Prologue
CALDERON RESIDENCE. FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - AUGUST 21, 2026
Thirty years have passed, since that night. A night etched in my mind and the bottom of my heart.
In this day, in this very hour of the afternoon, I met him. No, not Anthony, there was someone else before him. It was the year 1996, I was 16, and that was the year when I first fell in love.
My name is Celiné Amelia Rodriguez, and I was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 24, 1980. My father was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1945, two months after the war ended. He came here in 1969 when he was 24. He used to work in a factory in Trenton with his brother, Tio Julio. One night during a block party in 1977, the year of the first Star Wars movie, mi papá met mi mamá. It was love at first sight. Her name was Luisana Rosaura Hoyos. My mother was born in Medellin, Colombia. She first arrived in the states in 1973 for a better life and a better future.
When she left her homeland, mi abuelita Rosaura told her to never forget her roots. Because when you enter a new land and assimilate, you lose who you really are, you lose your compass. Mi abuelito Ricardo, added to his own wisdom, that if she had any children in America, to educate them on where they come from because their blood lies in Colombia.
Mamá went to stay with her prima, Tía Nancy, who gave her a job at the local restaurant that she owned - a place where the best Colombian food in town was served. While my papá, he was taught English in a school in Santiago, it took Mamá a little while to pick it up, but she became quite fluent over the years.
In 1978, a year after they started dating, mis padres got married. Not the fanciest, nor the biggest wedding, but a very beautiful one with Dominicans and Colombians together, a very rich sight of uniting our cultures together. A year later, Mamá was pregnant and on a hot summer morning - July 24, 1980 - I was born. My parents chose my name Celiné, because to them, I was heaven-sent.
Then on May 25, 1985, my little sister, Claudia Lucía, was born. At the age of 7, mis padres told me about the lands they came from. My mother told me of Colombia, and my father told me about the Dominican Republic. Little did I know in store what waited for me. We lived in an apartment building with neighbors of different origins; Dominicans, Boricuas, African Americans and there were three white families and one Jewish family. Quite the place.
I remember one morning once school was over for the summer, I heard Mami and Papi having a discussion. It turns out that Mami wanted to move to Medellin, so that Claudia and I can meet our abuelitos and see her home with our own eyes. Papi was skeptical, because in the 1980s, things were turbulent in Colombia back then. He was very worried about the state of that country and what was going on.
She assured him that everything will be fine, she swore we would be happy despite everything down there. Bowing his head in thoughts, he took an hour to process it. But in the end, he decided to respect Mami's wishes. I frankly admit that I was scared to go, I didn't want to leave my friends behind and those nice neighbors we had too.
On August 16, 1988, I was 8 years old, my little sister Claudia was 3, and we left for Medellín, Colombia. I said tearful goodbyes to my neighbors in the building and the kids in the neighborhood. I still remember vividly when that plane took off. It was going to be a fresh start, in a different land, a different language, a different culture, new people, new experiences, and new life.
I still remember the words Mami told me as we were flying for 14 hours. Mami told me these words while Papi and Claudia were sleeping. "Celiné, mi hijita. Do you know what Medellín is known as?" I shook my head "People call it "La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera", the City of Eternal Spring." the beautiful name piqued my curiosity so much that I asked, "Why do they call Medellín that, Mami?", she gave me her sweet smile, one that every mother gives to her children as she gently caressed my face and stroked my hair, "They call it as such because of its beautiful landscapes, the warmth and pleasant climate, the rainfalls, and fertile mountains with beautiful flowers and trees."
I remember those words that made me curious about the land my Mami came from. "There is also an event that you and your hermanita will love so much, "La Feria de las Flores", the Flower Festival". It was an annual celebration in that city, something so beautiful I was eager to see being a child. I loved flowers, I remember how Mami always took care of them as if they were her own children.
And then I asked "What if Abuela Rosaura and Abuelo Ricardo don't like me? What if I don't have friends in Colombia?", she continued to encourage me "Don't be silly, mi hijita. Your abuelitos will love you so much. I wrote to them when you were born and send them pictures of you every year." her words gave me comfort, yet I was still scared. "They responded to me, and they were so happy with those pictures and Claudia's as well. Te lo prometo, que te van a querer muchísimo. They will love you." and that was all I needed to hear that I smiled. "Now get some rest mi hijita, because once this plane lands, your adventure will begin."
As I laid my head on Mami's shoulder, we both went to sleep. I felt a sense of peace, for the moment. What she said to me during that flight, it will stay with me forever.
A few hours later, the plane landed on José María Córdova International Airport, located in the nearby municipality of Rionegro. Once we got out of the terminal, waiting for us was my mother's younger sister, Tía Margarita and her husband Tío Marcos. It was a joyous moment for the sisters to reunite. They already liked Papi, and they looked at me "¿Luisana, quien es esta preciosura de niña?", I could tell she liked me already and I liked her as well "Esta es Celiné Amelia" and then she introduced my three-year-old sister "Y esta chiquita aquí es Claudia Lucía". I remember Tia Margarita caressing my cheek and saying, "You and your sister are the most beautiful girls that my eyes have seen".
As we rode to town throughout the beautiful valleys, I was nervous, yet very awed how it was all so beautiful. Tia Margarita worked in a flower plantation, and Tio Marcos worked in a furniture shop, making and selling polished and beautiful seats. They had a son, Alberto. Tia and Mami talked about life in Trenton and were happy that Tia Nancy was thriving in her business. Though times were tough, we had to stick together to make sure we were all very happy together.
Once we arrived at the house of my abuelitos, they and little Alberto, who was 6 were waiting. I remember that beautiful pink colored house with black gates, a pink colored fence, and that beautiful stone entryway. Mami was so emotional to see Abuela Rosaura and Abuelito Ricardo, they were so happy. And Mami was right, I remember my abuelita carrying me and showering me and Claudia with hugs and kisses, and abuelito Ricardo too, he really loved us.
We also met Abuela Rosaura's good friend who helped her around the house, Doña Isabela Molina Santos. Her husband was Don Luis Molina, people with hearts of gold. That night we had a nice welcoming party full of dancing, a nice feast of empanadas, arroz con pollo, ajiaco, arepas, and a platter of bandeja paisa, traditional Colombian cuisine.
I still remember this nice party, and meeting two girls, the daughters of Dona Isabela, their names were Carolina and Teresa, twin sisters that were a year older than I was. They preferred to be called Caro and Tere. I remember them saying "Vienes de Estados Unidos?" and I replied in my American accent "Si", and they giggled "Tienes que trabajar un poco en tu español, pero te ayudaremos".
I was terrified, but with that conversation, we became best friends. "Do you want to play Barbies with us?" Caro asked. And with a huge smile I said, "Yes, of course." and I asked, "Mami, can I play Barbies with Caro and Tere?", she smiled "Of course, mi vida. Just don't take too long and take Claudia with you.", I reached down my little sister's hand and the four of us walked off together into the courtyard.
Mami was right, the adventure was only just beginning.
