Norma Elia Cantú: 

Number 1. That I may fall prey to identity theft.

Number 2. I fear that I may not have enough time to write all the books that are in my head.

Number 3. I fear being misunderstood in my writings and, I guess it goes with it, that no one will read my books.

Number 4. I fear the drug violence. How can I not? I’m from the border. My sister’s boyfriend was held at gunpoint. My mother’s neighbor, her child, age fifteen, disappeared. They don’t know where he is. My cousin’s wife was killed in a bombing at a casino.

Number 5. I fear being immobile. My dad had arthritis so I’m really afraid of not being able to walk. I’m also afraid of getting Alzheimer’s like my mom.

That’s number 6.

Number 7. I’m afraid that I will die after my siblings. I’m the oldest of eleven and I’m giving you too much information, but why not? In 1968, of course Vietnam was raging. It was the Tet Offensive and this is Monday morning, I’m getting ready to go to work. I was working at Central, Power, and Light company. Utilities company. My father was getting ready to go to work as well and a little green Volkswagen pulled up, army, and my mom was the one who saw first. She looked out the window and saw them and started crying, she knew.

And they came to the door, two men, spoke only English, and my dad is saying, no no no, crying. I’m translating for them. I can’t cry because I’m trying to keep it together for them. They said, we’ll be back with more information. And they never did. We got a telegram later explaining you know when the body was coming and all that. Those wounds don’t heal. I think my mom, to her dying day, was still crying for my brother.

Number 8. I’m afraid that my family may not stay together now that my parents are gone.

Number 9. Also, really afraid about the political climate. Like I think the new administration's decision for zero tolerance that caused the separation of infants from their parents is abominable and I don’t know that they will ever correct the damage that has been done.

Number 10. The biggest fear I have is for all of us. It’s climate change. My name is Norma Elia Cantú, and these are ten things that scare me.