By Igmar Uribe

It took me a while to write something not because I didn’t have anything to say, but because I have no writing skills whatsoever, anyways here it goes. (Thanks Laura Carolina for the push…te quiero amiga!)

I was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic or as I like to call it “Platano City”. My father Servio Uribe like every other father is a superman; he is an actor/director/professor of theater, poet, artistic light specialist, charmer, nature lover and well-rounded Dominican tiguere. My mother Lidia Ariza is an actress/director/professor of theater and theater owner. My father prefers drama or tragedy while my mother favors comedy; this I believe somehow made a difference in my character.

I grew up in Gazcue, a quaint neighborhood in the center of Santo Domingo, playing in the gardens of the National Theater or stealthily breaking into the Palace of Fine Arts, where my father used to teach, to catch the latest play, watch the national ballet rehearse or simply wander around looking for something that would grasp my attention.

As a kid, I was always very anxious thinking about the future and wanting to be an adult. I wanted to be Porfirio Rubirosa! I used to daydream about how I wanted my life to be and in all fairness for quite a while it turned out pretty close, except for the Rubirosa flavor.

Growing up I was convinced I wanted to work in a strict corporate environment wearing suit & tie behind a desk, somehow be exposed to different cultures and have the chance to travel the world. Upon high school graduation, my priority was getting a job and making money so I hit up the newspaper classifieds and found an ad, which described a position that fit my skills at the time, speaking English and knowing how to work a computer!!! So I call this place and got an appointment for an interview. After the interview the person leading it says: “everything is fine, you are good for the job, but…” I was celebrating until I heard, but, “…you are only seventeen years old so legally we cannot hire you” she completed her sentence. I was bummed out, but then the lady continued “as soon as you turn eighteen if you still want the job give me call”, six months later I had a job.

When I turned twenty, I decided to move out of my parents’ house, which is a very bold move in Dominican society, but hey, I was making my own money and I wanted to be fully independent. Then something much unexpected happened.

There was this childhood friend with whom I went to school; she was (and still is) beautiful, enormously intelligent, very funny, kind hearted and way out of my league or so I thought; but then somehow the universe conspired so that the two of us looked at each other as more than friends. A wonderful relationship flourished quickly and everything seemed to be going simply amazing.

Three months into this great relationship the place where I worked was going through some big changes and due to business requirements decided to relocate to another country offering me the chance to move with them initially as a trial for three months. After discussing this with my better half I was off to incredible India. The 3-month period was coming to an end and I was offered to stay permanently, at this point the only thing I wanted to go back to in the Dominican Republic was my girl but I had a great opportunity which I did not want to lose. I had to have both!

She accepted my daring proposition. We married and started a life together in a far land having only one another. Years passed and we moved to a different country, travelled throughout the world and enjoyed life to the fullest. Sadly, six years later the relationship as a couple ended, however the strong friendship and unconditional love that I feel for her remains to this day and I intend it to remain for the rest of my life.

Now that I am in my thirties, I work in a corporate multicultural environment, but very far from the suit & tie attire. I have travelled the world reasonably; I have felt much corresponded in love and have experienced many of the things I daydreamed about as a kid. I can’t complain.

Everything changes and so have I. Being honest, I think I have become somewhat self-centered because I don’t want anyone to depend on me and this has made me take serious decisions. As Bob said, “The truth is everyone is going to hurt you. You just got to find the ones worth suffering for.” I on the other hand, don’t want to hurt anyone nor be worth suffering for. Will I stay like this?

I see my life at this moment as a new chapter; I feel that little by little I am breaking away from a stiff, boxed, completely paved and structured life. I pay more attention to the things that matter, I am thankful, I tell the people I love that I love them, I take risks, I act foolish not taking myself so seriously, I look into having as much fun as I can, all the time, I use every opportunity I can to make others feel good and I strongly feel that the only thing I can consider completely certain in life is that one day we will no longer be here so I am not trying to uncover the mystery as to why we are here and what is my purpose, I am just going to enjoy the heck of it.

This is how I see my life. Balanced between happiness and sorrow. (Comedy & Tragedy).

P. S.: It’s Igmar’s Birthday today! Show him so love in your comments below! Congrats my dear friend! 

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