Good crazy woman

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Photo by Martin Pu00e9chy on Pexels.com

Last Wednesday, The New York Times published an article in the weddings section that caught my attention. It was about a new trend of honeymoon called “solomoons” in which each newlywed travels to a different destination.

You read right. After pledging, “Til death do us part” in their vows, each one grabs his or her suitcase and takes a trip alone or even with other people. 

The first example in the article is an Irish couple, she 37 and he 40. While she went to Canada to visit a friend, he chose to go to France with three of his buddies and watch Ireland play at the Euro Cup.

Continue reading “Honeymoon for One”

Since last Saturday, infamy has been happening at the border between Venezuela and Colombia for the world to see. The delivery of the wished and publicized U.S. humanitarian aid to Venezuela became a punishment instead of relief.

The images of the Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, dancing salsa in Caracas and declaring victory because he took food from the mouths of thousands starving fellow countrymen, felt like salt on a fresh wound.

Although the leadership of Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader, has inspired the Trump administration, the E.U., and the neighboring republics to sponsor his emancipation efforts, it is clear that they all have ignored Lao Tzu’s military principle: “There is no greater danger than underestimating your opponent.” Continue reading “To Be Continued…”

On January 29th, 2019 Fernando Gaitan, the creator of the Colombian hit TV drama Ugly Betty, died in Colombia of a sudden massive heart attack. He was 58. When I read about it on the news I felt nostalgic.

Although I never met him, I do remember seeing him often at a popular bar in Bogota when I was in college. The producing channel RCN started the rerun of the soap opera last week and since then, I have been glued to the TV every weeknight at nine p.m.

Beatriz or Betty is one of those characters that makes the actor who plays them invisible and timeless. Today, two decades later, the TV ratings have positioned the rerun at the top of the Colombian charts.

Continue reading “The Ugly’s Luck”

Last Thursday, January 31st, I had the privilege to present the awards for the Second Eagle Quills Creative Writing Contest at Timberlin Creek Elementary School in St Johns, Florida.

The contest was promoted by yours truly last year, and it has received the participation of third, fourth, and fifth graders. The topics of the fiction and non-fiction stories included secret agent missions, cast-away adventures, and the value of friendship and kindness. Continue reading “The love of children for literacy”

Two things that still puzzle me about life in America are: first, that bikers are not required to wear helmets by law, and second, that fireworks are sold without any restrictions during New Years and the 4th of July celebrations.

I have to admit that it still surprises me when I visit the supermarket and I am welcomed with shelves full of sparklers and other pyrotechnics at arm’s reach.

Although I grew up in Colombia in the 80’s, watching fireworks light up the sky every New Year’s Eve in the streets of my neighborhood, these displays have been forbidden since 1995 unless performed by professionals. Continue reading “Playing with Fire”

On Monday December 3rd, my husband Jeff, one of our employees, Karalee, and yours truly, had the privilege to meet 1st Sgt. Michael Lippencott, active member of the Marine Corps, and Ramonia Diallo, Navy Veteran and Combat Casualty Visiting Nurse of the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) in Jacksonville.

Before Thanksgiving, Karalee–also a Navy veteran–met Ramonia at a charity event and learned about this non-profit organization. Touched by the stories of veterans in hardship, Karalee shared the information with our company staff. Shortly after, we created a small fund to which all the employees contributed. 1Sgt. Michael Lippencott was the service man we chose as the recipient of our donation. Continue reading “Top Mission: Coming Home”

Last Sunday, December 16th, I missed the Miss Universe broadcast for the first time in a long while. Born and raised in Colombia, beauty pageants were part of my culture and I always watched it with my family.

But since I moved to the U.S., almost fourteen years ago, I had to watch it alone. My husband dreaded this each year because of my non-stop yelling during the two hour phone conversation with my mother or girlfriends. Continue reading “Beauty Pageants Biggest Miss”