Celia, Father kissing her, Uncle Guillermo, Mother, Uncle Manuel at Celia’s High School Graduation Party My husband says that there are more rocking chairs in Nicaragua, than people, a most necessary piece of furniture in a country with two types of weather – hot and

My mother came to Findlay from Los Angeles for my graduation.  She looked so pretty with her hair styled up.  She wore a very nice navy blue suit and gloves, dressed beautifully because this was a very proud day for her.  So many hopes and

As I had shared in prior Blogs, 1966 was a momentous year for me and the turn to a new life in the United States.  My mother and I arrived in Pittsburgh for my week long training in American culture at Chatham College attended by

To help me during recovery, I hired a health aid, Rosa, recommended to me by a Sutter Healthcare social worker that was providing services to my husband.   She was quite a good find.  I recommend to everyone to make sure that they have the necessary

By now you know that I am a senior citizen.  While I have reminisced about my childhood in Nicaragua, the intentional parenting of which I was the beneficiary and my college days, today I will share with you my experiences getting old. It is a

Mother and Mrs. Magoon When mother and I arrived in Findlay, I was only 18.  My main concerns were learning from my studies as well as from experiencing a different culture and a foreign environment.  So many things were new and interesting: living in a

Welcoming tea by Findlay community You have read in prior blogs that I was enrolled in a 2 week acculturation program for foreign students at Chatham College in Pittsburgh. When that was over, mother and I left for Findlay. What an adventure it all was.

April 14, 1914 – August 5, 1997 In Spanish speaking countries, our full, legal names include both of our parents’ surnames – the father’s lineage comes first and it is the most important one.  In my father’s case, that would be Barberena as he was

In Nicaragua, people tell stories to each other while rocking in the ever present rocking chairs.  This is our way of expressing ourselves, making connections and entertaining visitors.  So, I’ll proceed to tell you a story about my formal schooling which started at an early

Neighbors would tell my mother to be careful with her in-laws as they were a difficult clan to contend with.  Mother already knew. Now that I have been married for 35 years, I know that in-laws can make your life sweeter or treacherous. I also