I was born in Mexico but raised in the U.S. One big benefit of living in the South is access to good food. Being from the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, I was born with a yearning for outstanding flavor. Oaxaca is known for its gastronomy. It is considered Mexico's culinary capital. Oaxaca is home to...

ALT: Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) Running on Beach

Wow, this year has been difficult. Really, the end of 2025 into the start of 2026 has felt the heaviest. A few years ago, I got sick with the flu while in New York City for New Year's. I thought that was the worst birthday I'd ever had. Well, life apparently took that as a challenge. This year, I spent my birthday visiting my chosen mother (story for another time) in the ICU.

Wow, this year has been difficult. Really, the end of 2025 into the start of 2026 has felt the heaviest. A few years ago, I got sick with the flu while in New York City for New Year's. I thought that was the worst birthday I'd ever had. Well, life apparently took that as a...

Some places stay with you long after you've left them. Not because they were easy or comfortable, but because they quietly rearranged your sense of scale. Great Sand Dunes National Park had lived in the back of my mind for years. I'd seen the photos, the surreal sweep of gold pressed against jagged mountains, but photos don't carry weight, heat, or exhaustion.

Some places stay with you long after you've left them. Not because they were easy or comfortable, but because they quietly rearranged your sense of scale. Great Sand Dunes National Park had lived in the back of my mind for years. I'd seen the photos, the surreal sweep of gold pressed against jagged mountains, but...