Thank you for sharing this story. It left me in tears. Hugs for little you and teen you and grown up you. Beautifully written. ❤️ I hope more people open their minds and hearts to the experiences of immigrants with more empathy and humanity.
“Good” or “bad” these moments in our life are wonderful and what keeps us alive. With tragedy you were blessed with knowledge and experience, here you are can tell us stories that move hearts, thank you for living in your purpose so you can share it with us<3 it’s a blessing to witness
Happy Birthday, Juliet! What a powerful story your mom told you for your birthday, a gift more precious than anything that could be wrapped up with ribbons! I keep thinking of your mother holding you, her swimming babe in her belly, as she was tossed about, swimming across the sea. Her loving arms held and protected you on both your journeys. My childhood was very tumultuous, caused by my narcissistic mother. She drove my father to terrible extremes, he died when he was only 58. She has also made my life terribly difficult, even though I love her dearly. Interestingly enough, she now has dementia, and she has blocked that part of her personality, put it away into a box in her mind. Now, I am her strength, her sweet daughter. I have had to learn to forgive, but I can never forget. We talk every day, I have to help her navigate through her muddled thoughts. Calm her irrational fears.
Isn't it amazing how we meet so many people in our lives who went through intense trauma as children. So much more common than not.
Your strong spirit and beautiful soul, have led you on your beautiful journey to help others who have also had challenging lives.
I am so very happy for you that you have a loving family, such a gift! May you continue to find beauty in life, always moving forward toward peace and light. I hope got to blow out a special candle, and smile at the child inside who made a wish ✨️
Thank you for sharing your precious memories through the lens of extraordinary insight and compassion. It creates a sanctuary for others to reflect on their own lives and experiences in the same way.
Thank you so so much for sharing. I’ve always felt the same way around my birthday and this encapsulated my thoughts exactly. Your writing is so beautiful and it inspires me to get closer with the matriarchs of my family despite the hard times we’ve had. Much love ❤️
Juliet, you are such an amazing writer, humanitarian, and beautiful soul! Thank you for sharing this with us, although we have very different backgrounds I felt so much resonance with your story. Birthdays are a transformative journey from our birthing story to our current moment and the possibilities of all our future moments. It’s truly a time for portals, magic, and most importantly healing! Your courage no doubt comes from your parents and that little girl who endured so much at such a young age!! Sending you so much love and gratitude! ❤️🔥
Jessica 😭 I appreciate your words more than you know. Thank you 🙏🏽 It moves me to write more in this way and be braver about my writing and how I tell my stories. So again, thank you for your kind words. 💋🖤
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’ve had your book “The Altar Within” on my to-read list for a while and finally have started it (the audiobook version) this week, so what a synchronicity that it also happens to be your birthday.
Reading this left me in tears. I did some light research into the history of Cubans in Miami as part of a research project on bilingualism in Florida businesses and workplaces, which is how I first learned about the “Marielitos.” Though I did not dig *very* deep, every resource I came across did indeed paint this group as problematic criminals - even from other Cuban perspectives. Raising your voice and sharing your family’s story makes it so much more powerful. Again, thank you.
Thank you, Mary! I hope the book connects with you. And, yes. There is so much misinformation about the Cuban people. It's wild because Florida was literally shaped by the Cuban people. Many build businesses, cafes, restaurants, clubs, hotels, grew services and so on. Hard working people who had a rough start. Yes, many fell astray like my father, but that does not speak on the heart of who we are as a people. Thank you for sharing with me.
I so appreciate your presence! Your work has had a big impact on me as a witch, a writer, and simply a human. I am so sorry for the loss you endured but so glad for the life you have built!
Happy Birthday and thank you for this story. I have a friend who also has a complicated relationship with his birthday…it is hard. Should be a day of joy and celebration, but so many times can also be filled with grief—intense grief that I don’t think you ever really get over because it is embedded in your very soul. I hope this day is kind to you; that you feel the love of the community and family you have created.
As a child of immigrants, I felt this, even though my experience has been different to yours, I still felt this deeply. My parents immigrated to Australia in the 60s and 70s and I didn't come along till '82. I had a big family in Aus, but I could feel my father's pain, as he was a child of immigrant parents who had to flee the Black Sea in the 1910's. We are twice removed from our ancestral lands and now I live in the US. This journey is ever expanding.
wow thank you for sharing. It's incredible the resilience and strength it took so many before us to arrive where they did. Holding space and grateful to you.
You have me in tears this morning. Thank you for sharing your heart and soul with us. I come from a difficult childhood myself-- those core memories never leave us ❤️⚫️
Wow que comentario tan profundo de tu mami…. I’ll be thinking on that for years. And blessings to you on your day💛maybe grief and gratitude are facets of the same stone. You are so appreciated, thank you for sharing this story.
Thank you for sharing this story. It left me in tears. Hugs for little you and teen you and grown up you. Beautifully written. ❤️ I hope more people open their minds and hearts to the experiences of immigrants with more empathy and humanity.
“Good” or “bad” these moments in our life are wonderful and what keeps us alive. With tragedy you were blessed with knowledge and experience, here you are can tell us stories that move hearts, thank you for living in your purpose so you can share it with us<3 it’s a blessing to witness
Happy Birthday, Juliet! What a powerful story your mom told you for your birthday, a gift more precious than anything that could be wrapped up with ribbons! I keep thinking of your mother holding you, her swimming babe in her belly, as she was tossed about, swimming across the sea. Her loving arms held and protected you on both your journeys. My childhood was very tumultuous, caused by my narcissistic mother. She drove my father to terrible extremes, he died when he was only 58. She has also made my life terribly difficult, even though I love her dearly. Interestingly enough, she now has dementia, and she has blocked that part of her personality, put it away into a box in her mind. Now, I am her strength, her sweet daughter. I have had to learn to forgive, but I can never forget. We talk every day, I have to help her navigate through her muddled thoughts. Calm her irrational fears.
Isn't it amazing how we meet so many people in our lives who went through intense trauma as children. So much more common than not.
Your strong spirit and beautiful soul, have led you on your beautiful journey to help others who have also had challenging lives.
I am so very happy for you that you have a loving family, such a gift! May you continue to find beauty in life, always moving forward toward peace and light. I hope got to blow out a special candle, and smile at the child inside who made a wish ✨️
Thank you for sharing your precious memories through the lens of extraordinary insight and compassion. It creates a sanctuary for others to reflect on their own lives and experiences in the same way.
Thanks so much for sharing your moving story. Its the medicine we all need now🤍
Thank you so so much for sharing. I’ve always felt the same way around my birthday and this encapsulated my thoughts exactly. Your writing is so beautiful and it inspires me to get closer with the matriarchs of my family despite the hard times we’ve had. Much love ❤️
Wow. Cried as I read this. Beautifully heartbreaking 💜 Happy 44th Birthday ! Thank you so much for sharing 💜🫂
🥹💋 thank you for taking the time to read it. Thank you for your tears as they show your compassion. I am truly grateful, thank you
Juliet, you are such an amazing writer, humanitarian, and beautiful soul! Thank you for sharing this with us, although we have very different backgrounds I felt so much resonance with your story. Birthdays are a transformative journey from our birthing story to our current moment and the possibilities of all our future moments. It’s truly a time for portals, magic, and most importantly healing! Your courage no doubt comes from your parents and that little girl who endured so much at such a young age!! Sending you so much love and gratitude! ❤️🔥
Jessica 😭 I appreciate your words more than you know. Thank you 🙏🏽 It moves me to write more in this way and be braver about my writing and how I tell my stories. So again, thank you for your kind words. 💋🖤
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’ve had your book “The Altar Within” on my to-read list for a while and finally have started it (the audiobook version) this week, so what a synchronicity that it also happens to be your birthday.
Reading this left me in tears. I did some light research into the history of Cubans in Miami as part of a research project on bilingualism in Florida businesses and workplaces, which is how I first learned about the “Marielitos.” Though I did not dig *very* deep, every resource I came across did indeed paint this group as problematic criminals - even from other Cuban perspectives. Raising your voice and sharing your family’s story makes it so much more powerful. Again, thank you.
Thank you, Mary! I hope the book connects with you. And, yes. There is so much misinformation about the Cuban people. It's wild because Florida was literally shaped by the Cuban people. Many build businesses, cafes, restaurants, clubs, hotels, grew services and so on. Hard working people who had a rough start. Yes, many fell astray like my father, but that does not speak on the heart of who we are as a people. Thank you for sharing with me.
I so appreciate your presence! Your work has had a big impact on me as a witch, a writer, and simply a human. I am so sorry for the loss you endured but so glad for the life you have built!
aw Marge, I appreciate your words, thank you love.
Happy Birthday and thank you for this story. I have a friend who also has a complicated relationship with his birthday…it is hard. Should be a day of joy and celebration, but so many times can also be filled with grief—intense grief that I don’t think you ever really get over because it is embedded in your very soul. I hope this day is kind to you; that you feel the love of the community and family you have created.
I'm so sorry for your friend, may they find space to honor that day beside the grief. Thank you, Violet. I sure do feel the love.
Oh my gosh I love you. What a beautiful read. I am certainly grateful for you and will celebrate you.
Sending abrazos y besos on the wind from the Caribbean.
Holding your beso close, thank you so much, Jessi.
As a child of immigrants, I felt this, even though my experience has been different to yours, I still felt this deeply. My parents immigrated to Australia in the 60s and 70s and I didn't come along till '82. I had a big family in Aus, but I could feel my father's pain, as he was a child of immigrant parents who had to flee the Black Sea in the 1910's. We are twice removed from our ancestral lands and now I live in the US. This journey is ever expanding.
wow thank you for sharing. It's incredible the resilience and strength it took so many before us to arrive where they did. Holding space and grateful to you.
You have me in tears this morning. Thank you for sharing your heart and soul with us. I come from a difficult childhood myself-- those core memories never leave us ❤️⚫️
They sure never do. Holding you, grateful for you.
Wow. Your story left me with goosebumps. Thank you for sharing the inspiring, the sweet little Juliet. And the grief.
aw Toni, I am grateful that you read this. Thank you so much.
Wow que comentario tan profundo de tu mami…. I’ll be thinking on that for years. And blessings to you on your day💛maybe grief and gratitude are facets of the same stone. You are so appreciated, thank you for sharing this story.
I believe they must be... gracias amor.