That May was supposed to be a celebration of my graduation, but now that was non-existent. My mom decided we should take a vacation, to celebrate the survival of the worst thing that had happened to us; I think anyway. It was also getting closer to me leaving and going back to school. Everything was … More 20. Long Goodbye
In my mind, there was a laundry list of things that could have caused my dad to have cancer. Starting from whatever pesticides that were in the migrant fields around him as a kid, working on oil rigs before he was sixteen and exposure to who knows what during Vietnam. Then working in a chemical … More 18. Dancing In the Dark
The day after was cloudy and rainy. Everyone seemed tired, scattered into different parts of the house. We all seemed to be sleepwalking through our moments together. My niece and nephew had bounced back relatively fast, that’s how kids are. That morning I found myself staring out the window in the kitchen at the backyard, … More 16. End of the Line
During the few weeks I had been back home, food was a constant problem, for everyone. I tried not to make things that would involve smells since my dad was prone to feeling ill. Early on, I tried to make an egg. Quickly I saw my dad’s eyes darting angrily at me, almost questioning how … More 5. Sin Feliz Año Nuevo
“Do you want to see Saturn?” my dad asked me, his profile outlined in faint gold from a distant street lamp. At five years old, the red Dobsonian telescope was bigger than me by more than a foot. I cautiously stepped onto a small, beige stool placed carefully in front of it. Standing on my … More 1. Our Center of the Universe
Shine A Light On Me 