Ugh, I've had this killer flu or bug of some type for a week and I can't shake it. Got it from my daughter who went through her horrible week with her fever spiraling out of control. Don't you hate when your kids get sick? Basically when they're sick, you're out of commission too. You can't work, can't keep appointments, can't leave the house.
So, I feel like I haven't participated in the world for two weeks. Thank God for the internet. The only good thing about all this down time is that as I sat on the couch delirious, I did come up with a plan for this blog.
Since my schedule is normally insane, I will have a three day blog update, though I may surprise myself and throw in an extra day here and there. For now it will look like this:
Friday: Argentine travel, traditions, or insights about the culture and how is warped me
Sunday: Topic of the week (anything interesting going on in the world or with my work)
Wednesday: Recipes I like (and you can share yours too!)
Also I've created a separate blog for those of you who like to write or hope to write someday. It will be a sort of writers journal with mostly my writing process, struggles, aha moments and tips (when I have something original to share). And it can be a place for you all to ask writing related questions. Once I get that going I'll announce it here and cross post.
All right, I feel better already. Fading in and out while people's court plays in the background and the news announces a woman giving birth to EIGHT babies starts to mess with your mind after a while. You start wondering if you're dreaming, hallucinating or really hearing correctly. Writing fiction is much saner than watching TV.
Until Sunday,
Julia
Friday, January 30, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
American Dream realized
( JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
The presidential inauguration is now over, and everyone seems ready to work hard to build a new America. Of course, I ask myself why we had to wait for a politician (president or not) to remind us that our country will not continue to grow and prosper without the involvement of each and every one of us. But if that's what it had to take than I'm fine with that. I'm happy to see people excited about the future again. And I'm thrilled that so many young people participated in the election process.
Now that the parties are over and the wonder of the "historic moment" has passed, my hope is that people will take that passion and apply it to their life. That they don't forget and go back to the apathetic way they lived before.
I'm the daughter of immigrants who believed in the American Dream, and I believe in it too. As an author I write stories of hope and the greatness of what people can achieve in America. But I don't believe that one man will or can do it all. Hilary Clinton's "It takes a village" is true. It takes the hard work of all of us to maintain a great nation.
And I'm eager to see what we all do in the coming months and years to make Inauguration day more than just one day.
Julia
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Browse Argentina
I'm planning, as a develop this blog, to have a day devoted to interesting facts, travel info., news, etc. about Argentina. Since my next two books feature Argentine characters, why not? I'll start today with a little bit about Argentina itself.My mother, when asked where she's from will usually say, South America. One day I asked her why she didn't say Argentina rather than claiming the entire continent. Her answer was that no one knew where Argentina was, and if she said, "Argentina" the conversation would be prolonged and she'd have to go into a geography lesson. But with the South America answer, people would nod and go away realizing she was from somewhere down there and it didn't much matter where. I have found that it's true that in many people's minds South American, and Central American countries are grouped together and seem all the same.
And in a way, as all the Americas, we share the same beginning history. We were all colon
ized by Europeans. Some countries were able to maintain more indigenous peoples than others. I think the largest native group in Argentina were the Guarani. Argentina, like most of South and Central America and Mexico, was colonized by Spain. The hero that they credit with liberting Argentina and helping to declare it's independence from Spain was Jose de San Martin between 1810 and 1816. So it's a fairly young country.
ized by Europeans. Some countries were able to maintain more indigenous peoples than others. I think the largest native group in Argentina were the Guarani. Argentina, like most of South and Central America and Mexico, was colonized by Spain. The hero that they credit with liberting Argentina and helping to declare it's independence from Spain was Jose de San Martin between 1810 and 1816. So it's a fairly young country.After the Spanish, other immigrant groups continued to arrive. Probably the largest were the Italians. You see a heavy influence of the Italians in the speech of Argentines and the food which is heavy in pastas.
The official language is Spanish (you knew that one). The official religion is Catholicism though I wouldn't say it's heavily practiced. The capital is Buenos Aires where a huge percentage of the population lives.
One of my favorite things about Argentina is its location. At the end of South America, th
e Patagonia is a wondrous place that, in my opinion, should be on everyones must visit places. With glaciers and penguins, snow covered mountains and gorgeous lakes, it's a world of extremes. One of my greatest disappointments was a trip I took to the Patagonia on a ship that was supposed to dock on Tierra del Fuego at the tip of southern Argentina, and because of weather, did not. To be so close and unable to disembark was heart breaking. I will try again one day. But that is a blog for another day.
e Patagonia is a wondrous place that, in my opinion, should be on everyones must visit places. With glaciers and penguins, snow covered mountains and gorgeous lakes, it's a world of extremes. One of my greatest disappointments was a trip I took to the Patagonia on a ship that was supposed to dock on Tierra del Fuego at the tip of southern Argentina, and because of weather, did not. To be so close and unable to disembark was heart breaking. I will try again one day. But that is a blog for another day.
Anyhow, I wanted to provide a very brief snapshot of Argentina. There is much more to share which I'll do at another time.
Julia
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Day Four of Chica lit Blog
Posting late today, so it will count for tomorrow too : )
Today my long time friend Berta Platas continued the Chica-lit Blog Tour. I have to admit that I did not read Berta's blog today even though I was dying to. I did stop by to take a peek at the beginning because I couldn't resist, then clicked away. The reason I didn't want to read it was that I like to experience the book for the first time when I open the cover. I get so excited about books that I want to enjoy every page and not know what's going to happen (this is why I don't read reviews of books beforehand either).
My mother is buying me Berta's book for my birthday at the end of the month. And I know she is because she told me. She's so funny about gifts. She tells me what she's getting me so that I won't buy it myself. Which means I can't buy it (well, I can, I'm sure Berta wouldn't mind two sales) and I'm forced to wait even though I know it'll be sitting at her house wrapped and awaiting the big day. I know it will be worth the wait, and reading anything about it will spoil it for me.
Now once I read the book I'll go back and see what else I can learn about the story.
But I'm sure most of you don't have my odd quirks about previewing books and enjoyed her blog today. I hope so. Don't forget to check out Mary Castillo's blog tomorrow.
Today my long time friend Berta Platas continued the Chica-lit Blog Tour. I have to admit that I did not read Berta's blog today even though I was dying to. I did stop by to take a peek at the beginning because I couldn't resist, then clicked away. The reason I didn't want to read it was that I like to experience the book for the first time when I open the cover. I get so excited about books that I want to enjoy every page and not know what's going to happen (this is why I don't read reviews of books beforehand either).
My mother is buying me Berta's book for my birthday at the end of the month. And I know she is because she told me. She's so funny about gifts. She tells me what she's getting me so that I won't buy it myself. Which means I can't buy it (well, I can, I'm sure Berta wouldn't mind two sales) and I'm forced to wait even though I know it'll be sitting at her house wrapped and awaiting the big day. I know it will be worth the wait, and reading anything about it will spoil it for me.
Now once I read the book I'll go back and see what else I can learn about the story.
But I'm sure most of you don't have my odd quirks about previewing books and enjoyed her blog today. I hope so. Don't forget to check out Mary Castillo's blog tomorrow.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Evenings at the Argentine Club preview
Thanks touring the Chica-lit New Year's Blog!! I hope you enjoyed Jamie's excerpt yesterday. I know I did!! The winner of Jamie's prize is Teresa Carbajal Ravet. Teresa, please email Jamie at jamie@jamiewood.com to claim the book of your choice. Congratulations!
Since my book has not yet been released. I'll be giving away a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble to one person chosen randomly from all those who post in response to the question following this excerpt. Good luck!
Excerpt from: EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB
To every Argentine Immigrant, July 9 is a day that brings back memories of family celebrations centered around food, wine, and heart pounding renditions of the national anthem playing on every radio and TV across the nation. July 9 is Independence Day. A day of freedom and liberty and new beginnings. But to those Argentines living in America it’s also a day to admit with a fair amount of guilt that they chose to give up their old life for the intangible, unexplainable dream of . . . something better.
Victoria Torres couldn’t say she understood what it felt like to leave behind everything one had ever known for something new. Leave parents, siblings, friends, an entire way of life to live among strangers who spoke differently than you, and believed in values that were foreign from those you grew up with. To do something of that magnitude took a sort of internal strength that she lacked. When she thought of immigrants and their decisions to leave their homes, she figured life had to either be so bleak in their own countries or dreams had to be so immense that they were willing to risk everything just for the hope of a little magic – a chance to change destiny.
Victoria admired that kind of courage. So much so that she tried to be sensitive to what her parents went through every Argentine Independence Day, even if the melodrama appeared to go over the top. She’d learned after 28 years of living with them to accept their ritual of lament followed by an evening of celebration.
The lament period had occurred this morning, with phone calls home and personal stories both her father, Victor, and her mother, Jaqueline, felt compelled to share with her yet again over breakfast.
"July is cold, not like here," her mother had shared. "We wore our best sweaters and after the family barbeques, we went dancing until the early hours of the morning."
"Don’t forget the marches down Avenida de Mayo," her father added. "Remember the freezing year that it snowed? The first time since 1816! What was it, 1974?"
"Seventy-three," Jaqueline said,
"Seventy-four," Victor repeated with certainty this time.
Victoria drank her earthy café con leche and listened, not because she hadn’t heard the stories a million times, but because it made them so happy to reminisce. Argentine immigrants, in her view, were fanatical, proud people who would be forever tied to a country they would never return to again. Her father had once described that the way he felt about his country was the same as what a man feels for a woman he once loved and never got over. Tragic.
But the morning trip down memory lane didn’t last long. Mostly, because July 9 might be an important date in Argentina, but here in America it was just another work day, at least for her family, who owned a popular restaurant in down town Burbank. And Sunday was the busiest day of all at La Parrilla.
The family traditions were put on hold until the evening when they would attend the celebrations at the Argentine club.
The Argentine club itself was a piece of Argentina transplanted on American soil. A non-descript building in Burbank, California that was the center of her community and a part of Victoria’s life since the day she was born. It occupied so much of her life and that of her parents, that she considered it a second home.
And since much of the preparations for the July 9th celebration fell on her shoulders, she urged her father out of the house so they could get to work at the family restaurant early. The sooner she could get her job done at the restaurant, the earlier she could head to the Argentine Club before the other members arrived.
Once at the work, Victor set aside all thoughts of Argentine Independence Day and focused on the restaurant. They had a quick meeting to start the day, reviewing the reservations or any other special event going on. Victoria placed all the food orders, except liquor. She handled the planning of private party events. And she took care of the physical appearance of La Parrilla. Things her mother used to do, which had eventually been passed on to her with the idea of training her to one day assume complete control of the business.
Victor studied the meat requirements for the weekend. "Mirá," he said, handing her a sheet of paper. "Call the supplier and tell him to deliver a shipment of short ribs, Italian sausage, flank steak, and sweet chard, to the Argentine Club, as well as the usual shipment to the grill."
The grill served a staggering amount of well seasoned beef every night. Every day she put in a fresh order. She scribbled the extra amount he suggested on her notepad. "I’ve got it."
"Last year they delivered a double order to the restaurant. Nothing to the club."
"I remember." She lowered the pad and smiled at her father. "I’ve got everything under control." She placed a hand on her father’s shoulder and dropped a kiss on his cheek. "Don’t worry."
Victor nodded. Never one to show emotion, that was sufficient to tell her he’d lay off. "What time are you getting to the club?"
Victoria loaded her notepad in her bag already full with books, her palm pilot, iPod, and assortments of colored pens. "Early enough to help with the set up, but late enough to avoid listening to the well meaning nagging from every mom and grandma at the club about my weight and lack of love life." Painful as it was to admit, she was a good fifty pounds over weight that collected mainly in the mid-section and hips of her 5'5" frame. In order to minimize the obvious, she shopped in the plus size section of Nordstrom, choosing elegant wide legs jeans, solid, dark colors, tops that all hung loosely past her hips. But the truth was, she wasn’t fooling anyone. Least of all men. Hence, her lack of love life.
"Hm," he said. "I don’t know why you don’t tell them all to mind their own business." As they were exiting the back office, a shipment of wine came in and the bartender interrupted to ask Victor to sign for it. "I’ll be right there," he said without breaking his stride into the already bustling restaurant where waiters worked rapidly, preparing for the lunch crowd.
The popularity of the restaurant had taken some time to grow into what it was today. Her father had opened it when she was about ten years old. She still remembered the day Victor had come home with the idea and shared it with her mother. Excited, they drove to the building he wanted to purchase in downtown Burbank. They’d looked through the filmy windows of the closed down diner as light drizzle fell on their heads. But no one noticed the weather. She and her sister ran up and down the sidewalk, happy because their parents smiled and spoke a mile a minute in Spanish about the possibilities.
Today, the restaurant was so much a part of the community, she couldn’t imagine driving down San Fernando Blvd. and not seeing it there. But the inside was dark and felt outdated to her. Victor had upgraded the sound system a few years back, and rather than playing a Spanish radio station from tiny corner speakers, Victoria had convinced him to invest in quality classical music which now softly filled the room. Though she knew it wasn’t the music or the intimate lighting or even the location that made the restaurant a success. It was the food itself, and Victor.
"Those women have nothing better to do than to stick their noses into everyone’s business," Victor continued. "Who are they to tell you what you should look like or when to get married?"
Her father was in many ways her ally. Not that he didn’t have his own ideas of how she should lead her life. But at least he didn’t nag. He flat out said, "I don’t like that man, he’s not Argentine, get rid of him" or in her younger years "Don’t embarrass your family by dressing like that." Or Victoria’s personal favorite, "I didn’t sacrifice my goals in life to watch you . . ." fill in the blank. Anything he didn’t agree with - risking her life at a rap concert, throwing money away on self improvement gurus, becoming a Protestant - all interests he’d squelched before they’d had a chance to grow. And once her father said what needed to be said, that was the end of the discussion. No matter how old she got. Her mother once told her that her father was right even when he was wrong. Who could argue with that?
"They mean well," Victoria said. "Besides, they’re probably right. I could stand to lose a few pounds, and I should make an effort to find the right man before I’m too old to enjoy him."
Victor frowned. "So join a gym, give men something to look at, then pick one of the guys at the club. Easy enough."
"Great Dad," she said, trying not to be hurt that he hadn’t said that she looked fine the way she was. "Love that plan. Now I’m going to the office to work or I’ll never get done and to the club in time."
##
At the Argentine Club, Jaqueline checked her vintage Omega gold wrist watch that Victor presented to her on their thirtieth anniversary. The weight of the thick band reminded her of the minutes ticking by. And the shimmering diamonds surrounding the face which were supposed to represent each glorious year together looked too ostentatious. Besides, the years hadn’t been that glorious. She lowered her wrist, and asked herself for the twentieth time, where was Victoria? She hoped Victor hadn’t kept her at the restaurant too long. He knew everyone counted on her to help out on special days like today. And July 9 was the most special of all. Even the air was charged with excitement as the set up crew arrived to prepare the tables in the large auditorium size hall, and her friends, Lucia and Nelly hurried to the back kitchen to make the postres.
She returned to the table they had placed by the front door where she had a list of who had called to say they would attend. Opening the book and taking a seat, she waited for guest to begin arriving.
The club phone rang and she quickly answered. It might be Victoria or a cancellation. But it was neither. The call was from a charming Mexican musician who had been trying to convince Jaqueline for months to let him perform at the club. His name was Hugo Oviedo. He had two children and Jaqueline had her suspicions that he was interested in Victoria. Thankfully, other than urging her mother to let him perform at the club, Victoria didn’t return his interest. Victor wouldn’t accept a man with children, who didn’t have a solid job, and on top of it all, wasn’t Argentine.
"Be more flexible," Hugo coaxed. "Variety is good, Jaqueline."
"I’m sorry, Hugo," she said. The board wouldn’t approve any event that didn’t fit their strict objectives for the club, which centered around the mission of celebrating the Argentine culture.
"I’m not going to give up. You guys would love me, if you gave me the chance."
"I’ve listened to you. I do love your music."
"Then put in a good word for me."
"I’m busy, Hugo," she told him, even though she wasn’t at the moment. "And the answer is still, no."
"Is your beautiful daughter around?"
"No. And I told you, you’re too old for her." That was another thing. The man was forty-one.
"She’s too young for me, and you’re married. Life is unfair." He joked.
"Hugo, you’re a silly man." But a nice one. Maybe she’d listen to Victoria and recommend him.
"I’ll suggest to the board that they let you perform. But no promises, understand?"
"Gracias," he said. "You’re wonderful."
"Stop with the flattery. I’ve already fallen for it."
He laughed. "I mean every word of it."
"Call me in a couple of weeks and I’ll let you know what we decide."
"I will. And Jaqueline?"
"What?"
"Happy Independence Day. See, I remembered."
She smiled. "Good-bye."
She made a note to bring him up at the next board meeting. Why not embrace a little variety?
##
In the back office of the restaurant, Victoria was ready to call it a day. She turned off the radio and sat behind the desk to finish up. They had a wedding party scheduled in two weeks, one retirement party, and a large group that just wanted tables grouped together next Saturday night, not interested in reserving the private room. Easy enough. She completed the paperwork and made a few phone calls.
As she filed away the forms, she noticed a thick file stuffed in the back. She tried to adjust it, but the file tore. She groaned, and pulled it out. Half the paperwork tumbled out onto the floor.
Victoria bent and started picking up the papers. She placed them on the desk and went in search of a new file, but found instead an empty box that was supposed to hold file folders. Great. She threw out the box. That was another errand for her to run - the office supply store.
She sat back down and started to straighten the papers which were now partially upside down and turned around. But seeing her home address on one of the forms caught her attention. She frowned and pulled it out of the pile. She wasn’t exactly sure what type of form she was holding, but the more she studied it, the more it looked like a bank loan with the house, and even the business listed at collateral.
Although she’d gone to college for a few years as a business major to please her father, she’d hated it and quickly learned that it wasn’t the kind of degree she wanted to get and dropped out. Still, even she could understand that this wasn’t good. What was her father doing?
She shuffled the paperwork and continued to read. Much of the legal vocabulary confused her, though words like restaurant expansion and franchise jumped out at her.
"Victoria, I just had a thought," Victor’s voice carried down the hall and he entered the office. "When you get to the club, why don’t you –."
"What’s all this?" she interrupted.
Victor glanced at the desk, squinted, then his face seemed to lose its color and close down. No expression readable.
"It says you’ve applied for a loan." She shuffled more papers. "You’ve got a business plan for two . . . no, ten restaurants? Ten? What in the world is this?"
Victor drew a breath and stepped forward. He placed a hand on his face and slowly drew it down across his mouth and down his chin. Then he took a seat across from Victoria - the desk between them. "That," he said – "is my legacy. For you and your sister."
Victoria frowned, not comprehending at all. "Dad, this is going to cost millions of dollars."
"I know."
"Mom agreed to this?" Victoria couldn’t imagine that she had. Jaqueline was the one who wanted both her and her sister to get nice government jobs with guaranteed income, medical insurance, and retirement benefits.
He maintained eye contact, then started to shake his head. "I didn’t need her agreement. The house and the restaurant are in my name."
Victoria narrowed her gaze. Bad answer.
"You know how your mother is," he said in defense. "She doesn’t understand business. And all she can see is the negative side of things."
No, she was conservative and careful. And she would flip when she learned about this.
"But," he sat straighter and looked into Victoria’s eyes. "I turned sixty this year, Gorda. I don’t know how it happened. One day I was a young man, full of dreams and plans and the next I woke up an old man."
"Dad, you’re not –."
"Listen," he said. "I didn’t come to America to get married, raise kids and barely get by." "Papi, you’ve done more than get by."
"Yes, but that’s not the point. I could have stayed in Argentina and done that. I came here to be someone. To make something of myself. And I decided that it was now or never."
Victoria stared at her father, seeing someone she wasn’t sure she knew. Wasn’t he the one who said, "Listen to your mother and don’t dream too big. Take things slowly. Don’t ever rush into anything?" She had vague memories of him talking about making it big someday, but that had been ages ago. When she was a teen. He hadn’t spoken like that in years. It was always caution, caution, caution that she heard from both her mother and her father.
"This restaurant has done well. Has done spectacular," he continued. "I’m going to open 10 more within the next five years. Then when they’ve all proven themselves, I’m going to sell franchises. By the time your kids are your age, La Parrilla will be as well know as Ruth Criss’ or Mortons Steakhouse. They’ll know their grandfather came to this country a poor man and become great."
Victoria shivered slightly in her seat at the chills running down her spine. His excitement was something strong and palpable and contagious. These feelings of future glory, of wanting greatness were things she’d desired herself when she was younger and dreaming of her future, but had always been afraid to voice. She’d felt it was selfish to want more than what her parents had already provided. So she’d learned to be content. Still living at home, because it had been easy to stay put while in college, and because her parents had wanted it that way. Working here at La Parilla part time and at a boutique part time. Owning a simple Saturn that got her around town. Life was easy.
Her father’s plans made her heart beat faster. If he was going for it, if he wasn’t satisfied with a satisfactory life, maybe it wasn’t so bad to dream after all. But she was also well aware the he was risking everything on this dream. Success was never easily achieved, and he was the one who told her that. "I don’t know what to say."
He shrugged. "I wasn’t going to share any of this yet. The plans are still premature. The loans have been approved, and I’m now contacting angel investors to get a good starting capital. In a couple of months, I’ll plan to break ground on the first two restaurants. One in Santa Monica and one in Newport Beach. Then I start looking for property outside of California."
Even though all the paperwork was still in her hands, Victoria stared at him in disbelief. "This is . . . exciting," she said stupidly.
Grinning like a little boy, he stood. "I’m glad you finally know. I’ve been dying keeping this to myself. I can’t wait to see your mother’s face when I take her to the openings of the new restaurants."
"You’re going to wait until then to tell her?"
"Yes. So, keep this to yourself. Understand?"
She understood. But she didn’t agree.
"In fact, while I’m getting these other two restaurants off the ground, I’ll expect you to put more time into this one. You’re ready to take on more responsibility, Victoria." With a pat on the back, he winked and walked out of the office.
Victoria sat in the chair dumbfounded. Was he going to expected her to run this restaurant? She didn’t want to be responsible for the restaurant. Truth was, she wasn’t interested in this type of business at all. And now he wanted to open ten more. Victoria dropped her head into her hands. In her mind, hearing another door slam shut. Burdened, as always, with her father’s plans for her life.
Thanks for reading! Victoria has to learn to deal with many issues in this novel. One is her family obligations, but another is her weight. How many extra pounds is she carrying?
Follow the blog by reading Berta Platas blog tomorrow. The winner of my contest will be announced on Berta's blog.
January 4th Berta Platas
January 5th Mary Castillo
January 6th Alisa Valdes Rodriguez
January 7th Margo Candela
Januray 8th BarbaraCaridad Ferrer
January 9th Gabriella Hewitt
January 10th LM Gonzalez
January 11th Tracy Montoya
Julia
Since my book has not yet been released. I'll be giving away a $10 gift card to Barnes & Noble to one person chosen randomly from all those who post in response to the question following this excerpt. Good luck!
Excerpt from: EVENINGS AT THE ARGENTINE CLUB
To every Argentine Immigrant, July 9 is a day that brings back memories of family celebrations centered around food, wine, and heart pounding renditions of the national anthem playing on every radio and TV across the nation. July 9 is Independence Day. A day of freedom and liberty and new beginnings. But to those Argentines living in America it’s also a day to admit with a fair amount of guilt that they chose to give up their old life for the intangible, unexplainable dream of . . . something better.
Victoria Torres couldn’t say she understood what it felt like to leave behind everything one had ever known for something new. Leave parents, siblings, friends, an entire way of life to live among strangers who spoke differently than you, and believed in values that were foreign from those you grew up with. To do something of that magnitude took a sort of internal strength that she lacked. When she thought of immigrants and their decisions to leave their homes, she figured life had to either be so bleak in their own countries or dreams had to be so immense that they were willing to risk everything just for the hope of a little magic – a chance to change destiny.
Victoria admired that kind of courage. So much so that she tried to be sensitive to what her parents went through every Argentine Independence Day, even if the melodrama appeared to go over the top. She’d learned after 28 years of living with them to accept their ritual of lament followed by an evening of celebration.
The lament period had occurred this morning, with phone calls home and personal stories both her father, Victor, and her mother, Jaqueline, felt compelled to share with her yet again over breakfast.
"July is cold, not like here," her mother had shared. "We wore our best sweaters and after the family barbeques, we went dancing until the early hours of the morning."
"Don’t forget the marches down Avenida de Mayo," her father added. "Remember the freezing year that it snowed? The first time since 1816! What was it, 1974?"
"Seventy-three," Jaqueline said,
"Seventy-four," Victor repeated with certainty this time.
Victoria drank her earthy café con leche and listened, not because she hadn’t heard the stories a million times, but because it made them so happy to reminisce. Argentine immigrants, in her view, were fanatical, proud people who would be forever tied to a country they would never return to again. Her father had once described that the way he felt about his country was the same as what a man feels for a woman he once loved and never got over. Tragic.
But the morning trip down memory lane didn’t last long. Mostly, because July 9 might be an important date in Argentina, but here in America it was just another work day, at least for her family, who owned a popular restaurant in down town Burbank. And Sunday was the busiest day of all at La Parrilla.
The family traditions were put on hold until the evening when they would attend the celebrations at the Argentine club.
The Argentine club itself was a piece of Argentina transplanted on American soil. A non-descript building in Burbank, California that was the center of her community and a part of Victoria’s life since the day she was born. It occupied so much of her life and that of her parents, that she considered it a second home.
And since much of the preparations for the July 9th celebration fell on her shoulders, she urged her father out of the house so they could get to work at the family restaurant early. The sooner she could get her job done at the restaurant, the earlier she could head to the Argentine Club before the other members arrived.
Once at the work, Victor set aside all thoughts of Argentine Independence Day and focused on the restaurant. They had a quick meeting to start the day, reviewing the reservations or any other special event going on. Victoria placed all the food orders, except liquor. She handled the planning of private party events. And she took care of the physical appearance of La Parrilla. Things her mother used to do, which had eventually been passed on to her with the idea of training her to one day assume complete control of the business.
Victor studied the meat requirements for the weekend. "Mirá," he said, handing her a sheet of paper. "Call the supplier and tell him to deliver a shipment of short ribs, Italian sausage, flank steak, and sweet chard, to the Argentine Club, as well as the usual shipment to the grill."
The grill served a staggering amount of well seasoned beef every night. Every day she put in a fresh order. She scribbled the extra amount he suggested on her notepad. "I’ve got it."
"Last year they delivered a double order to the restaurant. Nothing to the club."
"I remember." She lowered the pad and smiled at her father. "I’ve got everything under control." She placed a hand on her father’s shoulder and dropped a kiss on his cheek. "Don’t worry."
Victor nodded. Never one to show emotion, that was sufficient to tell her he’d lay off. "What time are you getting to the club?"
Victoria loaded her notepad in her bag already full with books, her palm pilot, iPod, and assortments of colored pens. "Early enough to help with the set up, but late enough to avoid listening to the well meaning nagging from every mom and grandma at the club about my weight and lack of love life." Painful as it was to admit, she was a good fifty pounds over weight that collected mainly in the mid-section and hips of her 5'5" frame. In order to minimize the obvious, she shopped in the plus size section of Nordstrom, choosing elegant wide legs jeans, solid, dark colors, tops that all hung loosely past her hips. But the truth was, she wasn’t fooling anyone. Least of all men. Hence, her lack of love life.
"Hm," he said. "I don’t know why you don’t tell them all to mind their own business." As they were exiting the back office, a shipment of wine came in and the bartender interrupted to ask Victor to sign for it. "I’ll be right there," he said without breaking his stride into the already bustling restaurant where waiters worked rapidly, preparing for the lunch crowd.
The popularity of the restaurant had taken some time to grow into what it was today. Her father had opened it when she was about ten years old. She still remembered the day Victor had come home with the idea and shared it with her mother. Excited, they drove to the building he wanted to purchase in downtown Burbank. They’d looked through the filmy windows of the closed down diner as light drizzle fell on their heads. But no one noticed the weather. She and her sister ran up and down the sidewalk, happy because their parents smiled and spoke a mile a minute in Spanish about the possibilities.
Today, the restaurant was so much a part of the community, she couldn’t imagine driving down San Fernando Blvd. and not seeing it there. But the inside was dark and felt outdated to her. Victor had upgraded the sound system a few years back, and rather than playing a Spanish radio station from tiny corner speakers, Victoria had convinced him to invest in quality classical music which now softly filled the room. Though she knew it wasn’t the music or the intimate lighting or even the location that made the restaurant a success. It was the food itself, and Victor.
"Those women have nothing better to do than to stick their noses into everyone’s business," Victor continued. "Who are they to tell you what you should look like or when to get married?"
Her father was in many ways her ally. Not that he didn’t have his own ideas of how she should lead her life. But at least he didn’t nag. He flat out said, "I don’t like that man, he’s not Argentine, get rid of him" or in her younger years "Don’t embarrass your family by dressing like that." Or Victoria’s personal favorite, "I didn’t sacrifice my goals in life to watch you . . ." fill in the blank. Anything he didn’t agree with - risking her life at a rap concert, throwing money away on self improvement gurus, becoming a Protestant - all interests he’d squelched before they’d had a chance to grow. And once her father said what needed to be said, that was the end of the discussion. No matter how old she got. Her mother once told her that her father was right even when he was wrong. Who could argue with that?
"They mean well," Victoria said. "Besides, they’re probably right. I could stand to lose a few pounds, and I should make an effort to find the right man before I’m too old to enjoy him."
Victor frowned. "So join a gym, give men something to look at, then pick one of the guys at the club. Easy enough."
"Great Dad," she said, trying not to be hurt that he hadn’t said that she looked fine the way she was. "Love that plan. Now I’m going to the office to work or I’ll never get done and to the club in time."
##
At the Argentine Club, Jaqueline checked her vintage Omega gold wrist watch that Victor presented to her on their thirtieth anniversary. The weight of the thick band reminded her of the minutes ticking by. And the shimmering diamonds surrounding the face which were supposed to represent each glorious year together looked too ostentatious. Besides, the years hadn’t been that glorious. She lowered her wrist, and asked herself for the twentieth time, where was Victoria? She hoped Victor hadn’t kept her at the restaurant too long. He knew everyone counted on her to help out on special days like today. And July 9 was the most special of all. Even the air was charged with excitement as the set up crew arrived to prepare the tables in the large auditorium size hall, and her friends, Lucia and Nelly hurried to the back kitchen to make the postres.
She returned to the table they had placed by the front door where she had a list of who had called to say they would attend. Opening the book and taking a seat, she waited for guest to begin arriving.
The club phone rang and she quickly answered. It might be Victoria or a cancellation. But it was neither. The call was from a charming Mexican musician who had been trying to convince Jaqueline for months to let him perform at the club. His name was Hugo Oviedo. He had two children and Jaqueline had her suspicions that he was interested in Victoria. Thankfully, other than urging her mother to let him perform at the club, Victoria didn’t return his interest. Victor wouldn’t accept a man with children, who didn’t have a solid job, and on top of it all, wasn’t Argentine.
"Be more flexible," Hugo coaxed. "Variety is good, Jaqueline."
"I’m sorry, Hugo," she said. The board wouldn’t approve any event that didn’t fit their strict objectives for the club, which centered around the mission of celebrating the Argentine culture.
"I’m not going to give up. You guys would love me, if you gave me the chance."
"I’ve listened to you. I do love your music."
"Then put in a good word for me."
"I’m busy, Hugo," she told him, even though she wasn’t at the moment. "And the answer is still, no."
"Is your beautiful daughter around?"
"No. And I told you, you’re too old for her." That was another thing. The man was forty-one.
"She’s too young for me, and you’re married. Life is unfair." He joked.
"Hugo, you’re a silly man." But a nice one. Maybe she’d listen to Victoria and recommend him.
"I’ll suggest to the board that they let you perform. But no promises, understand?"
"Gracias," he said. "You’re wonderful."
"Stop with the flattery. I’ve already fallen for it."
He laughed. "I mean every word of it."
"Call me in a couple of weeks and I’ll let you know what we decide."
"I will. And Jaqueline?"
"What?"
"Happy Independence Day. See, I remembered."
She smiled. "Good-bye."
She made a note to bring him up at the next board meeting. Why not embrace a little variety?
##
In the back office of the restaurant, Victoria was ready to call it a day. She turned off the radio and sat behind the desk to finish up. They had a wedding party scheduled in two weeks, one retirement party, and a large group that just wanted tables grouped together next Saturday night, not interested in reserving the private room. Easy enough. She completed the paperwork and made a few phone calls.
As she filed away the forms, she noticed a thick file stuffed in the back. She tried to adjust it, but the file tore. She groaned, and pulled it out. Half the paperwork tumbled out onto the floor.
Victoria bent and started picking up the papers. She placed them on the desk and went in search of a new file, but found instead an empty box that was supposed to hold file folders. Great. She threw out the box. That was another errand for her to run - the office supply store.
She sat back down and started to straighten the papers which were now partially upside down and turned around. But seeing her home address on one of the forms caught her attention. She frowned and pulled it out of the pile. She wasn’t exactly sure what type of form she was holding, but the more she studied it, the more it looked like a bank loan with the house, and even the business listed at collateral.
Although she’d gone to college for a few years as a business major to please her father, she’d hated it and quickly learned that it wasn’t the kind of degree she wanted to get and dropped out. Still, even she could understand that this wasn’t good. What was her father doing?
She shuffled the paperwork and continued to read. Much of the legal vocabulary confused her, though words like restaurant expansion and franchise jumped out at her.
"Victoria, I just had a thought," Victor’s voice carried down the hall and he entered the office. "When you get to the club, why don’t you –."
"What’s all this?" she interrupted.
Victor glanced at the desk, squinted, then his face seemed to lose its color and close down. No expression readable.
"It says you’ve applied for a loan." She shuffled more papers. "You’ve got a business plan for two . . . no, ten restaurants? Ten? What in the world is this?"
Victor drew a breath and stepped forward. He placed a hand on his face and slowly drew it down across his mouth and down his chin. Then he took a seat across from Victoria - the desk between them. "That," he said – "is my legacy. For you and your sister."
Victoria frowned, not comprehending at all. "Dad, this is going to cost millions of dollars."
"I know."
"Mom agreed to this?" Victoria couldn’t imagine that she had. Jaqueline was the one who wanted both her and her sister to get nice government jobs with guaranteed income, medical insurance, and retirement benefits.
He maintained eye contact, then started to shake his head. "I didn’t need her agreement. The house and the restaurant are in my name."
Victoria narrowed her gaze. Bad answer.
"You know how your mother is," he said in defense. "She doesn’t understand business. And all she can see is the negative side of things."
No, she was conservative and careful. And she would flip when she learned about this.
"But," he sat straighter and looked into Victoria’s eyes. "I turned sixty this year, Gorda. I don’t know how it happened. One day I was a young man, full of dreams and plans and the next I woke up an old man."
"Dad, you’re not –."
"Listen," he said. "I didn’t come to America to get married, raise kids and barely get by." "Papi, you’ve done more than get by."
"Yes, but that’s not the point. I could have stayed in Argentina and done that. I came here to be someone. To make something of myself. And I decided that it was now or never."
Victoria stared at her father, seeing someone she wasn’t sure she knew. Wasn’t he the one who said, "Listen to your mother and don’t dream too big. Take things slowly. Don’t ever rush into anything?" She had vague memories of him talking about making it big someday, but that had been ages ago. When she was a teen. He hadn’t spoken like that in years. It was always caution, caution, caution that she heard from both her mother and her father.
"This restaurant has done well. Has done spectacular," he continued. "I’m going to open 10 more within the next five years. Then when they’ve all proven themselves, I’m going to sell franchises. By the time your kids are your age, La Parrilla will be as well know as Ruth Criss’ or Mortons Steakhouse. They’ll know their grandfather came to this country a poor man and become great."
Victoria shivered slightly in her seat at the chills running down her spine. His excitement was something strong and palpable and contagious. These feelings of future glory, of wanting greatness were things she’d desired herself when she was younger and dreaming of her future, but had always been afraid to voice. She’d felt it was selfish to want more than what her parents had already provided. So she’d learned to be content. Still living at home, because it had been easy to stay put while in college, and because her parents had wanted it that way. Working here at La Parilla part time and at a boutique part time. Owning a simple Saturn that got her around town. Life was easy.
Her father’s plans made her heart beat faster. If he was going for it, if he wasn’t satisfied with a satisfactory life, maybe it wasn’t so bad to dream after all. But she was also well aware the he was risking everything on this dream. Success was never easily achieved, and he was the one who told her that. "I don’t know what to say."
He shrugged. "I wasn’t going to share any of this yet. The plans are still premature. The loans have been approved, and I’m now contacting angel investors to get a good starting capital. In a couple of months, I’ll plan to break ground on the first two restaurants. One in Santa Monica and one in Newport Beach. Then I start looking for property outside of California."
Even though all the paperwork was still in her hands, Victoria stared at him in disbelief. "This is . . . exciting," she said stupidly.
Grinning like a little boy, he stood. "I’m glad you finally know. I’ve been dying keeping this to myself. I can’t wait to see your mother’s face when I take her to the openings of the new restaurants."
"You’re going to wait until then to tell her?"
"Yes. So, keep this to yourself. Understand?"
She understood. But she didn’t agree.
"In fact, while I’m getting these other two restaurants off the ground, I’ll expect you to put more time into this one. You’re ready to take on more responsibility, Victoria." With a pat on the back, he winked and walked out of the office.
Victoria sat in the chair dumbfounded. Was he going to expected her to run this restaurant? She didn’t want to be responsible for the restaurant. Truth was, she wasn’t interested in this type of business at all. And now he wanted to open ten more. Victoria dropped her head into her hands. In her mind, hearing another door slam shut. Burdened, as always, with her father’s plans for her life.
Thanks for reading! Victoria has to learn to deal with many issues in this novel. One is her family obligations, but another is her weight. How many extra pounds is she carrying?
Follow the blog by reading Berta Platas blog tomorrow. The winner of my contest will be announced on Berta's blog.
January 4th Berta Platas
January 5th Mary Castillo
January 6th Alisa Valdes Rodriguez
January 7th Margo Candela
Januray 8th BarbaraCaridad Ferrer
January 9th Gabriella Hewitt
January 10th LM Gonzalez
January 11th Tracy Montoya
Julia
Friday, January 2, 2009
Happy New Year!
My wishes for the new year are many. Mostly, I want less this year. Less obligations, less stress, less clutter, less food which will hopefully translate to less weight (that one is on everyone's list, right?).
I've spent the last week and a half, cleaning stuff, organizing stuff, and trying to dig myself out of all the junk I have. Like the guy in this picture, my things and paperwork have taken over. Most of the time when I want to write, I leave and go work in a coffee shop, because I can't stand to be in my office. Isn't that crazy?
So my largest goal this year is that next year I won't have to spend so much time throwing stuff out. I'm going to go through one room a month and empty it out, keeping only what is being used.
What about you all? Any goals for the new year?
Julia
Chica-lit Blog tour
TOMORROW: See you back here for an excert of my fall release Evenings at the Argentine Club
January 4th Berta Platas
January 5th Mary Castillo
January 6th Alisa Valdes Rodriguez
January 7th Margo Candela
Januray 8th BarbaraCaridad Ferrer
January 9th Gabriella Hewitt
January 10th LM Gonzalez
January 11th Tracy Montoya
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)