Beautiful Words

When I was ten years old, a friend of the family gave me a diary. It was a small, white, hard-covered diary with a tiny combination lock. On the cover was a girl with flowing brown hair, sitting on her window sill, writing. In my mind, it looked like me. This book contained all of my thoughts wrapped in my little-girl handwriting. Every time I wrote, it was almost like a letter to God.

This book was my solace in my small confused world. I would sit on the top of my bunk bed surrounded by pictures of Taylor Dane, New Kids On The Block, Janet Jackson, and Paula Abdul. I'd write about my favorite music. I’d rant about my parents fighting. I’d write short sentences about how scared I was that they would split up and how I’d pray it would all be ok. I’d write about how I wanted to protect my little sister. I’d write about how I wanted to be a singer/dancer/actress/writer/reporter/gymnast, everything in the world.... I'd write about secret crushes and all my secret wishes. I’d write little prayers and give thanks for my family. This book kept the thoughts, hopes, imagination and world of a small girl tightly locked away from the world.

Writing has always been my refuge. In times where I thought I could not suffer any more or when I couldn’t be any happier, I would write. I would write my way back to sanity when tears weren’t enough. Words, precious little words, kept me grounded. Many years passed where I had given up on the pursuit of writing, but I’m happy to report that I’m at a point in my life where I am giving my creative side a chance. Instead of pouring out my heart into my little locked diary or my present day journal, I write it out here on my blog – where my words will linger for anyone and everyone to read. 

Maybe if I’m lucky, I will move someone – or many – with my words. And if I am ever able to do that, then I will have put whatever gift God has blessed me with to good use. For that I am grateful.

I hope you all have something to be grateful for this year. I know I do.

Use your words wisely.

All My Best,
Li

Saluting our Troops, Past & Present

In case you haven't heard, today is Veterans Day. Today, we honor our Veterans, as well as those on active duty. According to the Los Angeles Times, Obama addressed Veterans and those currently serving. The President stated that we fight:

 "In hopes of a day when we no longer need to."

So to the troops who have served in the military and continue to serve, I want to say THANK YOU for the sacrifices you have made and for protecting our Country.

______________________

In honoring our troops, I have been asked to be a guest blogger. I'm going to post an article about members of my family who are currently serving or who have served. But I'd like the persepective of Latinas in the military. I want to hear from you! If you are a Latina veteran or are currently on active service, please contact me:

My email is:   LI  at HERDEEPTHOUGHTS dot com.

I have a few questions and I look forward to hearing from you! Thank you and God Bless!

How I Make Coquito

Are you ready for the Holidays? I know, I know, Thanksgiving isn’t even here yet, but that’s the best time to start planning!

I’ve already made 5 bottles of Coquito. What’s that you ask? It’s Puerto Rican egg nog!  I love making it for the holidays. it's also a great gift for friends. It’s really easy to make because there is no cooking involved. (However, I make it without the eggs, because I really don’t think it needs it... but, you be the judge! )

TOOLS NEEDED:

1 Can Opener

1 Large Funnel

1 Blender (large enough for 5 cups of liquid)

1 Decanter or Empty bottle of rum (presentation is important!)


INGREDIENTS:

12 oz. Sweetened Cream of Coconut

12 oz. Evaporated milk

14 oz. Sweetened Condensed Milk

¾ Cup of White Rum

1 Tsp. Ground Cinnamon

1 Tsp. Pure Vanilla Extract

START!

Open all the cans, pour each of them into the blender.

Put in your cinnamon and vanilla and your Rum.

Cover the blender and blend until smooth.

Now, take your funnel, put it on top of the open decanter or empty bottle and pour in your yummy batch of Coquito . Chill.

Once refrigerated for several hours, you’re ready to serve. 

Make sure you shake the bottle before your pour. Drink in moderation! It’s a heavy drink and very strong! 

ENJOY YOUR COQUTIO AND PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS, IDEAS, AND RECIPES!

Excuse Me, You're Stepping All Over My Dreams

My Painting (circa 2004).

People who aspire to be lawyers have come up to me to tell me about their dreams of practicing law. Now, I make no bones about my lack of passion for the law. You know it, I know it, but that's not the point. Despite how I feel about my profession, my response is always positive:

"Go For It!"

"Good For You"

"Don't Give Up,"

…and the positive reinforcement goes on and on.



But what I HATE HATE HATE is when other lawyers respond by saying:

READ MORE...

The Ying and The Yang

If I could pinpoint a common theme in the thread of my existence, I would say it was Duality. As a young college student I was deeply touched by John Donne’s themes of pleasure and pain in his poetry. There could not be pleasure without pain, and often times, one would essentially meld into the other. The theme in his poetry struck a chord in me, as it seemed to be along the same lines of the ying and the yang: happiness complimenting sadness; light shining through the dark; and other related forms of duality, which have always fascinated me. I think the reason for this may be that, as a Puerto Rican woman, I find there is a duality in the facets of my life. 


I was born and raised in New York, yet I have a strong attachment to my culture as a Puertorriqueña. As a child, my mother pulled my sister and me out of school at least three times a year to spend at least three months in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. There we learned about the island, had freedom to frolic outside, were taught to celebrate our roots, and practiced the Spanish language on a continuous level. Then, when we came back to Brooklyn, we would remain indoors, and I would have to read words in dictionaries to avoid forgetting to speak in English and to avoid the mispronunciation of English words. We were free in Puerto Rico, and caged birds in New York. 


This may be related to the sense of trust and comradery my mother felt on the Island, as opposed to the fear and isolation she felt in New York. As such, I witnessed a duality in my mother; she struggled to maintain her identity as a Puerto Rican woman without being pigeonholed by stereotypes. She struggled to teach us our heritage so we wouldn’t become part of a melting pot; instead to be a functioning part of a salad bowl.


In the media, Latina’s are frequently depicted as primarily sexual beings who nurture their partners and families, yet have hot tempers. Now, this depiction has lessened in recent years, but I find that it’s still prevalent in film and on television. Nevertheless, this is only one aspect of any woman.

Aside from their sexuality, many women are enthusiastic about education, are zealous in pursuit of their careers, and are passionate when it comes to family and relationships. And if you look closely, there is a duality there, and hopefully, a balance. Despite the strides we have made in modern times, Latinas are still expected to be married and start a family by a certain age. With that underlying pressure there is also a stronger pull that stems from modern thought to become independent, educated and successful outside of any marriage and family. In this day and age, where does this duality come from?


It is my belief that two forms of thought have been the primary players in forming this duality. There is the cultural influence of a machista attitude of a woman’s role in learning to care for the home, be demure, and behave as proper women should behave in order to be married and have a family to care for. Then there is the influence of a feminist mentality, in pursuing an education, a career, being able to take care of oneself and be a completely independent and self-sustaining individual, perhaps without the need for marriage or family.  Latin women of my generation are especially equipped because of this dualistic upbringing, rather than in spite of it. Being exposed to these two types of thinking has influenced a generation of women who want it all – and certainly get it, by taking the most positive elements of both modes of thought and creating something that suits them completely.


I am proud to say that I am a member of this generation. I think these modes of thought have made me a well-rounded person. Maintaining cultural values is important. And so is cultivating new ones. It is important to embrace who we are and where we come from, even with the apparently opposing sides - the ying and the yang. I know that these facets make up the whole of who I am as an individual and as a Puerto Rican woman. For that I am grateful.



*The images in this post is of an art piece in my home which I created, depicting opposing images of myself.