On a cold winter nite, December 21st, 1957, Genova arrived in New York City from La Republica Dominicana. Thirty-two years old and with just enough money to rent a furnished room in the upper west side. In the ’60s the upper west side was a far cry from what it is today. No command of the English language, “una mano atras y otra alante” as said in Spanish, “not a pot to pee in.” What Genova lacked in financial resources, she overcompensated with gumption. Getting acclimated to American culture was quite jarring coming from a culture in which everyone knows their neighbors, and customarily treated with warmth, dignity, and seen. Genova was consumed by upward mobility. The first task was securing the resources to purchase a house back home, so all six of her children can once again live together under one roof. Within three years the mission was accomplished. Although her children were keenly aware of their mothers’ sacrifices, being apart weighed heavily on them. Having graduated from the third grade, Genova was relegated to working in factories as a seamstress, potato peeler, kitchen of restaurants to name a few. With savings from multiple jobs, she moved into a five-bedroom apartment in Sugar Hill, Harlem. She rented the bedrooms to other newly arrived immigrants, which paid her rent and provided surplus. Genova offered cooking services to the boarders for an additional fee. Aside from boarders, cooking services, she provided baby-sitting services as well. As a child, she would tell adults premonitions despite her pious mother frowning on this gift. While in Harlem far away from her mother’s disapproval, she visited a local botanica and purchased a deck of tarot cards and taught herself how to read the cards. She has always been intrinsically connected to her sixth sense. Once she started providing tarot services business soared. People learned of her through word of mouth. Walking into her living room closely resembled a waiting room in a doctor’s office. Well-heeled individuals, from all walks of life, ranging from a journalist, wife of a physician, big-time drug dealers, and countless others as repeat customers. Genova even had customers who spoke no Spanish and had friends translate readings, as customers kept notes in a journal. She had customers calling from as far as Peru for readings. Genova also prepared Banos’ when clients required spiritual cleansing. Banos’ consisted of various hojas among other ingredients. Banos’ ranged in price between $100 and $200, the business was fruitful. Working incessantly, numerous side hustles, living below her means, she managed to purchase additional homes in La Republic Dominicana, as rental properties. Single handed securing visas and permanent residency for all six of her children to join her in America.
BeBa
Beba worked in a hair salon as a nail technician, she supplemented her income by shampooing and waxing when necessary. Beba is jovial and light-hearted. She mentions how one of her loyal clients would come in and speak about how great her husband was in bed as well as when things were not so great. Beba decided she wanted to see for herself. Beba along with her husband went on a double date with her client and spouse. Shortly after Beba began hooking up with her clients husband regularly. Any location which had an element of risk they had sex, (ie). cemetery, dirt roads, her clients bed. Beba’s client confided how her husband was straying and Beba would just listen. Never did client imagine, Beba was her husbands mistress. Guy walks out on his wife, Beba leaves her husband and move in together. Client begins to stalk husband until she learn’s Beba is the mistress. Beba gets pregnant, client vows to never allow her husband peace without her. Beba tells how she never dreamt of leaving her spouse. The relationship was tumultuous from the onset. Her lover was a drug dealer which meant a revolving door between jail and close encounters with the authorities. The wife (former client) always mustered up some scheme to temporarily win her husband back and sometimes with the help of Brujeria occasionally it worked. Beba had no peace, the angst, despair she had inadvertently caused would not leave her alone.