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On a clear day, you can see Havana

February 13, 2011 By Marta Darby 14 Comments

When I was born, my dad was 44 years old. I am the youngest of his six children. (Still today and forever, I am the baby of the family, but that's not important right now.)

On February 13th, 1961, he celebrated the first of many birthdays in the U.S. He was 50 years old.

My dad was an extremely quiet person. He was not, as I recall, particularly brave. Except for having the common, everyday-type courage that it takes to start your life over again in a new country, speaking a new language and providing for a wife and six children.

That always amazes me. And yet, he managed to, not just survive in this new land, but to thrive.

In 1962, he bought a house in Southwest Miami. 25th Terrace.

We were excited to be a part of the new adventure of moving into a new house and we explored every bedroom, every closet, every cabinet of the house, and every inch of the fabulously huge backyard.

This was back in the day when you needed a huge TV antenna to get reception for one of the 3 major channels. My dad, the engineer, got a brand new antenna that needed to be installed. This required climbing up on the roof.

He must have borrowed the ladder from a neighbor. "Come up here with me. You can see Cuba from up here."

He might just as well have said, "We're going on a magic treasure hunt."

My sister, Alina, and I eagerly climbed up onto the roof with him.

Papi alina me on roof025

No, of course, we couldn't see Cuba. He patiently explained that obviously, the avocado tree behind us was blocking our view.

My brother snapped the polaroid and captured this moment forever.

And such was the power of my dad's ability to tell stories, that I never questioned that we could probably see Cuba from the roof of our little home in Southwest Miami (La Saguesera), but for that silly, overgrown avocado tree.

My dad would have been 100 years old today. The older I get, the more I miss him.

Felicidades, viejo. Te quiero.

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Filed Under: Cuban-American Life, My Big, Fat, Cuban Family Tagged With: Cuba, Cuban exile story, Havana, La Saguesera, Southwest Miami

Previous Post: « Confronting Weakness
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BFF says

    February 13, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    I would have loved to know him, but I feel I know him by knowing you! I love the magic we make for our children, don’t you. I hope my kids and grand kids remember me so fondly. Iove you MORE!

    Reply
  2. Mica Suarez says

    February 13, 2011 at 5:54 pm

    Marta, you have a gift of telling a story like we are right there with you. I imagine you take after your viejo. What a special thing to be able to share an ordinary moment from your childhood memory and make it so special.xoxo

    Reply
  3. keb says

    February 13, 2011 at 8:17 pm

    I never saw this pic before! Also the 1st time I heard the roof story – what a great yarn.God bless papi!

    Reply
  4. Mike Griffith says

    February 14, 2011 at 1:08 am

    He obviously passed the story telling gift to you!

    Reply
  5. Marta M. Darby says

    February 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

    Thanks!I KNOW your kids and grandkids already think highly of you. Love you MORE.

    Reply
  6. Marta M. Darby says

    February 14, 2011 at 11:15 am

    Mica,You made me cry with your kind words. Gracias.

    Reply
  7. Marta M. Darby says

    February 14, 2011 at 11:16 am

    keb,I knew I had this picture somewhere and was waiting to tell the story when I found it. I just happened to find it yesterday. Serendipity?

    Reply
  8. Marta M. Darby says

    February 14, 2011 at 11:16 am

    Thanks, Mike!I’d love to think so.

    Reply
  9. marta says

    February 14, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    I miss my Dad too Marta, I miss my grandma’s, grandfather (I only met one) I miss them all. Growing up in Minnesota away from my big Cuban family really makes me miss them every single day!

    Reply
  10. Marta M. Darby says

    February 14, 2011 at 10:20 pm

    I think that’s how it’s meant to be: we take them for granted when they are here and miss them terribly when they’re not. It’s the circle of life, isn’t it?Besos!

    Reply
  11. Jonathan B says

    March 14, 2011 at 8:39 pm

    Hello Marta, I am reading your blog as for school I am doing a report on Cuban Americans. This piece brought me to tears. I read countless blogs such as your for my own enjoyment yet i have never bothered commenting. Thank you for showing me a little of the feelings of your new “adventure”.. God Bless, Jonathan

    Reply
  12. Marta says

    March 16, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Hi Jonathan,Thanks for commenting. I’m glad you enjoyed this particular post.
    Besos,
    Marta

    Reply
  13. Lourdes Falagán Winter says

    January 26, 2013 at 10:35 am

    Marta, I read (and reposted on FB) this story of your dad, because I enjoyed it so!. My own parents, Orlando and Nenita Falagan, spoke of him often and with great admiration. I am inspired by what you’ve done with this blog, sharing your talents and weaving entertaining stories for us to read. I can relate to just about every one of them. Thank you for keeping the memories alive and making us laugh, cry, and think!

    Reply
  14. Marta M. Darby says

    January 29, 2013 at 11:48 am

    Hi Luly!You are my sister-from-another-mother!
    Thank you for your kind words. I remember your dad with great affection. I particularly remember that he used to visit my Papi and sit and talk with him for hours when he was housebound.
    What a gift.
    Besos,
    Marta

    Reply

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