Comments on: Kid In Exile http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/ ...an island on the net without a bearded dictator Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:19:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: My Suitcase Full of Hope | Babalú Blog: an island on the net without a bearded dictator http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96189 My Suitcase Full of Hope | Babalú Blog: an island on the net without a bearded dictator Thu, 28 May 2009 13:08:44 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96189 [...] Dreams Kid in Exile A Priceless [...] [...] Dreams Kid in Exile A Priceless [...]

]]> By: FreedomForCuba http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96185 FreedomForCuba Thu, 28 May 2009 03:39:53 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96185 Val, I guess that the Kleenex bill at the Prieto’s household for this month will go through the roof...LOL Please let me know when a DVD becomes available. Maura, That was a beautiful, heartfelt, wonderful post that describes how much you love your grandparents. Please treasure your grandparents while they’re still alive and forever thank them for the courage they had to take their families out of Cuba. In your family you’re first generation Cuban-American born in the great USA thanks to them. Val,

I guess that the Kleenex bill at the Prieto’s household for this month will go through the roof...LOL

Please let me know when a DVD becomes available.

Maura,

That was a beautiful, heartfelt, wonderful post that describes how much you love your grandparents.

Please treasure your grandparents while they’re still alive and forever thank them for the courage they had to take their families out of Cuba.

In your family you’re first generation Cuban-American born in the great USA thanks to them.

]]> By: maura80 http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96180 maura80 Wed, 27 May 2009 21:21:19 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96180 Thanks Val. Thanks Val.

]]> By: Val Prieto http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96176 Val Prieto Wed, 27 May 2009 18:50:59 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96176 Maura, I was sitting here at the office weeping like a baby. Forwarded the comment to Joe Cardona waited a minute or two and called him up. he was in tears as well. beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Maura,

I was sitting here at the office weeping like a baby. Forwarded the comment to Joe Cardona waited a minute or two and called him up. he was in tears as well.

beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

]]> By: Maria Moneo http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96175 Maria Moneo Wed, 27 May 2009 18:45:08 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96175 It was a special night - your parents were adorable! Yes, their story provided some tears, but also the best laughs and the most applause. Thanks for the invite, we were happy to be there. It was a special night - your parents were adorable! Yes, their story provided some tears, but also the best laughs and the most applause. Thanks for the invite, we were happy to be there.

]]> By: maura80 http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96174 maura80 Wed, 27 May 2009 18:44:20 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96174 Val-I didn't mean to pulverize.... Val-I didn't mean to pulverize....

]]> By: Val Prieto http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96173 Val Prieto Wed, 27 May 2009 18:33:14 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96173 Maura, You just completely pulverized me. Maura,

You just completely pulverized me.

]]> By: maura80 http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96172 maura80 Wed, 27 May 2009 17:24:47 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96172 I cannot write with the eloquence that my uncle Val can, but I will try to express my emotions, as the granddaughter/daughter/niece of Cuban exiles, as best as I can. I know my uncle has mentioned before that he started this blog to expose my sister, my brother, and I to Cuba… to his Cuba… to the Cuba my family left so many years ago… the Cuba that lives in their hearts now and will live in the hearts of my siblings and our future generations. Last night was amazing. The film had me crying from the opening credits to the moment the lights came back on. As part of the first generation of the Prieto Family to be born in the US, my vision of Cuba is limited to my family’s memories. I have never walked through the parks that they speak of, or visit the beaches they called the most beautiful, or visited the theater where my Uncle Ismael worked, but after watching Joe’s film and watching my grandparents watching themselves on the big screen, I felt like I had visited all those places. I finally had images to accompany the stories. It was as if I was no longer sitting next to my grandparents at the Tower Theater in Miami, Florida, but was part of the black and white pictures flashing on the screen. I had the privilege of living with my grandparents for a few years during my early twenties. I witnessed their daily routines, Abuela cooking and Abuelo washing the dishes. I watched them in their recliners watching the novelas. I watched their glee when my sister arrived with their first great grandchild. I’ve watched them get in to fights, as happens when you live with someone for over 50 years, and make up. I’ve watched them get all dressed up to go to the mall or go to the movies or out to dinner with friends. I’ve watched Abuela sweep and mop the house while old Cuban Music played in the background. I’ve watched Abuelo get up early every morning, make Cuban coffee and take to Abuela while she will still in bed. I’ve watched them for years, and it wasn’t until last night that I actually SAW them. For the first time, I didn’t watch them as my grandparents, but SAW them as people. I SAW what made them who they are and what lead me to be who I am. As the youngest girl in the family, the single one with no kids, I have always feared that once I do get married and have kids; my grandparents will no longer be with us. I fear that my children will never be able to meet my grandparents, their GREAT grandparents (GREAT as people not great in terms of family tree/generations). I will forever be grateful to Joe (and his team) for capturing my family’s experiences on film so that I can share it with my children one day, so that my children can one day understand why they get to live in the Land of the Free and why their family was forced to leave Paradise. By witnessing this amazing couple on the screen, they will learn that challenges only make you stronger. That no one can tell you what you can do. They will learn that my Grandfather is the strongest man they will ever know (even if only through stories, pictures, and film) and that my Grandmother’s love for her family allowed her to raise the children alone for years in hopes that she could one day provide them a better future. Thank you Joe for putting my grandparents on film Thank you Uncle Val for allowing them to live forever through your words Thank you God for the honor of being a Prieto Maura I cannot write with the eloquence that my uncle Val can, but I will try to express my emotions, as the granddaughter/daughter/niece of Cuban exiles, as best as I can. I know my uncle has mentioned before that he started this blog to expose my sister, my brother, and I to Cuba… to his Cuba… to the Cuba my family left so many years ago… the Cuba that lives in their hearts now and will live in the hearts of my siblings and our future generations. Last night was amazing. The film had me crying from the opening credits to the moment the lights came back on. As part of the first generation of the Prieto Family to be born in the US, my vision of Cuba is limited to my family’s memories. I have never walked through the parks that they speak of, or visit the beaches they called the most beautiful, or visited the theater where my Uncle Ismael worked, but after watching Joe’s film and watching my grandparents watching themselves on the big screen, I felt like I had visited all those places. I finally had images to accompany the stories. It was as if I was no longer sitting next to my grandparents at the Tower Theater in Miami, Florida, but was part of the black and white pictures flashing on the screen.

I had the privilege of living with my grandparents for a few years during my early twenties. I witnessed their daily routines, Abuela cooking and Abuelo washing the dishes. I watched them in their recliners watching the novelas. I watched their glee when my sister arrived with their first great grandchild. I’ve watched them get in to fights, as happens when you live with someone for over 50 years, and make up. I’ve watched them get all dressed up to go to the mall or go to the movies or out to dinner with friends. I’ve watched Abuela sweep and mop the house while old Cuban Music played in the background. I’ve watched Abuelo get up early every morning, make Cuban coffee and take to Abuela while she will still in bed. I’ve watched them for years, and it wasn’t until last night that I actually SAW them. For the first time, I didn’t watch them as my grandparents, but SAW them as people. I SAW what made them who they are and what lead me to be who I am.

As the youngest girl in the family, the single one with no kids, I have always feared that once I do get married and have kids; my grandparents will no longer be with us. I fear that my children will never be able to meet my grandparents, their GREAT grandparents (GREAT as people not great in terms of family tree/generations). I will forever be grateful to Joe (and his team) for capturing my family’s experiences on film so that I can share it with my children one day, so that my children can one day understand why they get to live in the Land of the Free and why their family was forced to leave Paradise. By witnessing this amazing couple on the screen, they will learn that challenges only make you stronger. That no one can tell you what you can do. They will learn that my Grandfather is the strongest man they will ever know (even if only through stories, pictures, and film) and that my Grandmother’s love for her family allowed her to raise the children alone for years in hopes that she could one day provide them a better future.

Thank you Joe for putting my grandparents on film

Thank you Uncle Val for allowing them to live forever through your words

Thank you God for the honor of being a Prieto

Maura

]]> By: lamayor http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96171 lamayor Wed, 27 May 2009 16:58:49 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96171 Is there any way that those of us in the hinterlands can watch this online? I looked but couldn't find anything. Is there any way that those of us in the hinterlands can watch this online? I looked but couldn't find anything.

]]> By: Carlos_Frias http://babalublog.com/2009/05/kid-in-exile/#comment-96170 Carlos_Frias Wed, 27 May 2009 16:51:49 +0000 http://babalublog.com/?p=22135#comment-96170 What an incredible day for you and your family, Val. And what an important reminder, to us, to our peers, to anyone with a head and a heart, what a sacrifice our parents made nearly 50 years ago. They truly are made of 'acero inoxidable' as my grandfather used to say: Stainless Steel. What an incredible day for you and your family, Val. And what an important reminder, to us, to our peers, to anyone with a head and a heart, what a sacrifice our parents made nearly 50 years ago. They truly are made of 'acero inoxidable' as my grandfather used to say: Stainless Steel.

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