As Cuban as I am, I have to remember that my daughter also has English Darby blood in her veins. And truly, she carries herself with such amazing confidence and poise. And I KNOW she didn't inherit that from me. =D We're in the middle of the Renaissance now in Junior High. Lucy goes to school one day a week with other homeschooled kids to get her ...
Cuban-American Life
I hope you enjoy my posts about my crazy and wonderful Cuban-American life.
Lindbergh and Pepin – a random tale
Here is my mom with her dog, Lindbergh, circa 1930's. He was the terror of their tiny Cuban town of Manati. Yesterday, Val posted this cool picture of his father'slittle schoolhouse also in Manati, Cuba.I knew that my mom's family lived in Manati for years. So, I began asking her if she recognized the name “Prieto.” “Well, there was a kid ...
Cuando sali de Cuba…
This is my golden ticket. In 1961, it cost $21.60 for the 1/2 fare for children to fly the 90 miles from Havana to Miami. It's not lost on me that I can easily spend more than that to feed my family at McDonald's.And that the distance is about roughly from here to San Diego. I don't know if it is because we spent the first few years in exile ...
Isn’t it ironic?
I get asked all the time if I still have family in Cuba.The answer is yes. And we are still in contact. I have a cousin who sent me this. It's a paper place mat from a Cuban knockoff of a Hard Rock type of place. (my scanner couldn't get the whole thing) They call it the Habana Café and it is in the heart of Havana, Cuba. Yes, THAT ...
93 bottles of beer on the wall…
You would think that a birthday celebration for a 93 year old would be a little tame.Not when my mom is involved. Lots of food. Lots of people. A regular cake? Not for Luz .... "panetela borracha" - translates to "drunken cake." (the key is to make it with sweet vermouth instead of rum - gives it just the right flavor, but ...
I’m Luz’s Daughter
Today my mom turns 93. Last year we thought it would be fun to throw her a surprise party. When she came through the door and we yelled "Sorpresa!" we had a moment where it occurred to us it might not have been such a great idea to surprise the 92 year old like this. LOL But she loved it and immediately rose to the ...
Stuck in Telemundo
My mom's caregiver has taken some time off to visit her family in Mexico City. Which leaves the homeschooling mother (me) and her recently unemployed daughter (Amy) to pitch in and care for the grandma.So Amy and I are taking turns. Which is fine.I consider it a privilege to be able to be of service to her at this time of her life - she'll be 93 ...
Guava-licious
Okay, folks. Especially you Cubans stuck in far away places (like Northern California or Tennessee or New Jersey =D) without pastelitos. If you're having a craving like mine and you absolutely have to make your own... Here is the official recipe for "Masa Real." I totally understand a serious pastelito de guayaba "jones." So I ...
San Francisco and Margaritas
I know what it sounds like. You probably thought this post was going to be about my favorite city in Northern California and salt rimmed glasses full of lime juice and tequila. But, noooo...... "Honeeey, your mom's trying to tell me something about eating in San Francisco and Margaritas..." I go outside to investigate and ask my mother to ...
Refugees. Not immigrants.
My dad would have been 114 today. (2024) It is his birthday. Although we celebrated so many wonderful birthdays with him, I distinctly remember the year he turned 50. Because it is stamped on a passport. And forever in my memory. My Cuban Passport I know it is stamped the 12th. But the flight didn't take off from Havana until after midnight. ...
