David Robles interviewed by Caitlin Langstaff
Caitlin Langstaff (00:01): Hi, there. This is Caitlin Langstaff and I am in Green Haven with David Robles. And we are part of the Storytelling Workshop here. So I'm gonna get to my first question. Tell me about a favorite memory from this class.
David Robles (00:22): Actually it was the Slam. The Slam made me realize how different things could be told from the beginning all the way to the end and seeing the end product.
Caitlin Langstaff (00:38): Anything else?
David Robles (00:40): And, of course, the two women who come and giving their time to us to actually be here and allow us to share our stories. Ah, Caitlin and, um, Christina.
Caitlin Langstaff (00:59): Did you enjoy standing up and sharing your story?
David Robles (01:02): Absolutely not. I was horrified. I don't do this often. And, but it stretches the boundaries of what you can do. So, yeah, but I do not like talking about myself. But, actually saying that story is like when I was speaking with Christina, it brings back memories that you tend to forget because of the situation you're in. But, but that... The story I shared in the Slam was a very good story because it was me taking a path and a journey. So...
Caitlin Langstaff (01:40): Mm-hmm. Were there memories that came up for the first time in a long time since you started working on this particular story?
David Robles (01:54): Several, several. This was, this was the most PG story, though. Because growing up I grew up in a time of racism.
Caitlin Langstaff (02:06): Mm-hmm.
David Robles (02:08): And prejudice and so, there... This was the most PG story of school that I could share because all the other ones deal with violence. I grew up in a very rough neighborhood in Brooklyn.
(02:23):
I, even though a lot of people don't think Sunset Park, Brooklyn is rough, but, um, if you cross the street and you're in the wrong neighborhood, you know, and I grew up in the '70s and it was a very rough age. And then going to a Catholic school where you're one of the four minorities everybody else is either German or Italian, you know, made me realize a lot of things.
Caitlin Langstaff (02:52): Yeah.
David Robles (02:53): You know, otherwise, I do have good memories of my childhood. But, of school, this was like the best one.
Caitlin Langstaff (02:59): Mm. And you brought up with nuns?
David Robles (03:03): Oh, yes. Seven nuns and four regular teachers. (laughs) And a whole bunch of priests because I was an altar boy, also. Because of this incident that I didn't understand, I was forced to go be an altar boy as part of my repentance. So, questioning the dogma of religion. (laughs)
Caitlin Langstaff (03:32): Did you like being an altar boy?
David Robles (03:35): Hated it.
Caitlin Langstaff (03:36): Mm.
David Robles (03:36): But, I have very good memories and I have bad memories of being an altar boy. Good memories is that, ah, I met my wife as an altar boy.
Caitlin Langstaff (03:47): Wow.
David Robles (03:49): And bad memories is because my time was never my time.
Caitlin Langstaff (03:56): What do you love to do with your time now?
David Robles (03:59): Paint. Oh, yeah. A professional painter. I've actually sold paintings. Um, and I love to write. I'm also a published author. So, you know, this is how I create. I create by writing. I create by painting. I...
(04:20):
And, um, and it's a family tradition because my daughter is also a professional painter. She graduated valedictorian in Brooklyn College, an MFA. And when I look at her work and I look at my work I'm jealous because she's 10,000 times better than me. (laughs)
Caitlin Langstaff (04:47): I've seen your work. And your work is wonderful.
David Robles (04:50): Thank you.
Caitlin Langstaff (04:50): But congratulations on having a really talented daughter.
David Robles (04:53): Ah, thank you, ah, all my kids are talented, actually. I got five kids and each and every one of is talented in their own way. But they followed my footsteps and that's what I love. (laughs)
Caitlin Langstaff (05:09): What would you like someone on the outside to know about participating in this class?
David Robles (05:17): Good question. Um, that they're gonna have to be open to experiencing new things especially talking about themselves. And that, um, it takes practice. It actually takes practice to open up a gate that you don't like opening up most of the time. And, but you're gonna have fun because you're gonna think of things that you haven't thought of.
(05:44):
Like I was... Like I said, the conversation between Christina and my, and myself comes back. These were refreshed memories that came back, and had to be told.
Caitlin Langstaff (06:03): What else?
David Robles (06:09): Wow. You're putting me on the spot here. (laughs) What else, um? It takes dedication. It does take dedication and, um, not only on our part, but on your part, too, because what we've been through for the last month has been crazy.
(06:28):
But dedication, smooth out that, them bumps because when you dedicate yourself to something you actually commit yourself. And to somebody like me when I commit to something, I try to always give my best and my all. And, that's one of the things that came out was that commitment to the program.
Caitlin Langstaff (06:56): Congratulations, David. You did a great job in this workshop. And it's been a pleasure to meet you.
David Robles (07:01): It's a great pleasure to have met you.
Caitlin Langstaff (07:04): Thank you, David.