CAPTURING THE RECIPES OF LIFE

The month of April is upon us and with it, spring should be in full bloom. Warm weather, rain and the return of green grass and foliage brings life back to our eyes after a long winter. The coming of spring season brings memories of renewal and rebirth and the beauty of life.

As I work on my own documentary film (Boricua Soy Yo), I was fortunate enough this past March to put together a slice of life documentary short on a woman name Ada Avila. Senora Avila lives in Deltona, FL with her daughter Grace. Senora Avila was born in Manta, Ecuador in January 1910, making her one of the world’s few supercentenarians at 111 years old. She came to the US in 1954 with her six children, first settling in New York City.

Speaking with Sra. Avila, I was taken aback at how much life was still in her, how great she looked for her age and how sharp her mind was. I was really impressed with her sense of humor, as she reminded three of her children who were also interviewed for the piece, that she was quite the disciplinarian.

As a video producer/documentary filmmaker, I have interviewed countless of people, spanning various topics. Whether they were internationally known musicians, professional sports stars, boxers, wrestlers, business owners, historians, or veterans, I have always enjoyed the stories told by the older folks I’ve interviewed.

A few years ago, I interviewed two Borinqueneers who were in their late 80s and early 90s respectively and the stories they told, along with the how much wisdom they shared will be something I will always carry with me. Like lost languages or cultures, the stories, wisdom and cultures our elders carry are slowly evaporating with each passing day.

The reason I mentioned Sra. Avila and the two Korean War Veteran Borinqueneers, is because we live in a day and age where technology is part of almost every facet of life, yet so many of the experiences of our elders are not being captured. I wish I could go back in time and document my grandparent’s stories, hit the record button on a camera and just ask them questions.

Our elders, those that came before us carried a lot to bring us to where we are today. As a documentary filmmaker and historian, my main goal is to capture a person’s story so that it can be passed onto generations after. Like a favorite recipe that a loved one had that was never written down on paper, the stories and experiences our elders carry disappear once they leave this earth.

If there is only one thing you take away from my column this month, please let it be this: Talk to your elders, ask them questions, and document their stories and experiences, so that they may live on when they are gone, or be revisited when they themselves are fortunate to celebrate their 111th birthday.

—— Until next time.