I'm an author, playwright, poet and blogger delving into the fictional world of all things related to bodegas, botánicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. My writing draws on the bilingual, multicultural world that shaped me. I'm the author of the Bodega Botanica Tales series, which are all stand alone novellas. Stay tuned Brujas!
Luck by Lotería
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Volume 2; Issue 6; March 2026 Hola! Are you lucky? I am. This past month, I avoided traffic that would've made me late, received a package earlier than expected and was gifted a hotel upgrade. Yet, luck hasn't always been on my side. This got me thinking. Is luck an illusion? I'm not referring to a magical force, but rather a human concept. Did we create luck only to make ourselves feel better about our unique situations, shortcomings, personal choices or even our failures? The truth is that I've had so many setbacks, that when I win, it feels like luck. Still, luck, by itself, fails to warrant full credit, since I would then have to accept blame for the entirety of my misfortunes. That seems unfair. The accident I tried to avoid, the times I've gotten sick, the opportunities that never came to fruition, or even that time I used my last dollar on the lotería (lottery ticket). The latter are not signs of bad luck, rather just ebbs and flows of an ordinary life willing to take chances. And with that, I say, "Making your own luck is so worth it." Scroll to read about the last time I played lotería and for more about my recent luck, be sure to check out Bodega News. Bodega News
Spanish Translation of Lottery: Lotería: When I was growing, my family played la lotería. So when Papi took me to the bodega to purchase my very first lottery ticket, it felt like a rite of passage. I'll never forget contemplating what numbers I would choose for Pick 3 and somehow I settled on our house number. Home was supposed to be lucky, right? But back then, our house was a source of financial struggles. Despite that, I hoped for a win. I remember watching Yolanda Vega (remember her?) on TV that evening. So when she read the first number, I couldn't believe it was mine. She read the second number and it was also mine. My heart raced and I screamed with excitement. And I remember Papi said, "I knew you were lucky." But then, when Yolanda read the last number, it was not mine. I lost. The disappointment and slight embarrassment hit me harder than expected. Maybe that's why I never played the lotería again. But what remained were my father's words. I think he felt bad for giving me such high hopes, but recently I told him he was right. I am lucky.Until next month...Stay tuned Brujas! Other Magical Tales You Might Like:
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Bodega Botanica Tales Monthly Newsletter
I'm an author, playwright, poet and blogger delving into the fictional world of all things related to bodegas, botánicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. My writing draws on the bilingual, multicultural world that shaped me. I'm the author of the Bodega Botanica Tales series, which are all stand alone novellas. Stay tuned Brujas!
Volume 2, Issue 5; February 2026 Hola Brujas! Do you believe in love? I do. And yet, lately, it feels as though people aren't treating one another with love, despite it being everywhere. You read that right. Love is everywhere, from heart emojis 🥰 to saying "love ya" or "thanks, love" as easily as our hellos and goodbyes. (Air kisses anyone?) Media floods us with reminders to send love to our friends on their birthdays, to buy loving gifts for our family on holidays, and to embrace messages...
Volume 2; Issue 4; January 2026 Hola! Are you distracted? I am. The new year arrived and I barely noticed. I told myself it was the cold I'd been battling for weeks, the annoying pressure of a clogged ear and the residual exhaustion. My focus, needless to say, has not been fully regained. And before you advise me to go back to the doctor, I'll add that I feel completely healthy, not burnt out, but just oddly distracted. This got me thinking. Is distraction ever useful? To answer my own...
Volume 2; Issue 3; December 2025 Hola Brujas! Do you care what people think of you? I do. Recently, I found myself preoccupied with people's opinions, well, of me. This got me thinking. Is there any benefit to caring what people think of you? In today's social climate, there might be. You see, we've been bombarded with messages of "ignore the haters!", "who cares?" and "do what you want". These messages, although trying to aid in people's confidence, have created a juxtaposed problem, one...