Welcome to the New Mexico Euskal Etxea Member Portrait of Lorin Abbey.

Lorin Abbey has become a very active member of NMEE. She was a big part of this year's Tapas and Wine Event and she helped make the Santa Fe Fiesta Parade effort a great success. Here, Lorin takes a moment to be interviewed for the NMEE website.

NMEE: Where were you born?

Lorin: St. Joseph's Hospital, Albuquerque, NM.

NMEE:Where did you grow up?

Lorin: Stanley, New Mexico, Anaheim, California and Gallup, New Mexico, graduated from the University of New Mexico.

NMEE: What role has the Basque culture played in your life?

Lorin: My grandparents worked hard and became successful in the U.S. and my family always believes that almost every obstacle can be overcome through "early rising and hard riding." I always think of my grandparents when I think I have problems and soon I overcome almost any thing by using my "Basque sensibilities."

NMEE: Have you ever visited the Basque Country?

Lorin: Not yet. We plan to visit in the fall of 2007 or 2008.

NMEE: Your family was involved in the sheep herding in New Mexico. Where were your ancestors from in the Basque Country?

Lorin: Both of my grandparents, Jean Erramouspe and Jeanne Auchothorgy Ortegarray, were from Bidarray, France and we still have relatives there.

NMEE: When did they arrive in New Mexico?

Lorin: My grandfather arrived in NY in 1910 and worked in LeMar, Colorado for about ten years and returned to Bidarray to marry my grandmother and I believe it was then that they bought their first ranch in Ft. Sumner, NM. They later settled in Corona and ran a successful sheep and cattle business until their deaths when the sons took over operations. My father, Louis Erramouspe, still ranches his own place in Vaughn.

NMEE:What are your hopes and vision for NMEE?

Lorin: I have very much enjoyed meeting other members of the organization, all from French-Basque and Spanish-Basque descent. While my grandparents are considered "Twentieth Century Basque Immigrants," I also know that many early settlers of New Mexico were of Spanish-Basque descent. My hope for the future of the club is that we continue to expand our membership across New Mexico and that we continue to share our traditions in cuisine, dance, music and language. While many traditions were not shared in my immediate family, I am eager to understand more about this unique European culture and hope to increase membership among the French-Basques throughout the state as well. It is also important to expand our membership among interested individuals who wish to learn more about our heritage, especially who will enjoy sharing our wonderful ?food traditions? as in our annual Tapas and Wine Event!

NMEE: Eskerrik asko, Lorin!