15 hours agoMember-onlyGrandma taught me anyone can be familyNana Rafaela always believed in the importance of visiting family, and that was also the case with people she called family but may not have really been. “That’s your tio go say hi mijo,” she would whisper into my ear. I never questioned her introductions, but as I turned older…Memories3 min read
Sep 18Member-onlyLearning what it means to be American from someone newOne of the first questions I ask someone I’m just getting to know is the meaning of his or her name. We are all named a name for a reason. “She was my mom’s favorite singer the year I was born,” a student shared with me once. While movie actors…America3 min read
Sep 11Member-onlyObituaries and reminders of hometown lifeAt the museum where I volunteer on Saturdays, we collect obituaries. The volunteers there have been doing it for so long that there is a long counter filled with three-ring binders separated by sections of the alphabet. The kind that reads Aa-Ar, Be-Ch, and so on. When the local newspapers…Obituary3 min read
Sep 5Member-onlyA chocolate shake and an old-fashioned hamburger are all you needPart of my job is to attend city council meetings. It’s one of those once-a-month events where you know you’ll be one of the few people in the audience to experience the tried and true ritual of local government meetings. The hitting of the gavel is first, then the pledge…Burgers3 min read
Aug 29Member-onlyMeeting new people helps make communityMeeting new people is always something you remember. You remember it because it’s the day that the conversation was about you, about the other person, about the things you have in common, and about your differences. These new encounters happen in all kinds of places, sometimes planned and sometimes in…People3 min read
Aug 21Member-onlyThe college campus is a place like no otherWelcome to the college campus. The semester begins. Hallways packed with students and their backpacks, thick textbooks, and three-ring binders. A phone too. Always a phone. Outside in common areas, people walk by each other reconnecting, and connecting anew. Some faces are familiar, others aren’t. …College3 min read
Aug 14Member-onlyMaking time for extra moments makes a differenceI always drink a café latte on Wednesday mornings. I have it at 6:30 a.m. while sitting outside of a coffee shop that faces a twisty, narrow historic downtown area of southeast Arizona. The mountains cradle the town and the storefronts are all of different color doors. Here, the mornings…Values3 min read
Aug 7Member-onlyTry big life things and little life things to learn and growI like talking to people that know more about life than I do. Not just big life things that give you headaches and make you feel like you are always one wrong choice away from trouble, but also small life things like choosing the best butter for your morning toast. …Life3 min read
Jul 31Member-onlyLessons from a stranger on the importance of namesI went on a mini vacation to get away. To feel like I would be a lonely figure, hiking the peaks around Pinos Altos, New Mexico in the Gila National Wilderness. Turns out I was reconnecting with people and places that were always important to me. Pinos Altos is a…Names3 min read
Jul 24Member-onlyFill up your plate with side orders of peace and relaxationI’m going on vacation next week. It’s been a good while since I took time off from work. People keep saying that I should “unplug” and get “disconnected.” They say phrases like you should “get away” and spend time “alone.” I’ve always been interested in phrases and what people say…Hiking3 min read
