Womanly Thoughts

A sharp, dark line runs across the right of my chest. It's dented at the top because of the time I wore a strapless, trying to return to normalcy much too soon. "Don't worry about it, we can fix that in surgery," Dr. Li, my plastic surgeon, had responded when I explained to her the …

42 and 24

On the weekend of my birthday and my and my husband’s 24th anniversary last week, he and I spent a day in Los Angeles. While he worked for a few hours I got a chance to take some time to myself and visit my city. I drove down Sunset all the way to the 90210, …

A Liberation

With the #MeToo movement, many women came out speaking about their experiences . . . Thank you to all the women who spoke up. It seemed to me, though, that as a society, we looked for the culprits of the pain that women were feeling, and we pointed our fingers at men. It is not …

The Next Step

I know that the post before last was pretty strong, but I felt that it was time to start writing about the things I really wanted to write about. In trying to keep my posts light and easy, I started feeling blocked and afraid to write. I was scared to let my wounds show. But …

It’s 2021! Happy New Year!

Good morning on this first day of the year. We made it. We survived 2020 and I know that the end of 2020 does not mean the end of the pandemic or Covid, but it does mean we get to keep going. We get to keep doing. It is tough for me to write this, …

A Picture of Myself

It is 2:30 p.m., I sat down to write half an hour ago and this is my first sentence. I got my desk and chair set up, put my phone to charge, got my water and a bowl of popcorn, then I went to the bathroom (you know, just so I wouldn't get up in …

Forgiveness, Courage, and Parenting

This is not an easy post to write, in fact, it is very difficult, but I feel the need to write it as I am pretty sure I am not the only mom who has struggled with feeling of guilt, especially now with the pandemic when a lot of our buttons can get pushed and …

When the Candles Were Lit – the story behind the story.

This story is one of those stories that comes suddenly while sitting down trying hard to write something - anything. Initially, it was about Frida Kahlo, the Mexican artist. The idea was that her ghost appeared in my studio wanting to paint one last painting. She wouldn't leave so I had to call her husband, …

Las Historias de Mi Vida {but not really} OR The Stories of My Life {pero no}: a short story collection in the making

Las Historias de Mi Vida {but not really} OR The Stories of My Life {pero, no} is my first collection of short stories. Where are they coming from? They are coming from my childhood. Things and moments I lived through. Experiences I had, either directly or indirectly. It's me wanting to share my culture, my …

Trust

To start, I'd like to let you know that I keep journals. I have kept journals on and off all my life. In 2013 I started journaling again, I took a rough break between 2015 and 2016, but all in all I've consistently kept a journal since 2013. It wasn't until the past two journals …