She rushed to the next gate at the SeaTac airport cussing at herself for not eating a real meal while she had a layover in San Diego. If she timed it right, she had enough time to get one of those pre-made sandwiches and a drink. Hell, she might even have the time to … Continue reading Two Old Men, and a Feminist On A Plane..
Author's note: This is an excerpt from Chapter Three of "A Reason For Being" and this excerpt centers on my Great Aunt Esther (my grandmother's eldest sister). I remember when I first met Lola Esther (as how I called her), I was quite young. After I met her that first time, all I saw of … Continue reading The Great Aunt/Grandmother (excerpt from “A Reason For Being”): Lola Esther
Jackie is my check and balance, and she is also my Storytexter. What I mean by this centers on the idea of memory, and how such memories are different for each person. When we were growing up, the stories my Grandmother told us evolved throughout time. In fact, they evolved each night when my grandmother told us these stories. Jackie reminded me that when my grandmother wanted to imply a moral code, she would embed such morality into her storytelling.
A note of remembrance: the last section of the memoir ends with me sitting in the boarding area eerily by myself. I have never returned to Kennewick, Washington after we buried my Aunt. I believe it's because the memories there are meant to be encapsulated within that time, and visiting would create a disruption. … Continue reading In the end.. (excerpt from “A Reason For Being”)
Ask every immigrant what ‘port of entry’ meant and they will have a story to tell. These stories could be an anthology of the adventures that happened when they left their home country for their new one in America. A feeling of leaving everything behind and coming face to face with being reborn. The chance to create a new life.
Fe I was once told of a story about my grandmother, Fe. She was spending the night at their field house. The field house was where her husband had the grove workers (all men) sleep overnight to keep an eye out for any intruders that may step into their land. Her husband Kiko fired the … Continue reading Fe (excerpt from A Reason For Being)
As I prepare for my MFA thesis defense next month, I realize that I am exhausted from all the edits. I wrote a "Reason For Being" as an homage to the experience of loss, but also the experience of an awakening. The loss of a loved one or loved ones, the loss of cultural identity, the loss of autonomy.
In 2011, one of my writers' workshop course required that all the graduate students submit one of their stand alone pieces to literary journals--this is to get your toe wet when it came to publishing and getting your work out there. I submitted to every literary journal that I can think of, and I welcomed … Continue reading A Reason For Being (the published piece)
The Echo Muse 