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Remembering Papi. Resolviendo – Cuban style

October 16, 2012 By Marta Darby 4 Comments

My dad was an Electrical Engineer. A Cuban Engineer. Which made him brilliant and innovative with just a touch of Mad Scientist to him.

When we first arrived in this country, someone had given us a very old, very used, five foot tall refrigerator. We were grateful to have it, since we arrived here with nothing. A gift of a large appliance, no matter how old or short was nothing to be sneezed at.

That refrigerator was not just old, it was quite fragile. It was for sure not a big name, like Frigedaire or Maytag. It had one of those clunky metal handles that you pull down in order to open the fridge. I still remember that it made a big “ka-chunk” sound when you opened it. There was no sneaking food from this old beast. Having six kids in the family constantly pulling on that old handle was a bit too much for the old fridge to handle, (pun intended) and so it soon broke off.

Of course, we couldn’t afford a new refrigerator…

My dad, the Cuban Engineer to the rescue!

He found the largest screwdriver he could find. Seriously, it must have been at least 12 inches long. Then he attached some bolts to the bottom and attached it where the old handle had been and voila! New refrigerator handle!

We have no photos of this amazing thing. We barely have photos of ourselves during this time, but that’s not important right now.

Check out the sketch I’ve drawn from my very vivid memory of the thing. I always found it in turns amazing and hideous.

Damn Cubans!

Do you have a good “Resolviendo” story? Please share.

You might also like:

Brunch. Cuban style. Stuffed French Toast, Cuban Style – A Love Story and A Giveaway Arroz con Maiz Recipe – An Original Thanksgiving Side Dish Cuban-style Pan Con Bistec (Cuban-style Steak Sandwich) Recipe

Filed Under: Cuban-American Life Tagged With: Cuban engineering, Cuban family, Cuban refugees, refrigerator

Previous Post: « Cuando Sali de Cuba – Edilia’s Story
Next Post: Is Anybody Listening? »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BBabushka says

    October 16, 2012 at 3:52 pm

    Great story! Apparently it’s in our blood- or maybe la comida- porque hasta Babushka has had her resolviendo moments. At the end of this post ya veras good old fashioned Cuban ingenuity- it isn’t just men. http://bohemianbabushka.blogspot.com/2012/09/50-hitting-it-out-of-park-continuation.htmlBB2U

    Reply
  2. Jeannie Anderson says

    October 19, 2012 at 12:29 am

    Your dad…the original MacGyver!

    Reply
  3. Allison says

    October 19, 2012 at 7:35 pm

    Mi abuelo, Eugieno was also an electrical engineer. I think I have a schematic for every electrical appliance I own. There was nothing he couldn’t or at least, wouldn’t try to fix! He once made my dog a wheelchair out of garbage can wheels and PVC, because he refused to let me put the poor sick thing to sleep! Abuelo will always be my hero, my caballero. <3

    Reply
  4. Mercy says

    October 6, 2015 at 1:01 am

    My dad fixed everything with duct tape. Dad the hose in the patio has a hole, ok no lo toque que yo lo arreglo. Of course with duct tape. Needless to say our house was full of the silver stuff!!

    Reply

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