"Yo, Patty!"

I have my brother to thank for this memory.

Last week, when sharing our Sister Day topics, I mentioned that I’m reading “The Power of Now.” Anyone familiar with Eckhart Tolle’s classic book knows the basic premise—the past is gone, the future is an illusion, and all we have is Now (with a capital N). I’m trying to stay present, I am, but man, has my career given me some fun memories. So in the spirit of it being Saturday, I wanted to share some words I wrote about a career highlight that perfectly encapsulates all of my favorite things: beauty, reporting, Latinidad, family. Enjoy! Just don’t tell Tolle I’m going back in time.

***

When Gina slid into the video frame, my brother Papito’s eyeballs must’ve popped out his head.

My brother’s urgent texts are both irritating and thrilling. Like today’s message, for instance.

“PATTY, can u send me the video with my filly brown boo? Now!!!!!”

As per usual, the text arrived on Facebook Messenger. I exited Facebook back when the world started to get weird, but there’s an insane asylum magic to our Facebook “DVD Siblings” chat that doesn’t translate to a regular text message. The Messenger chat is worn in, like a perfect pair of jeans. We haven’t said this out loud, but Papito, Irene and I agree we can’t risk ruining it, so there it stays.

So what is DVD? It’s an inside joke in my family. It’s not exactly PC, so let’s just say that it denotes nuttiness.

I also knew exactly what he was referring to: An 18-second video clip where his “filly brown boo,” actress Gina Rodriguez, addresses him directly. She says Papitooooo in the silkiest voice, asks him if he approves of her new blonde bob and then cracks up and thanks him for the support while blowing him kisses and sending mad love. I don’t blame Papito for wanting to see it again, and again, and again.

Recording that 18-second video was special for me, too. I’ve met so many celebrities and none ever offered to record a customized greeting for my family. Amidst the giggles and the shenanigans, I clocked the moment for what it was—two Latinas cheering each other on professionally. I know that Gina was as excited to see a Latina top editor just as much as I was excited to see a Latina Golden Globe winner. We celebrated each other because we knew how rare we were. To each other, we felt like home.

My brother’s jam. Filly Brown was a lot of people’s jam, actually: It was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

I’d first met Gina in 2013, at a dinner celebrating the premiere of “Jane The Virgin”. My editor had passed me the invitation earlier that day. It was being held at Ladurée in Soho so I happily accepted, the promise of macarons a strong incentive. Unlike Papito, I hadn’t seen “Filly Brown” and I didn’t know much about the new show other than it was an adaptation of a Venezuelan novela. The show’s fast-talking executive producer presented me with the seat of honor, right next to Gina. It didn’t click that I was the Editor of Glam Belleza Latina, published by Condé Nast, and so I was being courted. I’d dealt with many celebrity handlers, and let’s just say that I was enjoying the red carpet treatment. (And the introduction to singer Juanes, who was also there as the show’s musical director.)

My disorientation vanished the minute Gina and I made eye contact. Within seconds, we were chatting and laughing and taking selfies. A few weeks later, I interviewed her for a Glam Belleza Latina cover story. This was the first time I’d conducted a cover interview in person and given the choice, I don’t know if I’d do it that way again. Why? I had underestimated the challenge of talking to your favorite celebrity (yes, she’d zoomed to the top of my list overnight) while watching the clock and savoring fancy hotel bacon. Talk about a balancing act!

Anyways. Two years later, I was no longer at Glam Belleza Latina (read my layoff story, here) and I was freelancing at Hearst. As far as freelancing gigs go, it was a sweet one. Hearst (in that beautiful building), contracted for a year (#stability), working on the Clinique (!) account alongside incredible editors like Katie Becker, Rajni Jacques and others. I’ll get into that another day but looking back, I’m smiling over the memory of that era. (Sorry, Tolle!)

Anyways again! I’d been granted an interview with Gina for Elle; she was signed to Clinique. She’d brightened upon seeing me, with big hugs and lots of amiga giggles. We’d just wrapped our interview, although “interview” feels like the wrong description of something that felt like a reunion. As soon as I’d run through my questions and turned off my phone’s recording app, I shared that my brother was so excited that I was speaking with her.

My favorite quote from this piece: “I have a conversation with myself every second of the day. Confidence goes in waves. It fluctuates. But I do understand it’s a choice. It’s a choice of whether you’re gonna take that knife and turn it on yourself or whether you’re going to leave it in the damn kitchen. And I just want to leave it in the damn kitchen.”

“He demanded that I tell you that you’re his boo,” I said.

“Let’s send him a video!” she responded, jumping out of the velvet sofa to set it up.

Yes, let’s! What a fun break. Papito was going to love this. We walked to the window and quickly strategized. We decided that I’d come into frame first, and Gina would suddenly appear from behind me. She confirmed his name, unfazed when I explained that his real name is Rafael, but in typical Dominican style, Mami nicknamed him Papito and the name has forever stuck. Like the Golden Globes award-winning actress that she is, she nailed it in one take. I didn’t want my time with Gina to end but I also couldn’t wait to step outside and send it to my brother.

It was a top 10 moment in the DVD Siblings chat.