Hey all, did you see Superbowl LX? Go Seahawks! So, I usually only watch football under these scenarios: the end of football games when I’m by myself sometimes, Superbowl halftime shows and then the last two quarters sometimes. I’m not a huge football fan. But this year? I watched it all! Because I really like Bad Bunny and his show was HIGHLY anticipated by so many people, not the least of which were Latine people in the United States, and the world, and especially Puerto Rican people who, basically lost their minds in the days leading up to the show and for 2-3 days afterwards.

Count me among them.

I was not born in Puerto Rico but I lived there for a couple of years when I was a teenager (13 and 16) when my Puerto Rican mom decided to move back to the homeland (about a year each time). Those were the best teenage years of my life. I had my first boyfriend there. His name was Georgie and he was dark with green eyes and he taught me how to kiss, and it was such a sweet sweet time.

I was able to hang with my friends in front of the movie theater down the street from my house (something my mother would NEVER let me do in Chicago). I made such a great friend, Nilda. I learned that my Spanish was actually ok, and I graduated from 7th grade and 10th grade with all A’s and B’s in classes taught in Spanish!

I learned how to Salsa dance. I discovered I lost myself in the dance. I, a total nerd, as it turns out was a great salsa dancer, especially , guaguanco and guajira. I discovered Hector Lavoe, the GOAT of salsa. I went on parrandas on a couple of Christmas nights and nothing topped ending the parranda at my uncle Fin’s house where we had the most delicious chicken soup that ever existed. In the summer we went to the beach often, and I remember once, on the 4th of July I think it was, my mom and aunts packed some full-on food– rice and beans and pork chops in a giant Caldero and took all this to the beach for us to eat (don’t ask me how this was done; seems kind of crazy but I remember eating real food during that nighttime picnic. It was night and we played in the water for hours.)

Remembering my most beloved, loved, achingly loved, aunts and uncles that I just saw too little of. My Uncle Carmelo who thankfully lived in Chicago for a few years so I got to know him the best. I adore him, RIP Tio Carmelo. and his wife Titi Malen was so kind to me, in her acerbic, very dry witty way. I loved her to the moon and back. And my Titi Cuca who was the baby of the family, the youngest in a family of 9 children. She made me feel pretty, and special. I’d better go to PR to see Titi Cuca soon. Because I’ve lost so much family. All the olds are gone into the great Isla de Borinquen in the sky. Including of course my mother.

Bad Bunny woke up all those memories and yearnings in my heart. He made me and all Latinos feel seen, and worthy. It’s been a very very tough time for Latinx people. Gracias Benito, por todo.