Strong Family Ties - Commemorating Hispanic Heritage Month by Felicia Davila-Milligan
As a proud daughter of Mexico, I am so honored to add my voice and story in commemoration of Hispanic Heritage Month. I want to dedicate my share to my grandmother, Esperanza “Hope” Castruita, who was a central figure in my life and was always so supportive of all we did.
My personal story is probably like many first- or second-generation immigrant children. Both sets of my grandparents came to the United States with virtually nothing to speak of and just a bit of savings. What they did have was a strong work ethic, very skilled with their hands, and extremely driven to make a good life in the U.S.One grandfather (my mom’s) became a skilled union machinist, and my grandmother, Hope, was a seamstress and tailor. I spent all summer with my grandmother, Hope (my little abuelita), most summers and holidays. My grandmother was tiny and small, but a real powerhouse of a woman. She raised five kids (including my mom), worked two full-time jobs, and had multiple side hustles, well before having a “side hustle” or being a boss babe was a thing.
She raised chickens and geese in the backyard, raised bees, tended a full garden, and sold the fruit and vegetables to the neighbors. I remember being at her house over the summer and being in awe (and probably a little horror) as I watched her in action. To this day, I still have two goose feather pillows she made for me as a little girl from the geese she raised. My grandmother was a constant in our family. Every holiday and event centered around my grandparent’s house. I remember my grandmother cooking and cooking huge plates of food for every gathering, while my grandfather sat in the den reading a dictionary. We would sit on my grandfather's lap, and he would have us pick random words to read and learn. Education and a love of learning were something that would drive my childhood. I have very vivid memories of them both being at all my school events and later, my grandfather would frame my art, awards, and certificates. He had them in his machine shop in the garage. And when we asked him why he told us that he was so proud of his American grandkids.
Now that all my grandparents and father have passed on, I feel a profound appreciation for everything they did for me and my entire family. I come from working-class blue-collar people who gave us everything they could, including opportunities and instilling belief in ourselves. They scrimped, saved, and scratched their way so we could go to private school, go to universities, travel, and attain professional roles – something they never had themselves but wanted deeply for us. I could not be prouder of my origin story and am thankful for all they did to get me here today.
FeliciaDavila-Milligan
