A New Start

Pedrito and his wife, Milagros along with their two young daughters migrated to Upper Manhattan, Washington Heights from La Republica Dominicana. Living in Washington Heights, required some adjusting. Surviving in a community where Spanish is the primary language and countless immigrants made the transition easier. Like the plight of many immigrants, they rented a room in someone’s apartment. Life in New York City was different although they were together and slowly making inroads. Until Pedrito was struck by a Transit bus, leaving him on the cusp of losing his life. Pedrito lost his teeth, partial eyesight and was bedridden for two years. Milagros patiently tended to Pedrito throughout the slow recovery. Once Pedrito made a full recovery and received millions in the settlement, he quietly packed his belongings and without a word returned to La Republica Dominicana. In D.R. he reinvented himself, started a new life with a new relationship and a new child, set up businesses, life was good. One day two men entered his home, held him at gunpoint, and killed him, there never was a forced entry. Pedrito’s lover was accused of masterminding everything and was incarcerated along with the assailants. The remaining money from the settlement was returned to the wife, in place of a new start

Laborinto de mi Vida

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.