May 4 - this is my family’s holiday, a Memorial & Independence Day rolled into one. This day always make me reflect. The decisions and events that lead to May 4, 1970 were life changing for me. My parents, recently married and in their mid-30s at the time, consciously chose to leave life, family, business and everything behind to start anew and bring me to a better life. This amazing country welcomed us with open arms. I remember, In Cuba, going from house to house saying our goodbyes to my Grandparents, aunts, uncles & neighbors. Recall the feeling of knowing something momentous was occurring but not quite understanding. I still envision the government coming to seize my dads small shop and inventorying our home, going through our private places, all to make sure we wouldnt pass on anything to anyone. I remember the first people I saw that day- My new family members, the old friends that welcomed us, the place where I slept. I was seven years old. Here we are, 44 years of remembering it and it always tears me up. When my dad was alive, we’d sit and talk about all I remembered and the would-have-been’s. What if we had stayed? What if our cousins were the ones to come and we had stayed? What if that man would have never been a sad reality? What if…. I am thankful for the independence and the life I was offered and given a chance to live. Not one day goes by that I am not grateful but on this particular day every year I feel incredibly blessed.
Posted on: Sun, 04 May 2014 21:46:00 +0000
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