The Comforter Art Action blankets that found their way from Vancouver to the canals between San Diego and Tijuana late last summer became unexpected markers of a Mexican woman's radical life. Micaela Saucedo, who established "Casa Refugio 'Elvira'" --a shelter for men near the Mexican/US border, died suddenly in the midst of the blankets' transfer from Vancouver to the shelter. On September 23, 2013, the blankets became part of a day that celebrated her legacy, and mourned her passing. They were delivered to both the shelter and to the cannals where Micaela frequently made her "rounds" with the people who find shelter there.
Pamela Calore who carried the blankets in her luggage from Vancouver to her home in San Diego, and then with a group from the organization "Border Angels" to Tijuana, wrote this memorial tribute to Micaela Saucedo. Before her death, Pamela also made a tribute video that is linked below. In it Sauceo is seen delivering felted mats to people in the cannals.
Thank you Pamela, for continuing your family's tradition of transporting goods between cultures and across borders and between people! Thank you for introducing us to Micaela Saucedo's life and work.
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It’s been hard for me to approach writing about Micaela Saucedo. There is so much to say. She’s the rabbit on the moon, from a Mexican folk story about a rabbit that sacrificed her life to save another. The Aztec god placed her image on the moon. That’s Mica. That’s her; she sacrificed her life for others. “That’s how I will remember her for all time.”
This story also evolves from pre-Hispanic legends, and it tells of a time when the great god of the Sun, the Plumed Serpent Quetzalcoatl lived on Earth as a man.
One time so long ago that no one is left to remember, he started on a difficult journey. After walking for a long time, he became hungry and tired.
With no food or water around, he thought he would die. Then, a rabbit grazing nearby offered himself as food to save the God’s life.
Quetzalcoatl, moved by the rabbit's noble offering, elevated the rabbit to the moon, then lowered him back to Earth, and told him, "You may be just a rabbit, but everyone will remember you; there is your image in light, for all men and for all times." And so it was and so it has been. (CasaRefugioElvira_brochure)
The last time I saw Micaela, I left her in her shelter and I thought she is so petite and yet she has no fear staying there, the only woman in a shelter with all men, near the canals, the red light district, and drug trafficking area. She did her work and everyone respected her. She also rolled with the punches… She had a certain dignity about her, like my dad. They are two of a kind, no bullshit, all goes to those in need.
When I visited Micaela’s shelter one time after her death, Siete the new director, told me that sometimes, Micaela would walk the canals at dawn to check on the people living there. Micaela was a retired nurse, who raised a family and she and her husband ran a bus service from Tijuana to Mexico City. She spent all her days in service to others…
In my thoughts forever…
With love: Pamela Calore