Hi!
So nice to be here, as a face of Monrovia, but also here in the city of Monrovia where my mom’s family started. I am therapist who loves to see and help children and women who have experienced trauma or have had traumatic childhoods. I also take care of my elderly mother who has dementia, macular degeneration, diabetes, kidney disease, COPD and congestive heart failure. It has been a blessing in many ways, but caretaking is hard! I love art and didn’t realize it until I started painting rocks for The Kindness Rocks Project here in Monrovia in June 2020. I learned that I actually might have some artistic talent and moved into other forms of art like paining and oil pastels. I am a mom of a 16-1/2 year old Shih Tzu named Chester Harold. My favorite way to practice self-care is going to the beach and looking for shells. I can walk for miles on the sand and sea as if I were a mermaid. Oh and I am a published author! My book is called Came to Believe, A Journey of Trust, Faith and Perseverance.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your origin story. Share a little about your childhood and your family.
Coming to Monrovia four years ago has really got me interested in my mom’s side of the family. I was very close to my grandma who grew up here in Monrovia in the early 1900’s. I came to Monrovia with her several times a year to visit my Great Aunt and Uncles, Richard Morago, Jenny Morago who lived on Alta Vista, Bill Morago and Louise Morago who lived on Standish. Richard and Bill were my grandmother’s brothers. Her name was Edith Morago. They went to church at Immaculate Conception Church, which my mom also visited regularly when they visited her grandmother, Charlotte “Lottie” Soto Morago. The Spanish/Mexican side of our family was denied by my grandmother because of the abuse she endured in Monrovia going to school. She refused to speak Spanish in public, and if anyone said her kids looked “Mexican” she would cut them out of her life. I was confused about my ancestry because my grandma denied us being Mexican and said we were Spanish. I did 23&Me, and my ancestors showed from Spain. So, I am not sure and not even sure it matters. My grandma married my grandpa, who was French ancestry, hence the name LaDue. They lived on Walnut in my Great Grandmother Lottie’s house. Does anyone know anything about my family? My next stop is the Monrovia Historical Museum! It feels like it is meant to be that my mom is here in Monrovia so I can learn more about my Morago/Soto side of the family. Most of my family is buried at the Live Oak Cemetery.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I graduated with a BA in Marketing, but spent most of my 20s, 30s and 40s in retail management, most recently at Apple for 12 years. I went back to school to get my Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy to be a therapist. Growing up with alcoholism and Childhood Sexual Abuse, I knew I wanted to help others. I love my job and seeing people first-hand heal using the power within themselves. I plan to stay a therapist, since it is a later in life career.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I haven’t experienced many of the fancy places (hahaha) since I support my mom and me, but I do love Something Healthy Cafe, Mooyah, Cup of Cha and we love La Noria on Foothill and taking it to the park to people watch. I also love Srisiam Thai Kitchen! I am vegetarian, so it’s been hard to find that here in Monrovia.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community? Tell us about your favorite memory or experience living in Monrovia.
I have lived here for four years. My favorite memory is when I was young coming to visit my great uncle and aunt with my grandma. They had a really small house on Alta Vista across from a parking lot, but they had a huge backyard. All the kids knew my aunt Jenny, and they would come over to have popsicles and play in the back yard. I also loved listening to my Uncle Richie’s stories about my grandma and his childhood.
Q: None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person you’ve met here in our community who helped you get to where you are or inspired you?
I would say my local Alanon meeting. The people there have supported me through some of the most stressful times with my mom, my master’s program, and my own health. I am grateful.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
I want to go to Halifax, UK. It is where Anne Lister, who was a highly educated, business owner and a landowner, which were all unlikely in that time period of the late 1700s. She was also dubbed “the first modern lesbian.” I have always loved the UK and visited when I was in my 20s but on a super budget eating at McDonalds. I would like to see the countryside of the UK and see Shibden Hall where the Lister’s lived.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies of all time? Do you have a favorite TV show or shows?
I am Sam. Hands down, loved this movie. Sean Penn is Brilliant. I also loved The Other Sister with Juliet Lewis and Diane Keaton. My favorite TV shows are Gentleman Jack, Handmaid’s Tail, and Game of Thrones.
Q: What advice would you give to people? Do you have a Life Lesson quote?
I tend not to give advice. If people ask me about my life and how I have endured so much, I would just say “don’t give up, keep the faith,” and “What other people think of me is none of my business.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I want to visit Moonstone Beach in Cambria.
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what music to listen to?
I love all sorts of music, but when I want to chill, I listen to Jai Jagdeesh.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I’d say JB Burgers. I remember visiting when I was little and it being on Myrtle, and it is still there!
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative, with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I would love to have lunch with Brene Brown, pick her brain about her research on shame resilience. I would take her to Cup of Cha for some Boba!
Q: What is your favorite thing about Monrovia or something unique about our community that you like?
The way we celebrate holidays and all the activities in the park and Old Town. I also love the wildlife.
Q: Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you’ve ever made?
Thinking I could bleach my hair on my own. Don’t do it! Leave it to the professionals!
Q: Even for friends or family, what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I am Gay! I came out during the pandemic, and most of my family and friends from high school do not know. Now they will!
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
The Road to Hana!
Q: What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Getting my Master’s Degree in my 40s.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
Rincon Beach before Carpinteria
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My mom. My niece. My self.
Q: If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the greatest amount of people, what would that be?
The kindness movement! I have seen it already in action through the rock group… but I think less judgment and micro aggression and a little more education and acceptance of others that are different than you.
Q: Finally, what three character traits come to mind when you think of your success in life?
Perseverance, accepting and I just asked my mom and she said, “humor.” hahaha
