Growing Up Latina
If I had to rename my blog it would be Growing Up Latina. Scrolling through my YouTube feed one day, a video popped up of singer Jessie Reyez on a podcast called Growing Up Latina. It was only the second episode and I’m so glad I checked it out. It was a great match because I watch a lot of podcasts and I love all things Latina; I guess the algorithm is good for something. Hosted by Alyi V of Puerto Rican and Dominican descent, this new podcast provides space for Latinas to share their stories, struggles, and successes.
Our First ER Trip
I was in the kitchen washing dishes when I heard a loud crash followed by my son crying. It wasn’t the sort of cry that lasted only a moment meaning his injury was inconsequential; it was the kind of cry that meant he had hurt himself pretty good. For any parent your child getting hurt is a rational fear. After all you’ve been tenderly caring for them since they were an infant neurotically ensuring their safety and well-being. But when your child is non-verbal, which is the case for my 4-year-old son Sebastian, it’s a whole other level of worry.
What Would Wednesday Do?
Confession: I wasn’t sure if I would watch the new Netflix show Wednesday because I was completely devoted to Christina Ricci’s perfect portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the 1991 film, The Addams Family, and the 1993 film, Addams Family Values. There’s also just so little time to watch everything that comes out! But I was definitely intrigued by the new iteration because Tim Burton was directing the series and for the first time a Latina would wear Wednesday’s iconic pigtails and sullen demeanor. Fortunately, the show came out around Thanksgiving break and I had the time to binge.
Tony Hinchcliffe Live
Inside the Helium Comedy Club on a warm Wednesday night in Philadelphia, the great stand-up, grand roast master, Tony Hinchcliffe, performed to an excited crowd who had been waiting since April to see him after his show was pushed back twice, reminding us multiple times halfway through his show that we were living in crazy times.
Jessie Reyez: A Great One
I first heard of Canadian singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez, of Colombian descent, when her raspy voice, sometimes spitting savage Spanish lyrics, blazed through on Eminem’s 2018 album, Kamikaze, on songs she co-wrote, “Good Guy” and “Nice Guy” (pretty big flex to be selected by the iconic MC to write and sing on his album). In an interview promoting the album, Eminem praised her and told Sway Jessie Reyez would blow up—a well-deserved and meaningful compliment coming from a global superstar.
The Yonce Groove
On July 29 Beyoncé graced us all with her highly anticipated seventh solo studio album, act I Renaissance, influenced by the house and dance music of the 70’s through 90’s. The biggest surprise was that she didn’t drop a surprise album; this album received a traditional roll-out which we haven’t seen from Beyoncé since her fourth album, 4. With Renaissance we got the title, album cover, and release date more than a month beforehand. Shocking for an artist who stopped the world with her last two secret projects.
Independence Day
If you don’t know the Infamous Andrew Schulz by now, you should. He’s a 38-year-old stand-up comedian from New York with a wildly popular comedy podcast, Flagrant, co-hosted with stand-up comedian, Akaash Singh. He also co-hosts another successful podcast, Brilliant Idiots, with one of the most influential people in media today, Charlamagne tha God. I saw Schulz live before the pandemic and saw early versions of some of the jokes in his new special, Infamous.
The House on Spruce Street
Reading Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street reminded me of when my family and I moved into our first house because the book follows Esperanza Cordero as she and her family move into their first house on Mango Street. I didn’t love The House on Mango Street only because it’s a book of vignettes and I’m more into traditional novels, but I fell in love with the author’s introduction where she talks about becoming an author.
The Broken Earth: A story for the oppressed
N.K. Jemisin’s fantasy novel, The Fifth Season, which is the first installment in her trilogy, The Broken Earth, was published in 2015. It’s the first fantasy I’d read for adults and I was a little intimidated to start it thinking it would be difficult to understand and follow. I’d heard so much about this series though, which won a Hugo Award for each volume, the first Black writer to do so, that I had to get it.
My First Tarot Reading
For as long as I can remember I was fascinated by tarot cards, how they could foretell your future, warning you of something that would happen, but growing up Catholic I was taught in religion class and at home that tarot cards were forbidden. It was considered sinful to know what God had in store for you. I remember my dad took me once to the bookstore where I scoured the shelves, not looking for anything in particular until I found a book with tarot cards that promised to teach you how to use it.
When I Was Puerto Rican: A New Identity
In a previous blog post, “Kill Jane Austen,” I wrote about wanting to read more Latino authors and through my research had found a memoir by Esmeralda Santiago, When I Was Puerto Rican, published in 1993, which immediately intrigued me because my mom is Puerto Rican, born and raised, so I hoped to learn more about what it was like to grow up on the island.
Cobra Kai: Like a Bonsai
I hadn’t grown up watching The Karate Kid, mostly because I was just a girly girl who wasn’t remotely interested in anything I deemed too boyish, but when I started hearing buzz about a YouTube show based on The Karate Kid franchise moving to Netflix—Cobra Kai—I went back to watch the movie and fell in love with the story, the deep lessons and wisdom Mr. Miyagi shared with Daniel LaRusso. The story was deeper than I could’ve imagined.
Keep That Same Energy
Like anyone in love with Harry Potter, I was so excited to learn HBO was releasing a reunion special with, at least, most of the main cast returning. I quickly lost faith in the reunion, however, when I learned J.K. Rowling wouldn’t be a part of it and noticed that almost every post I saw about it excluded her name. She’s been the victim of cancel culture for saying things like women have periods, so I was worried how the reunion would be handled. Would they mention her?
Barbie World
My twenties were encumbered with painstaking efforts to treat my blotchy and scarred cheeks after struggling with cystic acne from 17 to 21-years-old (during my college years), a crucial period for evolving and socializing but that I, filled with insecurity and shame, refrained from. I paid for any affordable procedure that could correct my inflammation and scarring post-acne: chemical peels, facials, cryotherapy, microneedling; I invested in serums, exfoliators, and retinols to brighten my dull complexion.
30 Something
I looked up shyly at my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Vauple. She had milky skin with two bright red spots on her cheeks, shoulder-length brown curls, and bangs that strangely didn’t spiral the way the rest of her hair did. She handed me a hardcover book titled Maria Molina and the Days of the Dead. I was surprised to see my name staring at me and blushed.
Kill Jane Austen
Nobody can deny that Austen is an amazing writer whose stories should be read by everyone, especially aspiring writers, and her name and works should never be erased from the literary canon. But that’s the thing: She will never be forgotten, so must Hollywood continue to adapt her books?
Rabbit out the Trap
I first saw stand-up comedian Ms. Pat in 2017 on one of my favorite podcasts, Your Mom’s House, hosted by comedians and married couple, Tom Segura and Christina P., where they discussed her memoir, Rabbit, a book she completed with writer Jeannine Amber, who did a fantastic job transcribing her life.
Lowkey best TV couple: Issa and Lawrence
When I first heard of the HBO comedy, Insecure, back when it premiered in 2016, I was flabbergasted by the courage creator, Issa Rae, had in using that word: Insecure; I just didn’t know you could say you felt insecure out loud. My boyfriend and I watched it together every Sunday night, and I was surprised that he could be into a TV show with two female protagonists, Issa Dee played by Issa Rae, and Molly Carter portrayed by Yvonne Orji.
We are all clowns
The 2019 film Parasite received the top awards at this year’s Oscars ceremony: Best Motion Picture, Best Director, and Original Screenplay. But should it have?
Born Tired
One day, during my junior year of high school, I was transitioning from one class to another, resting my pile of textbooks on my desk when I felt something strange, a compression in my chest that felt like someone was squeezing my insides as I squeezed the sides of my desk.
Photo by Militza Molina
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