Maria asked me to read “Los Zapaticos de Rosa”…in English. “Can’t, Ma. It’s a poem. Have to read it in Spanish.” “But, then I can’t understand it!” “Look at the pictures and I will translate as we go.” “But, I can’t understand!” “Just listen to the rhythm and keep your ears open, you’ll get it.” [...]

Sometime in the early ’90s, when Mexicans and other Latin Americans began to flood into Nashville, a news editor asked me this question: “What’s this guy’s real last name?” I told him both were the guy’s real last name. But, the names are not hyphenated, so do we have to use both of them during [...]

In my circle of Latin friends and family, I have been mocked a little for my crunchiness: using a Midwife, insisting on breastfeeding despite less-than-perfect circumstances and even our use of cloth napkins. Soy un poco ridicula, they have said. But, among members of my mom’s group in Nashville — co-sleepers, Diva Cup-wearers, CSA members [...]

Hey, amigos. Happy Monday. My voice-over career has started. I had the pleasure of doing the audio recording of the sweet new book, “Before you were here, Mi Amor” by Samantha R. Vamos. The free download is available on the awesome site, Cody’s Cuentos, which offers Spanish podcasts of traditional children’s stories. Subscribe, subscribe, subscribe. [...]

Happy Monday. I hope the sun is shining and the birds singing wherever you are. It is bright and beautiful in the Boonies — a lovely reward for the gray season we have endured. The only negative I’ve got going on: The floor in my office is covered with folders for unfinished business taxes. The mess [...]

A friend loaned me a book during the holidays she knew I would enjoy: “Jubana! The Awkwardly True and Dazzling Adventures of a Jewish Cubana Goddess” by Gigi Anders. It has all the ingredients I like: Cuban Goddess, family nuttiness, assimilation, and journalism. Anders is a journalist whose Eastern European and Russian relatives immigrated to [...]

Because I want you to laugh with me, as much as I want you to curse with me. Check this out: Pardon my Spanglish by Bill Santiago. I just found out about it via Juan at Hispanic Trending. Obviously, I am a little late to the party. Este tipo es muy funny.

A few feet from the cubicle I called home for many years, there was a Free Table. That’s where all the “graft” PR people sent the newsroom got put up for grabs. There were CDs, books, T-shirts, toothpaste, cookies. You name it. It was excessive and ridiculous and very fun. We got to try out [...]

Tonight I will be putting on pumps and perfume and shaking it with Latinos of all flavors at a local Hispanic Heritage Month fiestecita. Oh, colorful Nashville of 2008 I love you so much better than Nashville of 1991. As I celebrate, here’s how I’m helping you get your Latin on: The good people at Hachette [...]

California, Summer 2008 A couple of days after I wrote about summer kicking my butt and my plan to peel out of Maria’s school parking lot on her first day, I sat down to read a wonderful book a friend just loaned me — The Childhood Roots of Adult Happiness by Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. [...]