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xiv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
cities all over North America, unable to see them as I spent so much time
with my mother. My father has always placed great value on education, sacri�
cing many years of retirement so I could get a college education. In 2004,
my sister made a signi� cant sacri� ce, moving in with my mother to take
care of her, so I could � nish my dissertation. From 2002–2010, my mother
suffered a cruel illness that robbed her of her mind and soul. During those
eight years, I traveled back and forth from wherever I was living to San
Juan in order to be by her side. It was not always easy to live in a state of
in- betweenness, in between cities, in between life and death, but I would not
have had it any other way. Even though my mother is the one person close
to me who will never be able to read any of this book, she made it possible
in so many ways; I dedicate this book to my mother, Vera.