Elena Castedo

I will not send you this letter. To be in tune with your mood and “the American way,” I should find something positive to say about your leaving for college; look at the bright side; rejoice in what a fine young man you grew up to be; what a great future you have ahead of you; how proud I am of you, better yet, `how proud your dad and I are of you, son,' and how lucky I was to have had you at home until now. All of that happens to be very true in your case, however, “the American way” gets repeated whether it’s true or not, because of the terror about life's separations, and the inevitability of life's passing. The Hispanic way is to “mull and adjust." “The American way” is "smile, keep busy, DO something." If I were honest, what would I say? (more…)