I wrote this elegy for my cousin Becky, who passed away two and a half months ago. I could not be there for the funeral, so I opined instead, and tried to wax poetic. I did not know her well during the later years, but I just realized after her passing just how much family history is told from the kitchen.
What we ate is pretty much what we talked about. I can remember the lid of my mom's stainless steal pot humming softly as the beans simmered. That's when memories come out of hibernation. I probably know more about Becky than I think I do.
The poem is modeled after José Montoya's poem, El Louie, that starts off, "Hoy enterraron al Louie." It's the classic pachuco poem that I have been carrying around for years and years for occasions such as this. I took a lot of Chicano studies back in college and learned about all the great Chicano writers. Jake, my cousin, was in that particular class with me.
Update: A lot keeps happening with me. I'm doing another round of PT at St. Augustine's for the next three weeks. We are finishing up planting the garden with herbs, flowers and peppers. Also getting ready for Easter and the West Austin Studio Art Tour. So until next time, remember to be a good sport.
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La Cocinera Extraordinaria
Hoy enterraron a la Becky Escobar.
And Julia Child y Matutuí are in for some lively chisme.
Kind of drawn and worn towards the end,
with oxygen tanks and breathing tubes
from diabetes and kidney disease.
But still that spark in her eyes!
Era la cocinera más famosa de la familia,
and that's saying a lot when you consider
the likes of her mother, Alicia,
Queen of the Chile Relleno,
and Tía Berta con su salpicón,
y las otras mujeres Valdés,
cada con su especialidad famosa.
What we ate is pretty much what we talked about. I can remember the lid of my mom's stainless steal pot humming softly as the beans simmered. That's when memories come out of hibernation. I probably know more about Becky than I think I do.
The poem is modeled after José Montoya's poem, El Louie, that starts off, "Hoy enterraron al Louie." It's the classic pachuco poem that I have been carrying around for years and years for occasions such as this. I took a lot of Chicano studies back in college and learned about all the great Chicano writers. Jake, my cousin, was in that particular class with me.
Update: A lot keeps happening with me. I'm doing another round of PT at St. Augustine's for the next three weeks. We are finishing up planting the garden with herbs, flowers and peppers. Also getting ready for Easter and the West Austin Studio Art Tour. So until next time, remember to be a good sport.
-------------------
La Cocinera Extraordinaria
Hoy enterraron a la Becky Escobar.
And Julia Child y Matutuí are in for some lively chisme.
Kind of drawn and worn towards the end,
with oxygen tanks and breathing tubes
from diabetes and kidney disease.
But still that spark in her eyes!
Era la cocinera más famosa de la familia,
and that's saying a lot when you consider
the likes of her mother, Alicia,
Queen of the Chile Relleno,
and Tía Berta con su salpicón,
y las otras mujeres Valdés,
cada con su especialidad famosa.
Becky les contaba a sus hijos
los secretos de la cocina Valdés.
Como hacer el chile colorado con ajo y sal
para enchiladas tan ricas y sabrosas;
the secret to making Spanish rice
(con chícharos) light and fluffy.
Su cocina nunca cerraba,
con algo siempre simmering on the stovetop
and a pie or casserole baking in her industrial oven.
She cooked from a long list of traditional recipes, everything from
tacos, enchiladas, picadillo, flan, salsas, mole, menudo, caldos
or anything else with a Mexican flair.
Her Paella was delicate and famous.
Casó con José Baca.
Mamá de Joe, Bernie, Danny y Gabe.
Hermana de Oscar, Danda, and Míquiru.
Hija de Kiko and Alicia.
Los Escobars.
Her cooking talents were exceeded only by her generosity
and love of chiste y la risa.
Siguiendo los pasos de su abuelo, Papatón,
Becky era muy política.
A Democrat to the end.
As a precinct judge at the polls,
she witnessed, firsthand, democracy in action.
She spoke beautiful Spanish and English,
and switched easily between the two.
Tenía amigos de varias culturas.
She could be a vibrant ball of energy, or a calming spirit.
Becky será extrañada por todos.
los secretos de la cocina Valdés.
Como hacer el chile colorado con ajo y sal
para enchiladas tan ricas y sabrosas;
the secret to making Spanish rice
(con chícharos) light and fluffy.
Su cocina nunca cerraba,
con algo siempre simmering on the stovetop
and a pie or casserole baking in her industrial oven.
She cooked from a long list of traditional recipes, everything from
tacos, enchiladas, picadillo, flan, salsas, mole, menudo, caldos
or anything else with a Mexican flair.
Her Paella was delicate and famous.
Casó con José Baca.
Mamá de Joe, Bernie, Danny y Gabe.
Hermana de Oscar, Danda, and Míquiru.
Hija de Kiko and Alicia.
Los Escobars.
Her cooking talents were exceeded only by her generosity
and love of chiste y la risa.
Siguiendo los pasos de su abuelo, Papatón,
Becky era muy política.
A Democrat to the end.
As a precinct judge at the polls,
she witnessed, firsthand, democracy in action.
She spoke beautiful Spanish and English,
and switched easily between the two.
Tenía amigos de varias culturas.
She could be a vibrant ball of energy, or a calming spirit.
Becky será extrañada por todos.
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