Memoir

Our Beloved Tita

Our beloved Juana Clarisa Vera Birba has been called home. She is technically my “grandmother-in-law,” but from the moment I met her she’s been my abuelita, my Tita.

There are so many things I love about Tita. For example, her quirks – what she called “tiki-tikis.” She was unapologetic about them and turned them into ritual. Ours was the fact that she never learned my name. Every time I’d see her I’d ask: “Tita, como me llamo?”

“Ay, chica, esperate, no me digas,” she’d say, as if it were on the tip of her tongue. (more…)

I’m Reading at Expressing Motherhood–Buy Your Tix Now! #exmoshow

Expressing Motherhood*** UPDATE as of September 26th: Unfortunately, I won’t be able to participate this time around given a scheduling conflict. Stay tuned as I hope to participate in the future!

I’ve been chosen to be part of the cast of Expressing Motherhood! I’m going to read a piece from my memoir-in-progress about choosing to be childfree. The show is one night only–on Saturday, November 7th at 7:30PM at Spirit Studio in Silverlake. Tickets are on sale now and since it’s in a small setting it’s going to sell out fast…buy your tickets now by clicking here! They’re $25 each, but the show should be well worth the splurge!

By Popular Demand–A Clip of Me Reading from My Memoir

Take a look at me reading from my thesis, a memoir-in-progress, that tells the story about a 30-something woman (me) who gets married assuming she’ll have kids, but then considers living childfree. To grapple with her decision, she writes letters to the child she has not conceived. Since my husband is named Bear, I call this project “Dear Cub.” This snippet is a tribute to Bear’s grandmother, Tita.

Filmed at the University of Southern California in May 2015.