Mi madre: Norma Iris Mercado Bermúdez

My mother: Norma Iris Mercado Bermúdez de Bermúdez

(b. 1935 Utuado)

This photo was taken when my mother was 14 years old during the Patron Saint festival in Utuado Puerto Rico. At the time she had been dating my father, Emeterio Bermúdez Lugo (b. 1928 Utuado), for about a year, he was in the USA working the farms and she took the photo to send to him.

Mom comes from a strict Pentecostal upbringing (i.e., women do not wear make-up or jewelry) and this is the only time I have seen her "done up" like this. The necklace was a gift from her father, my grand-pop, Trinidad Mercado Hernandez (b. 1914 Utuado, d. 1962 Youngstown Ohio), and the make-up belonged to her Aunt Gica, who helped her get ready for the picture.

She mailed the photo to my dad and there is some debate as to how he reacted when he received it. Mom says dad wrote her a letter saying he was not happy about her wearing jewelry and make-up; he allegedly said "you're becoming worldly "impia" like your aunt Gica." Now my dad says he had no such reaction and that he even brought her back a necklace from his trip.

Hmmm. Regardless, the photo was in my father's wallet for over 20 years and it now sits on his dresser.