Cuban American stories

Where did the time go?   The answer is that it did pass.

It was 50 years ago today that our family landed in Miami after a 2 month odyssey that began on July 2nd when we departed Cuba via Mexico City.   

Along the way, our plane almost crashed, we lived through an earthquake, we spent almost two months in Jamaica in a one room flat and had some fun too.  

We left via Mexico City because there were no flights between Cuba and the US.  Our two options were Madrid and Mexico City.  We chose the latter because it was a better fit for our eventual entry to the US. 

We spent two months in Jamaica waiting for our papers to come to the US.  

It was a long summer with no money and flying “on a wing and a prayer”.    

We rented a room from a Jamaican man who had lived in Cuba.     

We all slept in the same room.  My parents on the bed with my sister stuck in.  My brother & I on the floor.   My biggest memory was staying up late with my father and listening to the news on a little short wave radio that he bought in Mexico.  It was fascinating talking to my father about world events.  He was, and still is,  a very well informed man who had a thought on every topic.

We remember today my parents and their sacrifice.  I recall how my brother and I played baseball with a ball that my mom made out of a sock.  We recall our  little sister.  We were all very protective of her because I don’t think that she understood what this trip was all about.

It was an awesome experience that summer of 1964.  Where did 50 years go?