A Bernal Tour of Los Angeles

For my birthday, I asked my dad’s sisters for a “Bernal Tour of Los Angeles” so that we could visit their old neighborhoods where they lived with my grandparents & great-grandparents (and, of course, my dad). Considering how much I run around Los Angeles, I like knowing when I'm crossing the well-worn paths of previous... Continue Reading →

Remembering the Red Cars

For the last month or so, I’ve been knee deep in Red Car history. For those unfamiliar, Red Cars were the trolleys that clicked-and-clacked along Southern California's Pacific Electric system, once the largest public transit system in the country. Last fall, host of KCET’s Lost LA Nathan Masters invited me and a few of our... Continue Reading →

Remembering My Minnesota Uncle

In mid-July, I was visiting my aunt and uncle in Minnesota when my uncle passed away unexpectedly. A trip that should have been a joyous post-vaccine reunion turned tragic the day after I arrived. He was 90 and lived a long full life but his passing was still a heartbreaking moment for our family. My... Continue Reading →

Mom & Dad: Royalty To Me

My parents were married a few years after the Supreme Court legalized interracial marriages (Loving v. Virginia)…though fortunately it was made legal in California in 1948 (Perez v. Sharp). Mom was always open with me about the racism she encountered for marrying my Mexican American dad. I only wish my dad could’ve shared his experience... Continue Reading →

Father’s Day in the Library

Spent Father's Day weekend cleaning clutter stacked in the library. This may not seem a monumental task worth mentioning but I've been struggling to find a place to write in the house (away from distractions). After a year in mom's house, I can now research, write and produce in the space that gives me the most inspiration (and... Continue Reading →

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