Here are the tortillas and nopales...the two combine with a tomato-chili-pepper salsa, creating a lovely, tasty dish. Today we noshed at my sister Angela's house and I played with my camera and we chatted. And I tried to take a picture of my grandmother. As you can see, she's not here.

My grandmother is the most difficult person to photograph for me. I cannot get her in focus, I cannot get clear pictures, I cannot capture her still pretty face or her intense facial expressions. The struggle mystifies me. I've tried countless times and still, I cannot capture her. Perhaps portraiture is like writing - complex subjects about which the artist is conflicted cannot get proper treatment.

Ahh well, perhaps the time isn't right. My grandmother has been and is such a special person in my life - she's gutsy, strong, intelligent, blunt, loving, patient, practical and spiritual. Her life has been colorful...she's lived several lives - a child of the Mexican Revolution, a child of poverty and wealth, a teacher, a mother, a sister, an incredible friend, and...my grandmother. I grew up down the street from her. She and my mother were inseparable. We had rocky times. When my mother passed away, the relationship with her deepened.

And yet, I cannot seem to photograph her. Not the way I'd like. In time, I suppose.