Anthony Boots Martinez tuned 55 a few days ago on July 15th - and he said that standard retirement age also marks the date of his retirement from electoral politics. We'll wait and see what that really means on the ground - but it suggests that he was in a reflective frame of mind this morning when he got a most unexpected call from his ministerial colleague, Beverly Williams. She told the honorable Boots that she has a lady he just had to talk to. We accompanied him on the trip to meet the remarkable Sonya Austin. Jules Vasquez reports on the moving reunion:...
Jules Vasquez reporting
This is the public Boots Martinez you may be used to - brash, intemperate, argumentative. But this morning, this elderly Ladyville resident and our cameras saw something we hadn't seen before, a tender and thankful side of Boots - and, yes, behind those glasses, there were real tears.
It's not some long lost relative, this is the woman who saved his life 50 years ago:
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez, Found Woman who Saved Him
"Thank you so much for allowing me life."
To explain this unexpected reunion we'd have to take you back here to 25 Iguana Street, where the Martinez family lived 50 years ago.
He told us that just like today it was a steamy summer day, and after lunch he and his two older brothers went to take a nap:
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"We were sleeping - every afternoon. Siesta - that was the tradition and my mother went to my grandmother house who was not feeling well and that is how that thing happened."
"I could recall that there was this fire. I was shouting for my brothers. I was moving around and we were in a different room and I was shouting for my brothers and the after that I got confused and 2 of my brothers perished to death and I was the only one who was saved and the neighbors came though Mr. Isaiah and so. But from I was growing up they mentioned about a lady who insisted that somebody else was in there and that was me. In all my life I was trying to catch up with that person to at least say thanks for saving my life."
"I just learned of her this morning and I am excited and overjoyed to have met her and thank you Miss Sonia for having me alive. Thank you for your precious intervention."
The 78 year old still remembers that day when she was 28:
Sonya Austin, Saved Boots' Life
"I remember that day - I only cuss some of them people back there, because they were telling me 'nobody is there' and I said somebody is in there and I am not going from here until you all take him out. When the man climb on the verandah and peep through some hole, he saw the little boy. I said you see what I tell you."
Reporter
"And what did he do then."
Sonya Austin, Saved Boots' Life
"He broke somewhere and took out the little boy. When they took him out, the first person they hand him to was me."
Her stubborn belief saved a 5 year old Boots Martinez
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Apart from the blazing fire I was beginning to get affected by the smoke and so all I can recall up to this time that somebody took me out and that was it."
But he never knew who forced them to go and look for him, and that was fine by her:
Sonya Austin, Saved Boots' Life
"We grew up in a family who are like this: If I wash this shirt for you, I should not charge you for that shirt. That is how we stay. We couldn't do it behind our parents, because they would find out and they would beat us. People told me to go to him, but I am not going to him. No, I told them I didn't grow up like that."
But, her action did change how this young man grew up:
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Without knowing who directly the persons was, that have shaped my life to be a better person from I was small."
And now, he'll have a chance to make this hug less awkward and more organic:
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"Miss Sonia is my second mother now. Miss Sonia will get whatsoever she's short of until I leave this life. Now and forever Miss Sonia surely will be a part of my will going out."
Reporter
"That's excellent news. How you feel about that Miss Sonia?"
Sonya Austin, Saved Boots' Life
"I feel good, because a lot of my friends are sitting at StreetSide don't have anything and are begging. I don't want to be like that."
Hon. Anthony "Boots" Martinez
"I am taking care of her to the fullest in terms of medical, housing, care, in terms of whatsoever the case may be. Miss Sonia could officially recognize me as her son today. I don't even know Miss Sonia composition how many children she has, if she has none. I could tell you that you have a son now and a successful son who you saved his life. Without you Miss Sonia I wouldn't be here today speaking."
And what's strangest of all? Get this: Boots Martinez and Sonya Austin were both born on July 15th! That's right, they share the same birthday.
For clarity, the fire happened in 1968 when Boots Martinez was 5, and Sonya Austin was 28. She lived in the same area as the fire.
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