Mixtón's Roots
I wish I could lie and say our story sprouted
from something positive and inspiring. But
the truth is, our story starts with death.
This photo is 1 year and 8 months before my
mom died. At 48 years old my mom was
diagnosed with Cancer of Unknown Primary.
Which basically means, 'You have cancer,
and we don't know much else.'
My Mother Lili
Who was Lili? My mother was someone extremely kind. She would always give people the benefit of the doubt, almost to a fault. She was a social worker after all, in adult protective services. She spent her career making sure the elderly weren't being taken advantaged of.
She was a proud college graduate. The first in her family. She believed knowledge was power and a degree was something no one could take away from you.
She LOVED fashion, beauty, shopping, travel, all things girly, home decor, and just like most of us, a good cocktail and dessert.
She loved nice things, but was a stickler for saving money and not being a "gastalóna'.
(Spanish for 'a big spender'). She LOVED a good bargain!
She was a first generation Mexican-American from parents who migrated to California from Mexico. So she learned a thing or two about saving money, and making things last.
Mom & Mixtón
The name Mixtón, was inspired by a battle
between Spanish colonizers and the
indigenous natives of Mexico called La
Guerra del Mixtón,
The name Mixtón is a reminder to myself that
we are also in a battle. The same way my
mother battled for her life, and the natives
fought for their land. We too are in a silent
battle for our lives, and our health.
Carcinogens are in EVERYTHING -- and there
is no slightly convenient way around it. I say
this not scare you, because the truth is, I
know you already know.
But we don't have to accept this fate. We know better, so we can choose better.
Nice to Meet You
Hi, I'm Ren. Thank you for making it this far.
Mixtón is a manifestation of my efforts to not
sit by silently and accept the same fate as my
beloved mother.
I know better, so I choose to try for better.
My one wish for Mixtón is for it to be built by
a community of people who also want to try
for a new standard.