@mamatamaler would actively avoid having photos taken of her. Years ago, I convinced her that we needed to visually record the history of @tamalegirllb for posterity. Slowly, she came around eventually allowing interviews, podcasts & photo spreads. I was so proud of her, overcoming essentially her being shy, introverted even unless she was behind her grocery counter at work. She was raised to work hard & be humble. Being on the spotlight was to be avoided. I explained that folks wanted to know that she stood on a box to reach the counter at twelve years old in 1944 when her mama founded #LaBorinquenaMexicatessen. Our customers became amig@s who wanted to see her smiling face since it reminded them of her warmth, eagerness to share recipes, mama hugs, delicious plates of authentic #mexicanamerican food & frankly the best #mexican tamales around. This is one of my favorite photos of us, taken for a feature in the #SFChron. We had come a long way as a mother/daughter team. She taught me her work ethic, how to tend to our customers needs & tell the stories of our shop, our family and memories of being on #lacallesiete. I love our matching cheesy smiles and that she was wearing a sweatshirt with @tinatamalecalvera. She resisted that I was depicted as a skull, taboo since I was still living. She accepted that it was a homage to our cultura & also to her mama, my Grandmother Rosa who was born on #diadeloamuertos. All of this, the memories of our shop that we shuttered four years ago yesterday & quietly celebrating what would have been her birthday today gives me strength. I remember the past, the bitter & the sweet. I smile even though my heart aches. Mama taught me to always look forward, I do so in her honor today & everyday. #imissmymama #oakland #legacybusiness #oldoakland #oldneighborhood #latinosinwestoakland #westoaklandbarrio (at La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen & Specialty Shop) https://www.instagram.com/p/B0pib3wBG4y/?igshid=uadbjy7vilok
