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have three sons and I always had easy deliveries. I'll never forget how since my first pregnancy I dreamed of having a little girl, [but] I ended up with a big baby boy and

"Ricky imposed his will from the very beginning. He was born early (before my due date) and he had me confined to bed".

At that time Nereida was working at a bank. And for her, spending the last months of her pregnancy in bed, was terrible. "Like Ricky, I'm 'electric' (active, energetic)". Finally, on December 24 at 5:00 p.m., Ricky was born. "The first time I saw him I cried. I thought that he was a gift that God had sent for Christmas Eve. Our entire family celebrated his birth and made a toast (me with water, of course). That's why my mom has always said that this child was born with blessings and that he was going to do something important with his life".

HE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIS TEACHER

The years flew by and it came time for Ricky to start to school. "He was very happy and he loved making friends. But his first day of school was terrible. He cried the entire day. The teachers told me that if he wasn't able to adapt, he would have to wait another year. So I asked for my vacation time at work and sat in a park in front of the school so that he could see me everytime he put his little head up to the window and looked out. Thank goodness he calmed down within a week. I think it was because he fell in love with his kindergarten teacher".

His first love didn't have any adverse affects on him. Actually, he passed with honors and won several medals. The problem came later. When he went to first grade he wouldn't stay in the classroom. He cried all the time and ended up repeating kindergarten," remembers Nereida.

What was Ricky like back then?

"He loved everyone and was one of the most popular boys in the school because he was into everything. And, modesty aside, he was very handsome. He was restless (energetic) and he enjoyed playing volleyball and practicing track and field. He was really small, but the doctor checked him and told me that judging from the size of his hands and feet, he was going to be very tall, so I didn't worry. At home he was well-behaved and was always good about doing his chores.

I ALMOST DIED!

Of course, Nereida also recognized that her son was not very organized (orderly) and he was constantly getting hurt (he fractured his wrist once). Along with his growing restlessness, his talent was also growing. "From the time he was six years old he was determined to be in Menudo. He knew their songs and dances. I was surprised because to me he was so young. I never ever thought that this childhood dream would become something so serious".

With his talent and popularity, it was impossible to keep Ricky at home. And at age 12, it was impossible to stop his dreams.

"He auditioned for Menudo because he insisted that he just couldn't wait any longer. He entered the auditions but he wasn't chosen because he was so short. We got him into basketball to see if that might help him grow...but nothing! At the second audition 700 boys showed up and again he was told 'no' because of his height. Finallly, the third time, even though he was still short, they told him 'yes'. They had discovered that he was appealing to the younger fans".

And so a new life for the family began. "I have never gotten used to having him away from home. The day we signed the contract with Menudo, they took him off to Miami to train him. I almost died! I started to cry, and even the lawyer who was in charge of the matter, shed a few tears".

But, later Nereida's tears were offset with pride. "From the beginning I saw him as an important pillar in the structure of the group, even though for me he was still my baby. He never changed. He stayed humble, simple. He called me from each country he visited and sometimes I travelled to meet him".

How did your other children handle Ricky's fame?

Kiki is their idol. They always stood beside him and today they are his most faithful friends and admirers. Fernando and Pucho were happy about all of their brother's triumphs and they actually helped him and worked with him. For us, being together is very important, and believe me, the foundation of a solid home is so important...not just for an artist, but for any human being. More importantly than money, I would like to leave my children with good values and moral principles".

STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN!

What happened at the time Ricky left Menudo? Did you think it was all over then?

While he was in Menudo, Ricky had a strong group of fans who were very faithful to him. At the time he left the group I felt that he would [someday] return to his [singing] career. The last year he was with Menudo he told me that he was dreaming about continuing his normal life, studying medicine, becoming a pediatrician. I loved the idea, but I felt like the change would be too drastic after being onstage for so long. I never pressured him and I let him make his own decisions. The first year he left the group, when he was 18 years old, he went to New York. It was the best thing he could have done. Of course, the worst part was left to me... setting up his apartment, and later, packing everything up when he decided to go to Mexico".

What made Ricky think about becoming a star again?

During one of my visits to New York we went to see a show at Radio City Music Hall. That night, in the middle of the applause, I saw a yearning (longing) look on his face. It was only natural... He had performed in that very room with Menudo. Then I told him, 'I still hope to see you sing here and in the Centro de Bellas Artes in Puerto Rico again'. He told me 'no'. 'Maybe acting, but not singing'. A few days earlier he had been accepted to the University of New York to study drama. But, I knew that he would first become a singing star and time proved me right.

What do you think about the success he has had?

Today I look at him and even though I knew this was coming, I'm surprised by how much Kiki has accomplished in such a short time. It isn't easy to be the mother and friend of a star, but he has made it easier for me because he knows how to listen. His position as an 'idol' hasn't caused him to lose a sense of who he really is...not with me, not with any of his loved ones.

"When he is onstage he grows, he gives himself totally to the public...But once he is offstage, he has his own life, his family and friends. He loves rice with fried egg. He loves to listen to music. He is not one to go out a lot, but he's also not one of these artists who hides himself. If he feels like going to the beach or going skating, the fear that he might be recognized doesn't stop him from doing it".

How do you see his future?

For my son, the star, there is a long road ahead and he is aware of that. For Kiki this is a job like any other and he tries to do the best possible. He prepares daily, he works hard, he studies, and he has sacrificed many things to become a professional. But, I thank God that he knows how to enjoy life. He is a great human being".

[ENGLISH]

Nereida Morales, la madre y amiga de Ricky Martin, habla del embarazo y el nacimiento del artista como si hubiese sido ayer.

"Ya desde bebito Ricky impuso su voluntad, pues le dio por nacer antes de tiempo y me postró en una cama".

Nereida trabajaba entonces en un banco. Y para ella fue terrible pasar los dos últimos meses de su embarazo en cama. "Es que como Ricky, soy eléctrica." Finalmente, un 24 de diciembre a las cinco de la tarde, nació Ricky. "La primera vez que lo vi, lloré, porque pensé que era un regalo que dios me había mandado para la Nochebuena. Toda mi familia celebró su nacimiento y brindamos (yo con agua, por supuesto). Por eso mi mami siempre decía que este niño había nacido con bendiciones y que iba a hacer algo importante con su vida".

SE ENAMORO DE LA MAESTRA

El tiempo pasó volando y llegó la hora de que Ricky entrara a la escuela. "Era muy alegre y le encantaba hacer amigos. Pero el primer día de escuela fue terrible: lloraba todo el tiempo. Las maestras me decían que si no se adaptaba, tendría que esperar otro año. Así que me tocó pedir vacaciones en el trabajo y sentarme en un parque que había al frente de la escuela para que él me viera cada vez que asomara la cabecita por la ventana. Gracias a Dios, a la semana se tranquilizó...Creo que fue porque se enamoró de la maestra de kinder".

Pero su primer amor no lo perjudicó. Es más, pasó con honores y se ganó varias medallas. El problema vino después. "Cuando pasó a primero no había manera de que se quedara en el salón. Lloraba todo el tiempo y terminó repitiendo el kinder", recuerda Nereida.

-¿Cómo era entonces Ricky?

"Era super enamorado y de los más famositos de la escuela, porque estaba en todas. Y, modestia aparte, era bien bonito. Era inquieto y le encantaba jugar volleyball y practicar pista y campo. Era bien chiquito, pero el doctor lo vio y me dijo que por sus extremidades iba a ser muy grande, así que no me preocupé. En casa era bueno y hacía sus tareas con juicio".

¡CASI ME MUERO!

Eso sí, Nereida también reconoce que su hijo no era muy ordenado, se daba golpes constantemente (una vez se fracturó la muñeca). Y junto a su inquietud fue creciendo su talento. "Desde que tenía seis años estaba empeñado en ser Menudo. Se sabía las canciones y los bailes. Yo me extrañaba porque para mí era muy pequeño. Jamás pensé que este deseo de niño fuera a ser algo tan serio".

Con talento y popularidad era imposible retener a Ricky en casa. Y a los 12 años era imposible frenar más sus deseos.

"Audicionó para ser parte de Menudo porque insistió hasta más no poder. Se presentó, pero no lo escogieron porque era muy bajito, así que lo pusimos a jugar baloncesto a ver si crecía...¡pero nada! En la segunda audición se presentaron 700 niños y de nuevo le dijeron que no podía por la estatura. Y por fin, la tercera vez, aunque era todavía bajito, le dijeron que sí. Encontraron que era atractivo para las fans más jovencitas".

Y así comenzó una nueva vida para la familia. "Nunca me he acostumbrado a tenerlo fuera de casa. El día que firmamos su contrato con Menudo, se lo llevaron a Miami para entrenarlo ¡Casi me muero! Empecé a llorar y hasta el abogado, que estaba a cargo del asunto, se le salieron las lágrimas".

Pero, después Nereida compensó todo su llanto con orgullo. "Desde el principio lo vi como un pilar importante dentro de la estructura del grupo, aunque para mí seguía siendo mi Nené. El nunca cambió. Se mantuvo humilde, sencillo y me llamaba de cada país que visitaba. Y a veces yo viajaba a reunirme con él".

-¿Cómo tomaron la fama de Ricky tus otros dos hijos?

"Para ellos Kiki es su ídolo. Siempre han estado a su lado y hoy en día son sus más fieles amigos y admiradores. Fernando y Pucho se alegran con todos sus triunfos que su hermano cosecha y de hecho lo ayudan y trabajan con él. Para nosotros el estar juntos vale mucho y créeme, que las bases de un hogar sólido son importantísimas, no sólo para un artista, sino para cualquier ser humano. Aún más que el mismo dinero, prefiero dejarle a mis hijos buenos valores y principios morales".

¡A COMENZAR DE NUEVO!

-¿Qué pasó al momento de la salida de Menudo? ¿Pensaste que ahí terminaba todo?

"Mientras estuvo en Menudo, Ricky mantuvo una fuerte fanticada que le era muy fiel. Yo sentía que al momento de salir, su carrera no iba a terminar. Desde el último año con Menudo, él me decía que soñaba con seguir una vida normal, con estudiar medicina para convertirse en pediatra. A mí me encantaba la idea, pero sentía que el cambio sería demasiado drástico después de tanto tiempo sobre un escenario. Nunca lo presioné y dejé que tomara sus propias decisiones. En ese primer año fuera del grupo, que él ya tenía 18 años, se marchó a Nueva York y fue lo mejor que pudo hacer. Por supuesto que lo peor me tocó a mí: montarle el apartamento y después irlo a recoger todo cuando decidió irse a México".

-¿Qué hizo que Ricky volviera a pensar en ser estrella?

En uno de los viajes a Nueva York fuimos a ver un show en el Radio City Music Hall. Esa noche, en medio de los aplausos, vi en su mirada un halo de añoranza. Era natural: él ya había estado en esa sala con Menudo. Entonces le dije: Yo no pierdo las esperanzas de volverte a ver cantando aquí y en el Centro de Bellas Artes de Puerto Rico. El dijo que no. Que tal vez actuando, pero no cantando. Unos días antes lo habían aceptado en la Universidad de Nueva York para estudiar drama, sin embargo, yo sabía que se convirtiría primero en una estrella cantando. El tiempo me dio la razón.

-¿Qué piensas del éxito que ha tenido?

"Hoy lo veo y aunque lo presentí, me sorprende lo muchi que ha logrado Kiki y en tan poco tiempo. Ser madre y amiga de una estrella no es fácil, pero él me facilita el camino, porque sabe escuchar. Su posición de ídolo no lo ha desubicado, ni conmigo ni con sus seres queridos".

"Cuando él está en el escenario se crece, se entrega al público...Pero al bajarse, tiene su vida propia, su familia y sus amigos. Le encanta el arroz con huevo frito y escuchar música. No es bueno para salir, pero tampoco es de los artistas que se esconde, pues si le dan gana de ir a la playa o de patinar, no deja de hacerlo por temor a que lo reconozcan".

-¿Como presientes su futuro?

" A mi hijo, la estrella, le queda un largo camino por andar y lo mejor es que él esta consciente de eso. Para Kiki este es un trabajo como cualquier otro y trata de hacerlo lo mejor posible. Se prepara a diario, se esfuerza, estudia y ha sacrificado muchas cosas por su profesionalismo. Pero gracias a Dios sabe disfrutar.Él es un gran ser humano".

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