ShareMy family of origin consisted of Papi, Mami and six of us kids. I was am the youngest of this brood.
Here I am celebrating my 4th birthday. New dress, clean curls, birthday cake and a …

ShareYou know you’re in a Cuban home if, when you walk in, you can smell The Smell. You know what I’m talking about – that unmistakable, mouth-watering, oh-so-inviting, my-mom-is-amazing, God-I-love-Cuban-food smell.
It all begins with a …

ShareI drive around my suburban neighborhood in a minivan. 
It’s actually a KIA Sedona. It’s not trendy. It’s not cutesy. It’s just a utilitarian minivan.
But, I like it. A lot.
We just call it The KIA. …

ShareI don’t know how many posts I’ve started with….“I have my mom for the weekend,” but I know there are many.
My mom, Luz, is in good health. She doesn’t suffer from any disease other than …

Share[NOTE – 7/28/2010 – Congratulations to the winner of The Red Umbrella giveaway: Tracy. Thanks for sharing your story about the Kindertransport, too. Send me your snail mail address and I will get the book …

ShareI wonder sometimes how I survived my childhood. Seriously.

When I was very young, my family spent the summers at Varadero Beach. The entire summer. (I know. So cool, right?) You see, it was …

ShareI close my eyes and take one bite and suddenly I am unstuck in time …
I’m in the heart of the city, which means I get to enjoy something amazing from one of the …

ShareAs I walk up to my bedroom each evening, I am greeted by these:

And I always stop and look at each one. Always. Every night.
Because I don’t want to forget.
It’s probably as a result …

ShareI know I spend a lot of time on my computer, but every now and then I force myself to just stop and look around.
I have a spot, too.
It’s in the corner of …

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My dad used to swear by the medicinal properties of garlic.
“Garlic,” he would always say, “is a natural antibiotic.” He usually made this pronouncement as he was pouring olive oil over toasted Cuban bread …