Marble Mujer - The Beginning
The seed for Marble Mujer was planted many, many moons ago when I was newly married and doodled the word “marble” on a piece of stationery. Combining the first three letters of my last name at birth (Marquez) with the final three letters of my last name after marriage (Cable), “marble” was symbolic of the blended life I was creating for myself and my future family.
At the time I was putting my hard-earned college degree to use in the finance department of a large corporation while dreaming of a life and career with greater flexibility and creative self-expression. That dream nudged me toward motherhood, wellness, and eventually writing where I grew more curious about the human story.
The inquiry into who we are, where we come from, and why we are here led me to my own origin story. It took me to Juarez, Mexico where my paternal grandparents were born, to the coastal crop fields of Oxnard, California where my maternal grandmother spent part of her childhood, to Olvera Street in Los Angeles where some of my maternal grandfather’s ancestors settled, to the colorful homes lining the streets of East LA where both of my parents were raised.
All along the way I’ve been unpacking the stories buried in my body and my mind. Resurrecting them and replaying them to better understand how they’ve shaped me into the person writing this today.
Some of the stories are multi-generational and their true beginning remains a mystery. Others I’ve absorbed through art, culture, community, and media. All of them connect in some way to the stories of others through shared experiences and influences.
In October 2021, right around my 44th birthday, I got the creative nudge to build something that celebrates stories of authenticity and wholeness. I once again doodled “marble” on a piece of stationery and left it on my desk.
The stories that inspire and impact me the most are almost always about women and my personal story of womanhood is one that I feel honored to celebrate every day. I added mujer (the Spanish word for woman) to my post-it and just like that, Marble Mujer became my personal moniker, a new blog, and the beginning of a brand.
Beginnings are sacred because they hold so much possibility. Like a quiet sunrise turning night to day, putting Marble Mujer out into the world feels tender and hopeful.
I hope the stories that fill these pages bring us closer to our whole, authentic selves. I hope they serve as an invitation to celebrate the beautiful and fierce mujer within each of us. I hope they also connect us through shared experiences while honoring our unique self-expressions.
None of this would be possible without the brave and resilient mujeres I am privileged to call my ancestors. Marble Mujer is a continuation of their love, their lives, and their work.
