I write about the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. My stories are inspired by the bilingual, multicultural world that shaped me. I'm the author of the Bodega Botanica Tales series, an adult coming-of age six-part novella series; I host a short story podcast by the same name. This newsletter is about my personal questions and insights to this unpredictable, complicated and magical world, one Spanish word at a time. I'd be honored and grateful if you signed up.
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 write about the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. My stories are inspired by the bilingual, multicultural world that shaped me. I'm the author of the Bodega Botanica Tales series, an adult coming-of age six-part novella series; I host a short story podcast by the same name. This newsletter is about my personal questions and insights to this unpredictable, complicated and magical world, one Spanish word at a time. I'd be honored and grateful if you signed up.
Volume 2; Issue 11, August 2026 Hola! Ever feel hopeless? I have. This past month, after completing my responsibilities, I still had set-backs in my health, my artistic projects and even my personal life. This got me thinking. What's left after hope fails? Hope is wanting something, and that something is an outcome that, in my opinion, is usually self-serving. Common examples include, "I hope it doesn't rain for my event," "I hope my team wins, and "I hope my loved-one gets better, because I...
Volume 2; Issue 10, July 2026 Hola! Have you ever been scared by the actions of people? I have. This past month, a stranger called me an offensive name because I drove slowly, a neighbor honked at me during my leisurely walk, a friend became angry when I asked a question, and a family member used the word "demonic" to describe my actions (the latter confirms mutual fear). In our 24-7 media driven world, you can experience people shouting their grievances and worries while arguing and debating...
Volume 2; Issue 9; June 2026 Hola! Do you wish for more time? I do. This past month, I took time to celebrate a birthday and graduation, cheer at a dance recital, and even pay my respects at a funeral. Yet, I still hoped I could declutter my closet, accompany a friend to an event, and get more writing done, but I had, well, no time. This got me thinking. Does time demand our respect? Basic human needs, like sleeping, eating, and moving requires time. If we fail to take the time to do these...