Rain of Gold - choice

"You're good boys, the two of you," she said, "so I want you to listen closely and remember this for as long as you live: a man doesn't have the choice of how or where he is born, nor does he have the complete choice of how he must die. But, to bring the miracle of life into this world, he has the absolute complete choice every time!" (458)

Rain of Gold - marriage

"Well, I did; I survived, and I'll tell you why: because marriage is the greatest journey any man and woman can ever undertake--two strangers, not knowing each other, but yet still willing to join together in heart and soul--hoping, guessing on which star that might land as they cross the heavens, hand-in-hand like two clouds gliding on the winds of God's breath." (434-435)

Rain of Gold - love & hate

Lupe was in ecstasy. She got down and went to Salvador. And in that moment of sun and joy, Lupe knew why she loved and also hated Salvador. He gave her wings. He didn't try to lock her in, as had Jaime and the other boys she'd known. No, she could dream her wildest dreams with him and so she loved him for this; but she also hated him because it made her fearful. No one in her family was like this. They were always very cautious. (431)

Rain of Gold - different people

Lupe's family were village people who'd always lived with neighbors close by and were used to keeping things neat and orderly. On the other hand, his were ranch people, six miles from their closest neighbor, and used to riding horses up to the front door and coming inside with guns on their hips and cowshit on their boots.
(421)

Rain of Gold - dreams

Then Salvador said, "Give me your hand, querida."
Without hesitation, Lupe gave him her hand.
"Lupe," he said trembling, "tell me, what are your dreams? My mother has always told me that we never know another human being until we know their dreams. So, please, tell me yours."
"My dreams?" she asked, feeling her mind go reeling. What a beautiful thing to be asked. Oh, she was flying.
(408)

"I was wondering if, you know, your dreams and my dreams, if maybe they can't accompany each other and make a life together." (472)

He hadn't asked her if she loved him or if she'd accept his hand in marriage; no, he'd asked her if their dreams--their most private parts of all their lives--could accompany each other. (472)

Rain of Gold - purchases

At the car lot, the three Anglo salesmen saw them drive up and they were ready for them, realizing that this was payday, now that they were coming in with the women and children. For no matter how often the men came in, kicking the tires and looking the trucks over, the salesmen knew that the Mexican people never bought anything until they shoewd up with all their children and women, and their old mama standing over to one side, clutching her purse full of wrinkled bills. Mexicans always paid in cash, no matter how poor they were. The bills were damaged from all the years of hoarding. (402)