I was born in South Florida and spent the first decade of my life there before moving to Central Florida. Growing up I’ve always been closer to my moms side of the family. She came here with her parents in the late 1960’s as refugees fleeing Cuba on the Freedom Flights sponsored by the LBJ administration. Her grandmother was already in the country, having left Cuba years earlier and opting not to return when Castro took over. My mom didn’t stop working when I was born, so during the week I would spend my days with my grandmother and great-grandmother (who didn’t speak any English). Some of my first words were definitely “chocolate con leche”, and “guagua” because my grandmother didn’t drive so we took the bus everywhere. I also absorbed a lot of superstition from my time with them. For example, to this day I make a point not to rock a rocking chair if its empty because I’m convinced it invites ghosts into the house.