Number 1

Happy belated Cinco de Mayo! Happy early Mother’s Day!

I’m a first generation Mexican American. Up until my senior year in high school I felt a shame for being Mexican. I felt less than; I felt like I didn’t belong. It wasn’t until my college years @ UC Berkeley that I was able to embrace my heritage, my culture, and my family, especially my parents.


The piece here is titled “My Rock N’ Sisters.” A few years ago, my sister, Moni, commissioned it. My 3 sisters hiking in ‘Red Rocks’ Colorado inspire it. The 3 of them are moms of beautiful kids, 2 of which are my god kids; I have a total of 8 nephews. I may not be the best of uncles, but I do my best.

Below is “Mama and Her Ninos.” A photo of her and us 5 children in her hometown of Chapotan, Mexico inspires it. She calls me her #1. And it feels good to believe her, to think that to someone in this world, believes I am #1. But there are 5 of us and she calls us all her #1’s. She laughs every time we ask her about it because we know and she knows that to her, we are all her #1’s!

Either way, she is our #1 Mama!

Have a beautiful weekend and celebrate you Mama’s life!