There's something about roses in general, but white ones specifically, that move me to a response.The sight of them in bloom rocked me back to this experience: Earlier this year, Amy, Adam & I went to see the premier of Andy Garcia's fabulous film, The Lost City. We had the happy privilege to have been present on opening night here in ...
Cuban-American Life
I hope you enjoy my posts about my crazy and wonderful Cuban-American life.
Es para miel cua…
The title of this post is the first line of our Cuban alma mater. (well... the way we sang it, anyway. It's really an inside joke in my family.) "Es para mi el cuatro de Noviembre...." Loose translation.. "For me, the 4th of November...." and it goes on to say how special a day it is because it is the birthday of our school in ...
It’s not you. It’s me.
So after I posted my "oh what a terrible businesswoman I am" speech this morning, about my Cuba to Go! business, I get an email from the fabulous and astute Marc Masferrer over at Uncommon Sense (who by the way, loves Cuban women) asking: "I was looking at your shirts, and I didn't see a place to designate the size? Am I ...
Taking care of business
I have a confession to make: I am a terrible businesswoman. Let me explain. I have my online store called Cuba to Go! It's pretty straightforward. I have come up with some fun designs for shirts and bags and things. My products are all about showing off your Cuban heritage. My husband is an Internet marketing guy ...
Maps of Cuba in the House
or "What it's like to grow up in a Cuban-American home" by Lucy Ruth DarbyThat is Lucy's working title for her memoirs. She insists that growing up in South Orange County with a surfer for a dad and a Cuban mother make her life a little...ummm...different. (and yes, "surfers" are an entire demographic down here.) Here's where ...
Japi Jalo Uin (Happy Halloween)
In October of 1961, having been in the states for about 8 months, we found out about the delicious custom of Halloween. At first there was the confusion of why we would be dressing up: "Is it like carnaval? Is there a parade we get to ride in?" ("Pardon me..... but your Caribbean roots are showing.") It was exactly like a Jerry Seinfeld ...
Beisbol and Urban Legends
HEADLINE: The Cardinals ended a 24-year World Series title drought with a 4-2 win over Detroit in Game 5. That's baseball speak for "the World Series is over and the St. Louis Cardinals won." I like baseball. I'm Cuban. I'm pretty sure it's a federal mandate of some sort - "if you're Cuban, you must like ...
Las Hermanitas Verdés
Because some of you were curious. Here is our "recently arrived from Cuba" picture. I can see that we obligingly smiled for the camera, but I can also see past the smiles to the pain and confusion we were experiencing. My sisters, from left to right: Miriam, Ofelia, Alina and Helen. That's me with the mop of curls clutching my ...
“Are you making arroz con pollo?”
I'm picking up my mom for the weekend. Her presence here changes our routines in a variety of ways. For Jonathan, it means giving up his downstairs bedroom, because she has trouble getting up stairs (he's ok with that). For Eric, it means sharing my attention and practicing his college Spanish (which is really pretty great). Her visits ...
“Ju got some ‘splaining to do..”
Lucy's piano teacher is trying to keep her challenged. He has started her on Beethoven and I love to listen to her trying new things each Wednesday when he comes over for her lesson. Imagine my surprise when, after playing "Fur Elise," about 20 times, I hear the familiar opening notes of... THE CUBAN NATIONAL ANTHEM!! "What? How? ...
