Few people grew up in rural Nebraska. I did. My family was agricultural. My people either farmed or dealt in some aspect of agricultural products.

Much of our activity was very labor intensive on a seasonal basis. We worked with Hispanic migratory labor always. Working as a farm hand with Mexican laborers, I learned Spanish as a kid. They taught me much.

There were no labor laws for farm kids in those days. It was sometimes dangerous work. We grew up fast.

I had a Swiss grandfather who spoke many languages, and, even though he had little formal education, he was a philosopher and an intellectual.

My other grandfather was from a family whose ancestors arrived at Jamestown in the very early days of that establishment. He was a very talented musician and he taught me much about art.

I was graduated from the University of Nebraska at Kearney with dual majors in French and history. I lacked only a couple of hours for a minor in English.

I always studied on scholarships. The instruction I have received in life has been essentially free of cost.

I attended graduate school at The University of Paris (Sorbonne) in Paris, France; Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.

I do not have a masters degree. I also have followed many classes at Miami Dade College. When they offer advanced degrees, I shall continue.

My interests include just about everything. I have been writing since I was a little kid. I published commercial articles on behalf of my employers. I have never published anything in my own name.

My passion is ...

Immigration, fiction, poetry, politics, Latin America, Spain, Europe

I know too much about ...

I am still learning about everything.

My parents always told me ...

Be honest, be brave.

My childhood ambition ...

To live an interesting life.

My favorite memory ...

The births of my many children.

Why I write ...

For the same reason that I breathe: It is life.

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Vargas Llosa, Unamuno, Will Durant, Ramon Sender, Many others

My first job ...

Farm hand

My best moment ...

The births of my children

My inspiration ...

Gaia

Health & Fitness > Nutrition (Other) On becoming a vegetarian: pros and cons

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On becoming a vegetarian: pros and cons

First, I must confess I am a vegetarian and have been all of my life. Well, another confession when I was a kid and other kids ate hamburgers, I sometimes also ate one. When I was an adult, looking to advance in the world, and the boss's wife invited me to dinner, I ate whatever was placed before me. These exceptions always made me feel bad, both physically and emotionally.

I am seventy years old. I am very healthy. Personally, I don't know another seventy year old who is in physical condition comparable to mine.

My people were ...

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