This Crafty Chica's imagination has no borders

If you think the Day of the Dead is Mexico's version of Halloween, you probably also believe that chimichangas are an authentic dish south of the border and that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.

Día de los Muertos is more akin to Memorial Day. When I was growing up, my parents would put fresh flowers in coffee cans covered in aluminum foil. Then, we'd head to the cemetery to visit the grave of my brother, Rene, who died as an infant.

The Mexican holiday, which this year runs from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, is the embodiment of how my tribe views death. There is nothing to fear. We take it as an article of faith that, one day, we'll reunite with our parents, uncles, aunts and cousins around grandma's celestial dinner table.

As a Mexican American, and a third-generation Arizonan, Cano-Murillo gets it.

"Día de Los Muertos had crossed over in a big way to the United States because of the beauty of the meaning -- celebrating the cycle of life," she said. "People can't help but be drawn to it. It's colorful, festive and uplifting, and many people use it as a positive way to deal with grief."

Cano-Murillo has been a friend for nearly a quarter century. We met in Phoenix, at The Arizona Republic, in the late 1990s when I was a reporter and she was a clerk. She would quickly move on to being a features reporter and lifestyle columnist who wrote what became a popular column about crafting.

She launched her website in 1999, www.craftychica.com, and spent nights and weekends bringing her visions to life. She left the Republic in 2007, to "legitimize the hustle." Soon, she was represented by the William Morris Agency and her crafts were being sold by the national chain Michaels. She wrote books and hit the speakers circuit.

All the while, even as she became successful, she remained the nicest and most authentic person you'll ever meet.

From her, you'll hear no complaints. Just another idea, leading to another opportunity. All of it is born of passion and hard work -- which, for my friend, doesn't seem like work because it tickles her so.

"I love to innovate!" she said. "I'm constantly thinking of a new twist to add to traditional ideas. We live in such a big, inspiring world, there is always room for new ideas."

This is not the story of the Ohio steelworker who whines about how the American dream slipped away because he was wronged by a millionaire, a trade deal or an immigrant.

The Crafty Chica came to play. Her imagination has no borders -- and no walls.

Don't you recognize this spirit? You should. It built America. Say, maybe the next holiday Cano-Murillo ought to lay claim to is the Fourth of July.

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Ruben Navarrette's email address is ruben@rubennavarrette.com. His daily podcast, "Navarrette Nation," is available through every podcast app.