My Long and Winding Road to Here
Contributed by Marissa Bañez
SAN DIEGO,CA - How did I get here?
From an early childhood in the 1960s spent in a small house literally built by my grandfather in Baguio City, to the immigrant neighborhoods of downtown Los Angeles, to the idyllic rarefied setting of Princeton University, to the highly-charged environment of a large international law firm as a litigator, and, finally, to being an award-winning children’s author currently developing a children’s musical based on my book in my “golden years”. . . as I reach my 65th year, I laugh, shake my head, give thanks, and repeatedly ask myself, “how did I get here?”
Luck? Divine intervention? Coincidences?
Absolutely.
One example: After taking five years off from work until my daughter started kindergarten, someone suggested I first try working with a placement office to ease my way back into legal practice. The day after I emailed my resume, I was told that a well-regarded firm was looking for an attorney with my exact qualifications. I later learned that while I was typing my resume, the firm’s hiring partner was about to hire someone who didn’t meet all the criteria. Then, for some reason, he felt compelled to make one last effort to get the right person. On the same day that I submitted my resume, he sent in his request to the placement office. The universe did its thing and eighteen years later, I’m still at the firm.
Hard work? Of course.
I took three separate bar exams (California, New Jersey, and New York) and passed each one the first time around.
As a litigator, working until 3 or 4 a.m. and being ready only 4 or 5 hours later to start the next day is not unusual, especially when there is a trial.
As a mom of a little girl, I wrote original stories and created puppet shows for my daughter and her friends. Now, I write my stories, work closely with my illustrator, do a lot of book promotional work, and create dialogue and lyrics for the musical. This labor of love often takes me into the wee hours too.
Connections? Definitely.
A former colleague, fellow author, and friend introduced me to our mutual publisher.
My childhood friend’s talented musician husband wrote a beautiful song about my book.
A colleague who also happens to own a stage theater production company spoke about my book to actors and other associates, all of whom are excited about a children’s musical.
Support from family and friends? Unquestionably.
Without going into details that would fill volumes, I can categorically say that I am blessed with the best and most supportive family and friends, without whom I couldn’t have accomplished half as much and certainly not with as much fun.
My book, Hope and Fortune, tells of a little girl who has lost her way and encounters 12 multicultural, multiracial, and multigenerational fairies of different shapes and sizes who give her life advice to get her back on her path. Each fairy represents a principle or ideal. The first is the Fortune Fairy of Hope, drawn to look like my late Filipina mother and, by her dress, represents the Filipino culture. Her advice: “Give yourself permission to cry. Just know that things will get better as time goes by.” The guidance given by all the fairies constitutes a distillation of principles I have lived by or aspire to live by. I HOPE the book inspires young children and leads them to a path in life filled with good FORTUNE. After all, they are principles that have gotten me here.
Marissa Bañez is Angelica’s mom, a litigator with a large international firm, an award-winning children’s author and, hopefully, a soon-to-be playwright. Her second book, Hues And Harmony (How the Rainbow Butterfly Got Her Colors), which deals with multiraciality, belonging, and, ultimately, love, will be published by Black Rose Writing on July 20, 2023. Visit www.marissabanez.com to learn more.