QUE VIVA PUENTE!
October 20, 2015
Had a great time once again with Cathy Gillis' PUENTE English students at Napa Valley Community College! They had just finished reading my book and they were enthused to meet the author and gave my wife and I a warm welcome. I answered some well thought out questions the instructor had gathered from them beforehand. Asked by the teacher that if they would like their books signed by the author, they quickly lined up to do so. One student presented my with a special gift on their behalf: A Puente T-shirt, orale!!
After, I did a community presentation for a small crowd and spoke of my love for and lifelong delving in the arts, painting, drawing, sculpture, drama, writing, and music and ended by doing a few songs for them, "La Maldiocion de Malinche", "Rosita Alvirez", and the "Corrido de Dolores Huerta." Showing slides of Mexican muralists, Rivera, Orozco, and Siqeuiros, I read my poem, "Para Los Tres Grandes" (or the Three Great Ones). I also spoke of my love for my Mexican culture and how promoting it has been my lifelong work.
We were treated to a beautiful room at a local Westin Hotel that evening! And after a nice meal at Don Perico Mexican restaurant in downtown Napa, we were swallowed up by the plush, king-sized, down comforter bed and had a great nights sleep. Meanwhile, I had gotten a text from an ex-Puentista student, Vanessa Aguiñiga, who was a present in one of my previous presentations two years earlier, apologizing for not being able to attend the presentation, but inviting us to lunch she would "treat" us to at her place of work, Napa Valley Bistro! Like, how can you beat all this?
Thank you Cathy, Vanessa, and to your students for providing us with such a wonderful day for my wife and I!
