El Jefe y La Chamaca

  Arcade, Lamenting Youth, & Fake Grass         Chamaca sits in the stroller bobbing her head up and down as Green Onions by Booker T plays over the speakers. The bald man with a beard, who I will later learn is named Grant, stands behind the counter finishing orders. He notices Chamaca and waves hello. They begin exchanging smiles and Chamaca waves back at him, smiling with her teeth. The vibe in the deli matches the intensity of the warm sun rays through the windows and we all feel happiness together. I order a Pesto Pollo and iced coffee. Sitting on a bench by the window, I overhear Grant talking with a customer about the upcoming 49ers game and excitement fills the room as they go back and forth. I'm not a fan of the 49ers but I respect their pride and loyalty. It's nice to hear two guys talking about a sports team and being excited for the weekend.  I notice a row of arcade games in the next room and make a mental note to come back with so...

  Part 2 - Migration, Portals & Express Pupusería  3,867 miles. That is the distance from El Salvador to San Francisco. Chamaca and I sit here, in this small 12 seat restaurant located on Geary Boulevard and listen to the sounds of someone making pupusas. It's the same sound I heard at home when my mom made pupusas during the holidays. The same sound I heard when my Tia came to visit. It's a sound that resonates with so much emotion in it, a sound that traveled so many miles, carried by those who brought it with them. Chamaca is hearing it now, at Express Pupusería.               No disrespect to San Francisco, but sitting in Express Pupusería made me feel like I was back in Los Angeles. Small tables pushed up against the wall, Los Caminos de la Vida playing on a kitchen radio, and the 2 women behind the counter taking orders, making food, running food, answering the phone and bussing tables; doing it all w...