Our story
Cuban parents, a new country, and a son named Ricky Ricardo
Where it started
My father left Cuba after 1959, when the revolution turned into a communist government he could not live under. He landed in New York City with close to nothing and started from scratch: a new language, a new winter, a lot of faith and not much else. There, he and my mother built a life together, one job and one year at a time, and I never once heard either of them complain about the starting line.
Yes, the name is on purpose
My name is Ricky Ricardo. When my parents got to this country, one of the few Cuban faces Americans knew was Desi Arnaz, the Cuban-born bandleader and actor who played Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy. For a lot of Cubans of their generation, Desi was one of the first to really stand out in this new world, on his own terms, accent, conga and all. My mother and father carried that inspiration with them, and they handed it to me in the most permanent way they could.
Learn well, they told me. But don't forget the arts.
Learn well, and keep the arts close
Growing up, my parents pushed me to study hard and build a real career. My mother and father always added one more thing. Our home was full of painting, opera and classical music, and my father loved playing sports just as much. I think they knew the arts keep us in check. They remind us how much beauty is all around us, and if we are lucky enough to find some success, they give us a reason to slow down, appreciate it, and give some back by supporting the people who make it.
Grateful for this country
A big part of how I was raised was love for the United States. My parents never took freedom for granted, and they did not let me take it for granted either. The opportunities here are real, and so is the job of protecting them. We live with gratitude, and we pray that one day Cuba is given another chance at democracy. Time will tell.
From code to creation
I built my career in IT and software development, and for a while I was on my way to becoming an attorney. Somewhere along the road I figured out that what I love most is creating: building tools, telling stories, putting something new into the world. BabaluShow is where all of it comes together. The technology, the storytelling, the drone in the sky, and the culture my parents taught me to love.