In November 1982 Mamá & Papá had a very special aniversery, I knew it was a special anniversary when when I came along in August, I'm sure I was a gift from their anniversary. None of my sisters, Celia 'Lia', Calista (Cali), Conchita (Chichi), thought so, I was just there little brother.
Mi Abuela always said I smelled like the tears of and angel. She said that's very important.
Mi Abuelo gave me an azabache to ward off the evil eye. It works, I'm still here and I still have it, no need to tempt fate right?
One year later my sisters decided I was their doll. They loved to dress me up like one of their dolls. Apparently I was 'pretty', I like to think handsome. That continued until I could run faster than all of them.
When I was six years old I was taught to never ever pick up a penny, it probably contains ' mal de ojo' (the evil eye).
Mamá & Papá impressed on me how inportant it is to not bring home the sea shells. That was 'Mala suerte,' they would cryptically say.
One of the most scary superstitions also know to me as rules was If a rocking chair moves by itself, death is imminent. This was the most scary superstition, so if you get up from the chair and it continued rocking there was a good chance someone in the family would die. I was the youngest so I was really careful when I got up from a rocking chair. I also was vigilant to see no rocking chair continued to rock That one took a lot of running and stopping those chairs.
As an adult I look back and wonder about all those rules or superstitions. I know they were brought along with them from Cuba when they came over. Just a little bit of home.
My sisters even had more rules, don't put your purse on the floor, you'll end up poor.
Don't go out at night with wet hair. Be especially careful if there is a full moon. It's unknown what calamity might befall you, so don't do it.
Then if you follow all the rules and still have bad thins happen, light a candle. This worked to burn off the bad luck, might be a good idea to light a candle now, just in cases. You know that one is ' Prende una velita.', you know as a precaution.
We had a lot to learn back then.
As I got older I discovered girls. In sixth grade I kissed Lucia Garcia. Then I moved onto Maria, Bella, Camila and I was still eleven. Junior high I progressed on the girls and then I discovered Gangs I was only fourteen. I suppose I just wanted to fit in, I learned pretty young about drinking, smoking when I was sixteen I got caught stealing a car. My parents were busy with all the family and worried for me.
That's when my parents sent me to Miami the live with my Abuela.
She was to 'straighten me out', get me away from the gangs.
She kept me so busy I didn't have time to get in trouble. First and foremost was homework, and yes it would by checked to make sure it was done. She was pretty smart and check it and could help on some of it.
I was to help cook meals and learn how to make several dishes. I had to do my own laundry. I think a lot just to keep me busy at home and away from gangs.
I had gotten my drivers licensee and could drive Abuela to get groceries, and to visit some of her lady friends. I had time for myself while she visited. I was responsible for getting us to mass every Sunday.
When I had lived with her for a few months I got a little more free time. But homework was first and foremost. As a result of that I was able to get ahead a little and take some college classes so I got advanced placement in college, and graduated with honors.
Mi abuela was very proud of our history in Cuba and passed it on to me. Mi abuelo has fought in WWII he had been the navy and fought in the Battle of the Caribbean. The navy had sunk many U-boats that were attacking the merchat ships and oil tankers. Then in the revoulution had fought against the revolt. So when that ended they had to escape to America in 1959. That is part of the reason I joined the military. That changed my life in more ways that I could have imagined
When I went to college I moved back to Newark to go to Rutgers fall of 2000.
Cuba had a high standard of education so the grandmother could help on schoolwork.
The WWII information is historical.