It started out as a piece for Hispanic Heritage Month.
The OC Register asked me to write something about my family leaving Cuba. They were looking to feature Cuban-Americans, they told me.
I had procrastinated on this, so I barely made their deadline. I cobbled together pieces of things that I had already written here on my blog and pieced together a semi-coherent story and hoped for the best.
They liked the piece.
No, wait. They loved it.
In fact, they sent out their photographer to do a photo shoot of me and my family. (Thanks again, Leonard. It was great fun!)
But then today…
The story appeared on the front page of the Register. The FRONT PAGE, people! (Just below the photo of the winning Angels, but that's not important right now.)
And then my neighbor came over to tell me they had mentioned the story on one of our local radio stations. (I know! Shut up!)
The story is posted over at Babalú today, too.
Here's the article in its entirety. Be sure to click over and look at the slideshow where it says "more photos."
It's kind of disconcerting to open the newspaper and find our own old family photos splashed all over.
Even better than all of that?
The byline. =D
"SHE EMBRACES U.S., TREASURES CUBA." ~ BY MARTA DARBY.
("Yes," she says, with feigned modesty and a face-splitting-ear-to-ear grin, "that's me.")
Savoring these 15 minutes of mine…
"Rolling Stone OC Register
Wanna see my picture on the cover
Rolling Stone OC Register
Gonna buy five copies for my mother
Rolling Stone OC Register
Wanna see my smilin' face
On the cover of the Rolling Stone OC Register."
UPDATED 10/13/2009 – I am just floored by the awesome response to the article! Thanks, everyone! I will try to answer all your emails this week. *her face splits into enormously proud ear-t0-ear grin.* Wow. Just wow. =D)
Cucufate!
You and your family are precious!!!!Congratulations!!!
love it! you SHOULD be proud…a great face to represent us !!! basque in your glory ms. MArta!
Mira que cosa! Congratulations, Marta … totally EXCELLENT!! I’ve posted it on my Facebook for all my friends to read. 🙂
Congratulations Martica!!!Wonderful … we are so proud of you!
I wish you well 🙂 Melek
“He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” ~ Epictetus
FABULOUS!! I have tears in my eyes! I’m so proud of you. Now we’ll have to talk so fast tmrw we’ll break the sound barrier!
Very nice article, bringing back my own memories with some similarities as well as small differences. One small correction in that it is 90 miles from Habana to Key West, but it is over 200 miles from Habana to Miami.
Beautiful article, Marta! You do us proud!Maria
Felicidades! You deserve every accolade and every happiness!
Thank you all for the lovely congratulations and good wishes. I am quite proud and still reeling from all the attention. Apparently A LOT of people read the Register! =D
Marta, I was so delighted to read your story! As a fellow Cuban, I can certainly relate to your well-written account. I also want to thank you once again for coming to the AMERICA LIBRE event at Libreria Martinez. My best to you and yours! — Raul