6 days agoThe burrito man and other helpersOn Saturday mornings, in the town I used to live in, there was a man that set up a big disco in a parking lot, under a large tree. It was early in the mornings during winter, just as the sun was coming up over the mountains at the edge…Food3 min read
Jun 12Understanding language leads to healing of communityIn America, we say “God willing.” In Mexico and other places, they say “si Dios quiere.” The phrases mean the same thing but they sound different. When you live in the borderlands, or in any community where two worlds come together, people say the same thing to each other but…Spanish3 min read
Jun 4Why local news is still worth readingI’m in the habit of checking my phone early in the morning and also right before bedtime just to see if I missed any important world happenings. Major conflicts are brewing in different corners of the globe. Virus infections bubble up here and there. Supply chain issues, politics, money, and…News3 min read
May 28Difficulty expressing feelings, values, in difficult timesI don’t write about politics. It’s not my thing. There are enough arguments, points and counterpoints found in print, online, and on TV. Controversy is everywhere. Shouting heads and pointing fingers. I don’t write about current events either. It’s too easy to go down that road and end up writing…School Shootings3 min read
May 21I like my tacos pure and simpleWhen I order an iced latte no flavor each morning at the local hotel café, I usually get a question confirming my selection. “No flavor?” It’s one of those questions asked in a way to ensure that I made the right choice. In actuality, I think coffee with milk and…Mexico3 min read
May 14Jewelry in the flour jar and other lost traditionsI like it when I learn of old tricks-of-the-trade that were once commonly used by people who needed a shortcut or something to hide. Like a flask of liquor in a Bible. I’ve always wondered when this tradition began and how it might have become one of those open secrets…Tradition3 min read
May 8Calling something old is a sign of respectThere is something about old things that make me happy. Some call these old things vintage or classic. I like to call them old. Saying the word old is, well old. It’s not considered a nice word anymore but it provides for a better description to something. It tells you…Old Age3 min read
Apr 30The same skies aboveOn Saturday afternoons, I have the blessing of volunteering at a migrant center in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico. The center is a place for people who are seeking asylum or who have recently been deported. They can have a temporary stay, food, and shelter. While they are there, they find…Poem3 min read
Apr 25Weekly visits to panaderia remind me of grandpaWhen I go to the panaderia (bakery) on Thursday evenings to get my pan dulce (Mexican sweet bread), I think about my maternal grandfather who once owned and operated a panaderia in Agua Prieta. It was called Letty’s, named after my mother. I never went to it and never have…Bread3 min read
Apr 16Everyday things I like to see and experienceThere are some things that I like to experience when I go to restaurants, visit new places, or simply make my way through the workday. We all have our favorite things to see and do. Without them, we feel like life is just passing by us without feeling, without those…Life3 min read
