Where I'm From

I am from cardboard boxes
and shipping crates.
From United States Postage,
and styrofoam packaging.

I am from empty homes
that new beginnings
filled with promise
and empty homes
filled with nostalgia
which reverberates the excitement
or the sorrow
within them.

I am from the vines
that latch to the dormers of a house
by nature,
never letting go
until pried off.

I am from packing out early
and "camping" in an empty house.
From waiting to see what comes next
and needing the patience
to wait for the answers.

I am from my mother's expectations
and my father's encouragement.

From Dad's
"Just do your best and that's good enough,"
and Mom's
"Good enough
is never
good enough."

I am from Sunday school
and saved first communion mementos.

I'm from El Salvador,
Cuba and Spain.
From stories about my grandfather housing earthquake victims
and my grandmother starting a new life at zero
and starting again after a house fire.

I am from learning to ride a bike
in an embassy parking lot.
From teaching Miranda to swim
on hot summer days.
From learning Math techniques from my mother.

I am from dusty picture frames,
childhood achievement certificates,
preserved birthday cards
and scrapbooks mom no longer has time to make.

Roots that hold,
a trunk that stands tall,
branches that reach longingly to the sky.
A tree,
that still and strong,
will stand the test of time.

Japanese Tragedy

This past week, on Friday, March 11th, tragedy struck Japan when it was rattled by an 8.9-9.0 (magnitude is being debated) earthquake. The earthquake preceded a tsunami that hit no more than 30 minutes after the powerful quake. The initial wave of the tsunami was reported to be about 10 meters high and caused much devastation in the already imperiled city.

The earthquake and tsunami caused major technical difficulties in some of Japan's nuclear plants. After the violent shaking a backup generator failed and caused the plant to keep running without anything to cool it down; not even the most adept engineers can find a way to shutdown the reactors in time. There seems to be no way to decelerate the radioactive pressurebuilding up within the plants, but it is crucial that some pressure is released in order to preventyet another disastrous explosion. The main concern having to do with the nuclear plants are the health repercussions that could affect the citizens if any radioactivity is leaked.

Meanwhile, the citizens—as well as residents—of Japan have been left with copious amounts of destruction and loss; most have had to leave their homes and have even lost loved ones in all the chaos. There is little room to house the victims who lots their homes, for capacious areas that were once suitable for housing people have been destroyed andare now bits and pieces of rubble.

The Japanese government cannot grapple this alone and other governments leave no room for banter when deciding whether or not to help Japan; the answer is clear, aid isbeing offered and sent to Japan from over 70 countries around the globe. Nations are currently deploying as many supplies and aid volunteers to Japan as they can. Hopefullythis will facilitate Japan's journey—on a long and winding road—to recovery and thedistressed and fitful lives of all Japanese citizens will be able to be at peace again soon.

Have a Little Faith

Have a Little Faith
By: Mitch Albom

Have a Little Faith gained its title because the journey he takes throughout the book is in losing his faith and finding it again and also the small divine flicker inside all of us that need a little help to turn into a fire, to again ignite the fire of faith within him, he must “have a little faith” in his life.

This memoir is about Albom’s realizations about faith and rescuing his beliefs. As a child, Albom grew up in a Jewish community and was raised under the religion, but as he became an adult, he slowly drifts from his faith and distanced himself from any form of religion. When his childhood rabbi asks him to write his eulogy there is no turning back and through getting to know the man who seemed to mighty, he discovers the amazing feats of maintaining faith in today’s modern world.

The story was told skipping around in time, alternating from his childhood, to visits with the pastor, to the life of Henry (a pastor who also helps Albom realize important connections between faiths), and excerpts from sermons. A lot of the story has major reflection that challenges the reader to ponder faith and realize the great impact it has on our lives.

Through this story, Albom realizes that faith is one thing that will never change and through it he can find the strength and love to do great things just as Henry and Albert had done in their lives. Furthermore, he comes to realize that beliefs are not what divide us and people of other religions, but what bring us together.

Lines we love:
“And, as in often the case with faith, I thought I was being asked a favor, when in fact I was being given one.” (Page 2)
“If you could pack for heaven, this is how you would do it, touching everything, taking nothing.” (Page 210)
“Nothing haunts like the things we don’t say.” (Page 212)
“I am in love with hope.” (Page 249)