La Vida Yaya

I was watching an old Antonio Aguilar film the other day and thought how wonderful the film was because Sara Garcia was in it. I know her best playing the loving and often hilarious granny in Pedro Infante films. Another thing that made me think about her was buying the Mexican chocolate Abuelita recently at Vallartas for a coworker who wanted to make some at home. I had some made for a special occasion and it was delicious. Very comforting on a sunny but cool day. It's nice to introduce a new convert to the sinfully rich decadence of Abuelita. Now I'm not sure if that is in fact Sara Garcia on the Abuelita box but it sure does look like her and Wikipedia says it's so. And who better to be on that box of warm, yummy goodness than a warm, fuzzy, spitfire of a granny. She seriously does not get enough credit. Without her in those Infante and Aguilar films, the story lines would all be about macho men on horses singing to delicate flowers of women. But with Sara Garcia in the

Everyday is a day to learn about Black history and culture. I don't think you can realistically separate it from "American" culture, but alas, I think it continues to be of importance despite the progress we've made to be colorblind. We still need to be mindful of how every culture, every person, and every region contributes to society and how it affects-- and is very much a part of-- our daily lives. Perhaps the best way to pay homage to the Black community's contributions is to spotlight things that are already out there to do in and around LA that will expand your knowledge of African American history and culture. You don't need a specific festival or event in February to learn about it although you can find them and participate this month and year round. Check out these links below and create your own learning experience. Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum: http://www.claytonmuseum.org/ St. Elmo's Artist Village: http://www.stelmovillage.org/ The