It's so true.

>>It's so easy to help strangers.

It's really hard to help yourself and so, one of the things is we're gonna help you guys.

And then we're gonna get a plan together on how to actually get you where you can actually find a place and decide what you're doing.

All right, cool.

Thank you guys.

We will see you in a couple days.

>>Okay, great.

(upbeat music) >>I see Matt's truck, but I don't see where he's at.

>>What's up, guys?

>>Hey.

What's happening, man?

>>What do you think?

>>It's beautiful.

>>Really cool family this week.

The Zajur, they started La Siesta Restaurant.

>>Oh, La Siesta.

>>We would eat there as kids, best tacos around.

They are legit downsizing.

They've been here 30 years.

They raised their family here.

The three kids are out.

They're empty nesters.

But the house is full.

I always ask, where are you going?

And they said, well, we haven't found anything nice yet.

So we really just need to get them started.

And they're kind of just stuck.

Mike, you're gonna have your hands full with the movers.

We've gotta, we're not moving anywhere.

Just got a lot of stuff for donate, some trash.

And then I think some needs to go to storage.

>>I'll get a truck in here and we'll get the stuff where it needs to go.

>>The legacy list items are pretty cool.

There's a really cool poster she wants of a mariachi band singing to a woman on a balcony.

>>What's the significance of that?

>>Oh dude, Michel is the Latin lover man.

When he was dating her, he brought her to Mexico to meet his family.

He basically recreated this poster.

>>That's really sweet.

Latin men are known for their romance.

>>Yes.

You are married to a Latin man.

>>I know first hand.

>>All right, well hopefully you'll find the poster then.

[Matt] Probably my favorite thing, and Mike, you and I have discussed this before.

There is a debate in the world of who makes a better white sauce.

>>Whoa whoa.

>>Michel's father- >>This is the guy?

>>He created the original white sauce.

He said, if we find it, he will make us some.

>>We will find it.

>>Okay.

All right, let's do it.

[Matt] La Siesta was most famous for their white sauce, which was a sauce you would dip your chips in.

You guys can go in the front.

We'll go in the back.

All right, let's do it.

>>Good luck.

>>Thank you guys.

>>Our goal will be to get them some space in both the attic and the garage, so they can start sorting the house and decide where to go.

>>With many of our projects, going into the attic is sometime a punishment.

With this attic I mean I was excited to be in that attic.

It was like a party.

>>We have so many things from the restaurant, and from all of the Que Pasa Festivals that we have done over the years.

In fact, we even broke the world record for the largest assembly of pinatas.

>>Wow, I see these two.

>>Yes, that's the Lisa and the Michel pinata.

We beat Mexico.

They held the title for a long time.

We had, I think, over 1,340 some pinatas.

We did it, and so everybody came.

And it was so much fun.

It was so fun.

And it was a great community effort.

And that was what was important, so.

>>And do you still hold the record?

>>Yes, as far as I know.

(laughing) >>Michel and Lisa were always up to something at the restaurant.

I mean, who breaks a world record for most pinatas?

Michel and Lisa break the world record for most pinatas.

>>All right.

Good old garage.

>>This is just a dump of everything.

He wants his garage back, which means like 90% of this has to go.

>>I mean, we can't even see the doors.

>>As always, Mike and his guys are gonna be really busy this week.

They're gonna have to work with the family to go through the garage and decide all the items that are gonna be donated, sold, or thrown away.

Once we've finished the garage, Mike and his team are gonna go upstairs and do the same thing in the attic.

>>All right, Avi.

(laughing) I actually, can't see you.

>>I mean, you know, if it wasn't so big, I might not even know it's not you.

(laughing) So is that Pepe?

>>Yes.

>>They used Pepe in the restaurant.

>>Yes.

He's the mascot, I guess.

But what would you do if you were downsizing?

Would you take this, Pepe head?

>>I think pictures would have to suffice in this case.

>>Yeah.

I'd probably say, thank it for all of the good memories, and let it go.

I think that the attic was evidence of Lisa and Michel just not wanting to deal with getting rid of stuff in real time.

They just need our help moving that process along.

>>Hey, Jaime.

Come check this out.

>>What you got?

It looks like a menu cover.

>>Ooh.

>>Oh.

>>Wait a minute.

>>I think you found it.

>>We found the art work, the original art.

>>This has gotta be the whole book.

>>This is amazing.

>>Look how beautiful it is.

Look at this.

>>The pinata story was more than a book.

I mean, looking at the detail in the pictures.

It's a piece of art.

I mean, it was really an exciting time.

(calm music) >>I mean the problem, you know how everyone says, oh I may use it, I'm gonna have a party someday.

They actually do.

They have parties all the time.

And they use all this stuff.

>>Well that's, that's good.

>>It's great.

>>But they still have too much stuff.

>>Yeah.

And it's not good when we need space.

And they're trying to downsize.

>>Oh boy.

I just found a bunch of jewelry.

>>So we're looking for a cameo, like a gold, oh my gosh.

>>Yeah.

I mean, this is- >>They've got a Mr. T. starter kit in here.

Look at this.

>>Actually, there's a ton of silver.

There's some turquoise, maybe some precious gems.

>>There you go, boom.

>>Oh, there it is.

>>There it is.

>>Sweet.

>>Look at this dude.

That is it.

That was her, I believe her grandma's.

Oh, dude.

Great find, man.

Grandma's cameo, and it's right in here with a bunch of, I mean this is definitely not junk jewelry, this is good.

>>No, I'm sure there's a ton of sterling in here.

>>So how long have these been around?

>>They date back to Roman times.

And then they kind of died off in popularity.

But then in Victorian times there was a huge resurgence.

And you started seeing these pop up like crazy.

>>Wow.

This is beautiful.

>>All right.

>>That is definitely a legacy list item.

>>Awesome.

>>So good job, man.

>>Oh, look at this sweet family collage.

>>Oh, that's nice.

>>I know.

It's probably meaningful.

You don't see collages like this that often anymore, because we have all of our photos on our phone.

>>So what do you think about something like this, in terms of downsizing?

>>This is a tough call.

I encourage people, if they don't have the space to take something like this, or take a picture of it on your phone.

>>That's as great idea >>And keep it that way keep it in digital format because it's hard for people to let go of pictures.

>>The physical, just being able to pick it up and look at it.

>>So we'll have to ask her what she wants to do with this.

(upbeat music) >>All right, wait a minute.

>>Oh, there's another early one.

Yeah, this is an early Polaroid.

>>But I'm just seeing something over here that interested me.

>>Okay.

(calm music) >>You got it?

>>Yeah, look at this.

This is an old chest.

There was a really cool old chest upstairs.

Oh, look at that.

>>Well, look at this.

>>Holy cow, okay.

Now we're really talking.

This is silver.

Silver is a big deal for Michel, and his dad collected coins.

All right I think this whole thing needs to just be locked up.

Look at that.

What is that?

>>We got pocket watches.

We got- >>Ah, look what it is.

[Matt] Back in the day, Poncho Villa had his own money.

He would just say hey, here's my Poncho Villa money.

He put his name on it.

>>Poncho Villa could be the most famous, least understood figure in Mexican history.

What's beyond question are Villa's courage, charisma, and commitment to la revolution.

In 1910, Mexico is a powder keg of injustice.

Dictator, Porfirio Diaz has been in power for 34 years.

His efforts to modernize Mexico make the rich richer, and the poor poorer.

Poncho Villa, a bandit by trade, sees his people suffering and sets a new goal.

Free Mexico from rich landowners, and give her back to everyday citizens.

Villa builds a gorilla army to take on the better armed federal troops.

By 1913, it has grown into a legendary fighting machine numbering tens of thousands.

For the next two years his troops beat Mexican better rallies into submission with a string of victories all over Northern Mexico.

Villa's fame grows.

He even gives a newsreel company called Mutual Film exclusive access to the battlefield, making him, arguably, the first reality star.

Villa is unable to sustain the momentum, and suffers a series of heavy losses.

With nothing to lose, and desperate for supplies, he conducts the first foreign invasion of US soil since the war of 1812, raiding the border town of Columbus, New Mexico.

Some praise his daring.

Others want him dead.

The US sends 5,000 heavily armed soldiers into Mexico to hunt down Villa.

He proves too elusive, and is never caught.

Villa eventually lays down his arms, and retires to a hacienda in Durango.

Three years later, he's gunned down in a hail of bullets.

But who pulled the trigger?

Much like in life, Villa's death is shrouded in mystery.

>>I mean that's.

>>Super cool.

>>That's not light.

>>Look at this.

This might be the most valuable part there is, a little gold doubloon.

>>Oh my gosh.

>>Look at that.

That's a gold doubloon.

Let's get that looked at.

I definitely gotta get somebody to go in here now.

I'm more curious about that.

That was buried in this.

I don't even know if he knows that's in here.

The way the gold coin was positioned in the box, I'm not sure that Michel even knows it's here.

So I cannot wait to tell Michel, not only that I found it, but what I found out about it.

Good job, man.

This is awesome.

All right, let's keep picking.

>>Okay.

(calm music) (birds singing) >>All right, Matt.

What are we looking for?

>>This big piano on your left.

>>That's easy enough.

>>At least Lisa was honest with me.

She said, I don't know if it's worth anything.

I don't know if I want to keep it.

She's like, I want to know more about it so I can decide if I want to keep it or not.

>>Sure.

The good news about pianos is you can find out a lot of information just by opening them up.

>>It's in great shape, honestly.

>>Okay, let's see what we've got.

K-N-A-B-E. >>Kah-na-bee, or kah-nab?

>>Yeah, kah-na-bee.

I believe that's right.

>>The nice thing about now, you just have to bring the guy in.

I think we can just do a little simple research, and really find out what we got.

I was playing around the piano just to test it, to see how it plays.

And Lisa came down and started playing with me.

(upbeat piano music) (laughing) [Matt] You got it.

(acoustic piano music continues) (laughing) >>Yay!

That was awesome.

I haven't played that in 20 years.

>>I know.

It's been a really long time.

>>Seriously, 20 years.

>>A really long time.

>>I think sometimes people just need to play it to remember how much they love it.

>>I know, I know.

It's fun, it is.

>>All right, well let me.

I don't want to give too much away.

I'll keep looking.

Thank you for playing.

That was awesome.

>>Yeah, that was fun.

>>I loved it.

Very cool.

[Matt] I don't know who played this.

But let's see what kind of music they were playing.

You'll know a lot about them.

>>Western Union?

What's?

>>I mean, it's a telegram.

It's saying wanted one male, five foot nine, 180 pounds, muscle-bound with plenty of power, handsome too.

>>This is awesome.

>>I think this is a telegram from Lisa's mom to Lisa's dad.

That's the cloth that Lisa came from, you can see why she actually fell for Michel.

>>Absolutely.

>>You've gotta have this love and humor.

(calm music) >>Spending time with this family, really gave me an opportunity to learn more about their journey.

As I've been working through the house, I've been really excited to see some of the things that you've done.

I was just able to find this, this humanitarian award, which continues to speak to who your family is.

>>If you've been blessed, and you pay it forward, help other people up the ladder.

>>Yeah, I just see it in everything you do, even with the Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

I mean, what was the reasoning behind starting that?

>>You know, when I came here from Mexico, there was a relative that helped my parents.

My parents couldn't speak English.

And when someone can help you through language or culture, and you can really grow to new levels that you couldn't have before.

And I didn't mean to start an organization.

It just grew organically from the restaurant.

But I knew we really needed to do something to help people, just like someone helped my parents when they started.

>>La Siesta was this like epicenter of Hispanic culture for the Richmond community.

How did food break down those barriers and really make a difference?

>>When people came into our restaurant, my family, it was a real pleasure to have people come in.

It was like they're coming in your house.

You want them to walk away with an experience.

But I think food is an important aspect.

It brings people together.

And I think we put on, like the Cinco de Mayo event.

We started at the restaurant.

It grew from there to a big, major- >>Another amazing community.

>>street festival.

Having the time to understand.

I realized the more you learn about someone's culture, you don't realize how different we are, but how much alike we are.

I think it's, we need to do that more.

But food is, especially for me, it was a way to bring people together.

>>So as a kid, I did go to La Siesta a few times.

That was always a treat.

I just love Mexican food.

So this made the job so much easier.

>>Mexican food occupies an essential place in our hearts, and stomachs.

But when, and how did it come North of the border?

It all started in San Antonio, Texas over 175 years ago, where food stalls run by local women known as the chili queens, serve up generous portions of homemade Mexican fare, including a fiery stew called chili con carney.

By the 1880s, the opening of the railroad brings hungry tourists to town, who spread the word back East about the Fiesta of new flavors in San Antonio.

Around the same time, California witnesses the rise of Mexican fast food in the form of tamales.

Hungry patrons buy them off tamale wagons in Los Angeles, or get them from San Francisco's tamale men who wander the streets, selling them out of pails.

Another brainstorm paves the way for America's most popular cocktail.

In 1971, Dallas restaurateur, Marianna Martinez MacGyvers begin serving up a frozen margarita.

His secret weapon?

A second hand soft serve ice cream machine.

Need any more proof American taste buds like it hot?

Salsa overtakes ketchup as the top selling condiment in 1991.

And today restaurants serving South of the border cuisine take in a whopping $55 billion a year.

So the next time you dig into a gourmet taco, or a plate of super nachos, raise a glass to the chili queens and tamale men who helped make Mexican food a way of life in America.

>>Mike, come here.

>>Yes, Ma'am.

>>I think I have something you might like.

>>Ah, Pikachu.

Oh yeah.

Whoa whoa, whoa whoa.

>>I know.

>>Pokemon.

>>Is this your favorite thing ever?

>>Oh my gosh.

They have a Mew walkie, and a Pikachu walkie talkie.

Jaime.

I found an amazing collection of Pokemon cards and toys upstairs.

It was so cool just sifting through them, and seeing what cards they had, and what toys were there.

>>Clearly Pokemon was huge.

I know that.

But I'm gonna be honest with you.

I didn't watch it.

>>I'm gonna contain my disappointment for just a minute here.

Pokemon was, and still is, a worldwide phenomenon.

I mean, even just now they have the games on your phone that people play all over the world.

>>Oh, where you're trying to find the, yeah.

>>In the real world.

Pokemon took the world by storm.

And oh God, we have cards.

We have cards.

>>Okay, okay.

>>This whole Pokemon craze originally started as cards.

Some of these first edition cards can be worth 20, 30, 40 $50,000 just for a single card.

>>Oh my gosh.

>>As I'm looking through these cards, I'm trying to figure out, do they have any of these first edition cards?

Because that's where the real money is.

(calm music) >>Look a claw machine.

>>Have you won anything good in a claw machine?

>>Never.

Ask me how much money I've spent on them.

>>How much money have you spent on them?

>>Too much.

>>Okay.

>>What's in this odd shaped box?

>>Oh, a little poster.

>>Little poster.

Let's check it out.

I wonder if it was something that was, maybe in the restaurant.

>>Here, I'll hold this end.

>>Okay.

>>Oh my gosh.

I think this is the poster that they were looking for.

So they were looking for a poster that had the mariachi band serenading the lady, or the Senorita if you will.

>>I will.

>>Because they reenacted that themselves in real life in Mexico, so it reminds them of that time.

>>That is awesome.

>>That is awesome.

>>It's called "Serenata", serenade.

>>That's awesome, one item off the list.

>>Yeah, that's great.

>>Well I'm glad we came across this.

I mean, there is a little bit of water damage up there, but still it has sentimental value, so.

>>Absolutely.

>>We'll roll it back up.

>>Okay.

You got it?

>>Yeah.

I think so.

>>As Jaime and I are were still picking, and looking through the attic, the moving team was hard at work getting everything out of the house.

>>Whoa, look at this foot.

What's going on with this?

>>Oh, I found your shoe.

I forgot to tell you.

>>Oh, okay.

The most beautiful piece of art I may have ever seen.

>>And check this out.

This is like quintessential teenage girl bedroom material right here.

>>Okay, what do we got?

>>Song lyrics written on the, well this is on the closet door.

I, when I was a teenager, had my whole walls covered with lyrics, with quotes, with pictures, with all this, so.

>>Magazine pages?

>>Absolutely.

Do you believe in magic?

>>Oh yeah.

>>Anyways, this just like, makes me nostalgic.

I'm probably around the same age as one of her daughters, because I did the same thing all over my walls.

Because you know what?

You can paint over it.

>>Amen.

So as we're searching upstairs, we're finding a bunch of items from the kids, and from Michel and Lisa.

But then we find something from Lisa's dad.

>>So I know that she is looking for military stuff, because her dad was a Marine.

>>Cool photo.

>>It is.

It's a beautiful photo.

He actually recently passed away, kind of suddenly.

And when that happened, she took on all of his possessions, as a lot of children do.

But I know that she specifically wanted to hang on to some of his military memorabilia.

So I think this is a perfect thing for her to take with her.

Hey, check this out.

See what's inside there.

That might be.

>>Well so far we've got a knife, military issue knife >>I mean, this is a great find if it does belong to her dad, because she is looking for things that her dad had while he was a Marine.

>>It's a pretty cool knife.

I see it's got a little, almost like a trigger on it.

So maybe that's like for.

Actually, I don't know what it's for.

You can't replace the sentimental value.

>>No, like that was her dad's.

>>This is what he might've been counting on to keep him alive at some point.

>>Is that all that's in there?

>>No, here.

Let's see what we have here.

This might be.

Okay, we've got a. Oh wow, medals.

Sharpshooter, and then expert rifleman.

So obviously there was a lot of skill involved here.

to a soldier, getting these decorations was a big deal.

>>I'm sure.

>>And these are the kinds of things that any family should hold on to if they can.

>>Not only are they out there risking their lives, and this is a way to honor that memory.

Lisa is still actively grieving the loss of her father.

So finding any of his items in the house was a big win.

And when Mike found those military items of his, I knew that Lisa would be thrilled.

(calm music) [Jaime] So when Mike and I were up in the attic, we came across this knife, which we believe belonged to Lisa's dad.

>>Bayonets were actually made to go on the end of a- >>Oh hey.

>>I am here.

(all laughing) >>What's up, guys?

>>Great to see you.

>>What we talking about?

>>Just talking about this bayonet here.

It looks like Korean war era.

>>It's beautiful.

Well, I kind of need an update.

Where are we at?

Who has found what off the legacy list?

>>I also found the poster.

>>You did?

>>I did, of the mariachi band serenading the lady.

>>That's very cool.

>>Yep.

>>Well, I was lucky enough to find the original paintings.

>>You did?

For the book?

>>For the books.

>>Okay, very cool.

>>Yeah, that was a nice find.

>>What'd you find?

>>One thing that I just found, the watch.

>>Whoa.

>>Oh, the Dr. Pepper watch.

>>The Dr. Pepper watch.

Look at that.

Any chance we found the old family recipe book that has the white sauce in it?

>>Not yet.

>>We have not?

>>Nope.

>>Okay.

That was all the recipes they cooked when they first got here.

And Michel was telling me, he goes man my dad had to convince people to eat Mexican food.

Let me assure you, there was no convincing me to eat tacos.

It was like yep, okay.

Let's hunker down the last couple hours.

I'm gonna meet with the coin expert.

All right, see you guys.

>>Yeah.

>>See you.

>>While the rest of the team kept looking for the recipe book, my buddy, Ed, a coin and metal expert was coming by to talk about all the coins we found.

[Matt] All right, here's the one piece of, the whole reason I called you.

This little thing right here.

>>Oh, my word.

>>I found that tucked away behind a plastic bag in another bag.

>>And so you probably wouldn't think anything of it.

>>Because of the hole in it, I was hesitant to call you on it.

But then I was like well, that's when he tells me to call, when I don't know anything.

>>This is hundreds of years old Spanish cob, gold coin.

The hole you mentioned, the reason.

A lot of people did this to themselves because they didn't have anywhere to keep their money when they were traveling.

There were thieves-- bandits about.

So they would take a hole, and they would string it like a bead.

And then they would wear it, sometimes around the neck, sometimes around the waist.

This is about half the coin of what it should be.

It's just been worn down over the years.

>>So it's a legit Spanish?

>>Probably from the 1600s.

>>Holy cow.

What is something like that worth?

Do you have any idea?

>>Graded, in XF condition, it's $10,000.

>>Holy cow.

>>In this condition, I mean, I would still want to get it graded, but I mean two, $3000.

>>So something like this, you got- >>It's where you have maybe $100 worth of gold.

It's worth at least $2,000 because of the history.

>>I don't think they know this is here.

>>They're gonna have this mounted, I believe.

This is a definite heirloom.

The chance that it came from his grandfather's mine.

>>That's awesome.

>>Silver is one of the most sought after minerals on Earth.

But this much coveted precious metal has a long history of blood, sweat, and tears.

The first evidence of silver mining dates back to 3000 BC, in modern day Turkey and Greece.

In the ancient world, silver was highly valued, and used to make everything from coins to jewelry.

The Romans mined silver throughout their empire, and relied on the people they conquered to work in the mines.

Throughout the ages, silver became synonymous with success.

And owning it was a sign of wealth and status.

The silver industry exploded when Europeans came to the Americas.

Spanish conquistadors imposed forced labor, and exploited native people to mine silver.

Once the silver was extracted from the ground, it was made into bars, and sent back to Spain on galleons so loaded down, some sank before making it home.

The silver that did make it back to Spain helped finance a series of bloody wars, and pay for a brutal policy of colonization that would prove deadly to the indigenous people.

Since the Spanish took over Mexico's silver resources 500 years ago, control of these mines have been fought over by governments, revolutionaries, and big corporations alike.

Today, Mexico is the leading producer of silver in the world.

And this precious metal is one of the bright spots in the country's struggling economy.

After years of conflict, this is one story with a silver lining.

(calm music) >>Okay.

>>Oh my God.

>>I've got something for us to go through.

>>I see it.

>>Yeah it looks like there's a label on it.

>>Holly go through.

>>All right.

>>All right.

>>I noticed when I was in the attic, there are a lot of boxes of clothes.

You know, going through clothing is one of the hardest parts about downsizing.

So I thought we could practice.

>>Okay.

>>And it might be easier because it's not your clothes.

It's your daughters.

Lisa is kind of a girl after my own heart, in that she thinks that maybe one day somebody in her family will want to wear something.

>>I loved this one.

I thought this was so cute.

>>It's definitely a fun print.

>>Yes.

>>She was attached to all of the memories of the pieces of clothing, because she remembered buying a dress for her daughter's dance, or whatever the occasion was.

That's what she was attached to.

It wasn't the actual dress.

>>Oh my gosh.

(laughing) Look!

I remember this.

Holly's grandma gave this to her for Christmas.

I remember Holly holding it up and being like, oh no.

(laughing) >>I still feel the same way.

>>Ah, there you are.

>>So you never wore this?

>>No...

I didn't have a polar bear function.

>>Holly, this is Jaime.

She's helping me to go through these things.

>>I think she's helping me.

>>I think so, I think so.

>>But I do remember my grandpa thought it was really cool, and was really excited.

So I always wanted to like that, but.

But I can let it go.

>>She can let it go.

You know me.

I mean, I think this was so cute.

>>I know.

>>Why would you not like this?

>>It wants another home.

>>Yeah, it does.

>>Okay what if?

This is so cute.

What if you go to a- >>I think I wore it in like 5th grade, 6th grade?

>>So are these things that your mom would just bring home for you?

>>There's a lot of that.

That one, I think, was probably my sister's that I stole, then.

But also it's well over 10 years by this point.

>>Oh, this one.

>>You always loved that one too.

>>I like this one.

>>That one, it is cute.

But I am not gonna wear it.

>>It's a good thing Jaime's here because.

Oh look, this still has the tags on it.

>>There's a lot of, yeah.

>>Yeah.

It's a great thing to donate.

People love, it's a great quality.

It will go to another home.

Sitting down and going through those clothes with her, I think was helpful, and especially having her daughter there validating that it was okay to get rid of them was really a step in the right direction.

>>I think all of it can go.

I support the downsizing I think going through it is great.

And I'll get more stuff that we can look through.

>>Okay.

Sounds great.

>>Thanks guys.

>>Thank you.

>>That was so cute too.

>>The goal for the Zajurs is not to move them completely.

We just really needed to help them get started in the two main areas.

Make them space so that they can start sorting the rest of the house.

>>The downsizing process was painstaking.

The Zajurs and I had to go through every box and decide what to do with it.

Hopefully we gave them the kickstart that they need.

And I'm really excited to see where their journey takes them.

>>With the downsizing done, it was time to show Lisa and Michel the results.

All right.

Are you ready?

>>I'm ready, I'm ready.

Oh my gosh.

>>All right, here we go.

New garage.

>>Oh my God.

>>We got space.

>>Wow.

Where did all the stuff go?

>>Well, don't even worry about that.

We've made some space here.

And we did a little more space upstairs in the attic.

You want to go check it out?

>>Yeah.

>>Yes, all right.

>>After you guys.

>>All right.

Can't wait to see what's next.

(calm music) >>We got some more space back.

>>Wow.

>>Well, this is good.

This is what we needed.

>>Space, space, space- >>We have it.

This is wonderful.

>>We did what we needed, which was to give you guys some space.

>>Yes.

>>All right.

I think you now know you're not stuck.

>>Yes, I feel unstuck >>You can actually start to do things that you want.

>>officially.

>>So my favorite part is to sit down, and go over the legacy list, and let me kind of show you guys everything we found.

>>All right.

>>Let's do it.

>>Okay, I'm ready.

Let's find, see what we got.

>>So the first item you wanted to learn about was the piano.

>>Yes.

>>It is a nice piano.

It's a Knabe.

In fact, Elvis actually played a Knabe.

>>No way.

>>Unfortunately not that, this time.

>>It would have been nice if he had.

>>I know.

>>Elvis has not played that piano.

>>Cha ching.

>>It's 1895.

We were able to open it up and see the serial number.

So it's a 130 year old piano.

It's a nice piano.

I think it has incredible memories.

But it's not financially valuable, which I know you guys don't care about.

If Elvis had played it- >>That's right, that's right we could add that to it.

>>The next item you asked me to find was all the artwork from the book that you guys did.

>>Yes.

>>All right, here's the artwork.

We found it.

>>Yay.

It was a labor of love, it really was.

Michel always would tell the story, when we had the kids come to the restaurant.

It was like a little cultural journey and show that they came to at La Siesta.

And then we would eventually go into the schools, and act out the little play of the pinata story with Pepe, the main little character.

>>Tell me about your cousin.

>>She was from Mexico, and she moved to Memphis.

And she's very talented.

She designed greeting cards.

>>Greeting cards.

This is one of my favorites.

Yes, this one.

'Cause she put the tissue paper on it.

She even made it like a 3D.

>>Yeah, it's multimedia.

It's really cool.

>>Yes, yes.

>>It's really, really cool.

>>Yeah, these are just gorgeous.

So I'm so glad we have them.

>>All right, so we did want to find a few things from your family.

>>Right, yes.

Oh yes.

>>This was a little bit of a hard find, but we found it.

This is, I believe your grandmother's ring, right?

>>Yes.

Oh my gosh.

Look at the cameo.

>>It's delicate.

>>Well, look how teeny.

>>I know, I know.

>>Look how teeny.

>>I couldn't even get it on my pinky.

>>Oh my gosh.

Wow.

>>It's a nice cameo.

>>Thank you for finding this.

This means a lot.

It really means a lot.

>>It's special because it was your grandma's.

>>Yeah, my Grandma Ruby who I never met, because she died before I was born.

And my mom had always said, this will be for you, and then your daughters, so.

>>I think maybe you guys don't realize, not all families celebrate their history as much as you guys have.

>>Well you just made her day, finding that.

>>I know, I know.

It's just so cool.

This has meant so much, thank you.

>>That was one of my favorite pieces.

I love jewelry.

Love those kind of things.

But, what I love is y'all's story.

>>Yay, the poster, the poster.

>>The poster.

>>Oh yeah.

>>So, see there I am but the brunette version.

(laughing) >>All right, tell me the story again.

Because it's super important.

>>Well, my aunt has, and Zacatecas is a colonial city.

It's very much like this- >>The brick cobblestone?

>>Cobblestone streets.

>>It's a gorgeous colonial city right in the middle of town.

Very, very similar.

>>Looks just like it.

>>So we went out and hired a mariachi band, and my aunt was- >>Came back, and she came into my room.

'Cause I heard this loud music.

I thought it was a radio.

She flew open the doors, and I went out just like that, and just looked out and I saw Michel singing, and saw the mariachi.

>>You guys are setting a foundation for huge love for all your kids, all your grandkids.

I mean, these are stories that live on forever.

>>We've come from a long line of love.

>>I can see why you.

Do you know what I'm pulling out here?

>>Oh my gosh.

>>I can see why >>I have not seen that.

>>you fell for your husband.

This is a telegram from your father, right?

Read that for me.

>>Wow, okay.

Flash wanted, one male, five, nine, 180 pounds, muscle bound with plenty of power, crew cut, handsome too.

Reason, stole heart of one Barbara Ann Jackson.

My dad was a Marine, and my mom sent that to him.

Thank you I haven't seen this in a really long time.

>>I've kind of been waiting for Lisa to show some emotion.

And when I found this old telegram from her mother to her father, that's when the floodgates came.

We found a lot of your dad's stuff.

He was a marine.

>>Yep.

That's his knife.

>>His knife.

>>Wow.

>>And here's your dad's >>Oh my gosh.

>>medals.

>>Oh my gosh.

>>But he then came back and had a really good life.

This is my favorite story you told me.

>>The Dr. Pepper watch.

Yeah.

Yep, there it is.

That's great.

That's great.

>>I think this was a very emotional moment for Lisa, because not only is she thinking about leaving this house, she's thinking of all the amazing family interactions she had.

And she just really loves and misses her dad.

All right, so we keep talking about family.

Michel, you know what this is.

>>I know what that is.

>>This is your silver collection.

This represents a small part of what we found.

>>Zacatecas.

>>It is a nice collection.

Every one of these coins is worth about 100 bucks.

Then I found this, all right.

It's a Poncho Villa silver piece.

I think it's more about the story of your grandpa and Poncho Villa.

This is a valuable piece of silver.

But then we found it tucked in the bottom, I found this little piece.

>>I did not know it was there.

I was looking for that.

>>What is it?

>>It's from the 1600s.

>>In mint condition, it's probably worth about $10,000, this little piece of gold.

>>Wow.

>>As it is right now in a little plastic baggy, it's still a couple thousand, two to $3,000.

>>Wow.

>>Super cool.

I even found gold in this house.

(Lisa laughing) But the one thing you asked me to find, we did not find that family cookbook.

>>Well, while y'all were here downstairs, we were going through our personal items.

And I found.

>>You did?

>>I found it.

And this right here, my mom's recipe book.

>>Yep, there's her writing.

>>Which became the cornerstone for the restaurant.

>>Yes, uh hunh.

>>Which then became the cornerstone for all the community centers that you built.

Talk about a recipe (Lisa laughing) for success.

>>There it is.

>>It's really, this is special, man.

>>It is.

>>It is.

>>It is very, very special.

>>This is really amazing, and an honor.

>> {michel] We have people that, like yourself, that has had the white sauce, and they have memories of it.

>>And we got a surprise, so we need to make some room >>Okay, yes Ma'am.

>>Okay.

>>Tada!

>>Oh my gosh.

Holy cow.

>>Yes.

>>I kinda hoped that Michel was gonna make me some white sauce.

But when it came around the corner, I was so excited to eat it.

>>Okay.

All alright, here we go.

On three.

Uno, dos, tres.

>>That's the sauce.

Oh, this puts me back.

Oh it's so good, I'm gonna eat this whole thing.

>>Yes, yes, yes.

It's addicting.

>>Don't eat too much because I've got something else that was another tradition at La Siesta.

And I don't know if you remember, but we had something called the bad hombre's list.

You would get the T-shirt.

>>Remember this?

>>If you became a bad hombre.

>>Do I have to eat the pepper?

>>There it is.

>>But you have to eat the pepper.

>>Oh my God.

I was thrilled when Michel brought out the white sauce.

I was even more excited when he gave me a T-shirt.

I was not very excited when I found out I had to eat a jalapeno pepper to get it.

>>Dos, tres.

Tada.

Are you on fire?

Oh, you're on fire.

Oh no.

(laughing) >>We need water.

>>No, I need milk or something.

I need white sauce.

(Lisa laughing) All right, give me my T-shirt.

>>You made the bad hombre list, here it is.

>>I'm one bad hombre, look at that.

>>You're a bad hombre.

>>They're just an incredible loving family.

And I can see why this house is so amazing, because it was the building that housed all this love.

Sometimes downsizing is just about clearing the space, so you can see what you really have.

You may just be making space for the next 20 year run.

You are community makers.

So whether you stay here, or you go somewhere else, your legacy is you're gonna make a whole nother community.

You'll affect another 1000 people if you decide to, 'cause that's who you are.

>>We don't ever plan on retiring, I think, not at least for right now.

>>I don't imagine.

Cannot imagine you guys retiring.

All right I'm gonna keep eating.

Thank you guys, so much.

>>All for you, all for you.

>>Thank you, thank you.

>>[Female Announcer] Support for Legacy List comes from MakeSpace.

MakeSpace picks up, stores and return your items on demand.

Available for home or business.

MakeSpace provides professional movers, plus bins, blankets and a digital photo inventory.

You can find us at makespace.com.

And by ensure long-term care where we believe aging at home near friends and family is ever more possible for more people.

Learn more at insureltc.com.

AARP Virginia offering family caregiving support with prepare to care and down sizing and decluttering on line workshops designed to help organize and assess family needs Find the complete online workshop schedule At AARP.org/virtual VA The Ruth Camp Campbell Foundation (upbeat music) >>Visit MyLegacyList.com to learn more about the tips, tools, and professionals to help make your own big life move easy.

Learn more about this episode, or submit your story to be featured on the show at MyLegacyList.com.

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