Friday, September 16, 2011

A Birthday Suit Story…


Actually, I don’t remember whose birthday it was, even though it was a real splurge, a Sweet 16 like bash (except in Cuba, as in all Hispanic countries, this biggie for young ladies is celebrated on their 15th birthday) but just the circumstances around it.

“Mom…” said I one afternoon, “guess what?” Obviously she had no answer to this, for I had not been very forthcoming with information. But I did have a ready smile on my face… already practicing for a sales future…

“Bueno, bueno… que pasa?”  -“Well, what is happening?” Answered she, in her most maternal voice and tone, knowing that it was highly probable my answer would lead to a request which involved money(s)… Well, mothers do know…

-“Me invitaron a una Quinceañera” … -“I was invited to a 15th birthday celebration”. This, in of itself, is OK. The only potential problem this presented is that this was as formal an occasion as a then 14 year old could get into, in our “society” (read: Gossipy) circles. Ladies young and old (these last to chaperone and make sure no virtues were lost on the dance floor) would be in long dresses and all men (young ones included) were expected to attend decked out in suits and full regalia.  I had, being 14 yrs old and never really having needed it, no such regalia.
A Room Ready...

“Hmmm” she answered… not a very committed retort… then added -“I think we need to find a suit you can use” Well, you may ask… why not just buy one? At already 6 feet tall and just 14 years old, I was somewhat of an anomaly in a country of fully grown 5’7” people, and with an arm reach of 36”, it was very difficult to find ready made suits in any local store (even here in the US today, this presents a problem at times); and having it made would have been impossible because of the time element involved. So, a family wide search was initiated for a “suit-able” offer.  Yes, I did write that. Phone calls were made and SOS’s sent out into all four winds, including a couple of swirling ones.

One morning, about 5 days into the search, a phone call came in… -“Rafo” called my (still) favorite cousin, Martha. “One of my brother’s suits probably will fit you” “He is away at his fiancée’s home, preparing their upcoming wedding, but I think if you come over we’ll find a nice suit you can wear to the party”. Pepe, her brother and my cousin, really an older brother, was also 6 feet tall (we do grow’em big in our family; my son is 6’8”) and broad shouldered, having been a rowing crew member for several years at the club. “Hey”, said I, “That may work, is it OK with him?” Martha, bless her, just said “It will be even if it wasn’t”. So, I took my jaunty feet over to their home, about 15 blocks away.
...to receive the revelers


Once we opened Pepe’s closet, we looked at a small assortment (we had little use for suits in our climate, the weather being conducive to a more informal dress code) and, of what was available, one jumped at me… literally. As I opened the door, the hanger this suit was on got caught in the motion, and came out. Well, we have talked about “premonitions” before in these posts, right? Yeah, I know this is calling a stretch, but I really, really… liked the suit.  It was a light color, latest fashion linen affair, beautifully made and it just looked, well… “super cool”.  At the time I was hosting a fairly well received regional radio program and I “just” had to look the part, so … this was it, this was  “The Suit”.

-“When can I take it?” asked I… -“Well, now if you want, but I think it will be better if your grandfather comes in the car so you don’t have to lug it all the way home” answered my cousin. She was right, but, boy! Did I want that suit in my closet… at least for a while. I grabbed the phone and made a call –“Abuelo, I need you to please, please come pick me up at Pepe’s house” My grandfather answered, as I knew he would, bless him wherever his spirit is today (I know he is near by… he told me he would always be and I believe him, so Thanks abuelo!) – “give me about 40 minutes and I will pick you up” When I mentioned this to Martha, and being already past 12 noon, she just said –“let’s raid the fridge and have some lunch while he comes” which we proceeded to do.

The Hotel Lobby... still the same


-“Don’t you think I should tell Pepe about this?” –“Nah, it’ll be OK” she answered. Being a “naïve” 14 year old and excited about the suit and the shortly upcoming birthday party, I didn’t bother to read between the lines and raised eyebrows…

Sooo, the suit went home with me, where I tried it on and it was just perfect! We went out and bought a dress shirt and a beautiful silk tie (there were still a couple of shops in town that had these items, but not for much longer) to go with it, breast pocket hanky included. Boy, I wish I had a picture of me in that suit… handsome devil!!… Oh well… a lifetime ago.

The party was to take place at the Jagua Hotel, newly opened in town and still considered today, 53 years later, one of the best hotels outside of Havana. On the upcoming Friday night, from 8 ‘till… whatever. Dinner and dance included. The party night finally came and I was all decked out in “my” linen suit; I was taken to the hotel and there went into the restaurant club, where several friends were already. Funny, I don’t remember my partner for the night. Actually, we had a table where several friends sat and shared so we really were not with any one partner, just having a communal blast.

On the bayside, Hotel Jagua
today still one of the best in Cuba
First, the arrival of the birthday lady with her escort, then the introductions of the “court” and dinner… Afterwards, we did the waltz (required item, this) “Tales of The Vienna Woods” I remember; a beautiful piece and one of my favorites. This music just makes your feet glide about the dance floor… love it!  Then, the party began in earnest. As I was gyrating and dancing away, I happened to look over to the bar, which sat behind a glass wall overlooking the dance floor and… Lo and behold!!! Who was there watching, but my cousin Pepe, the not too happy looking suit owner. He motioned me over to where he was and I made my way into the bar (there were no age restrictions in Cuba about a minor –even a 6 foot tall one- being in a bar) and to where he was sitting…

-“That suit looks good on you” he opened up the dialogue… “but maybe you should have called me about it” I sort of looked at him and said… “but Martha said it would be ok” –“Well”, he added… “It will have to be because I can’t very well leave you dancing here in your underwear” –“what is the matter?” I asked…

He looked at me with a fairly serious expression and said -"If you harm the suit in any way, I will probably kill both you and my sister…" he paused for effect and added:
-“I am getting married next week and THAT is the suit I will be wearing!!”

After holding the stare for a minute or so, he actually smiled and just asked me to please, please be careful and, as you know, this is the worst thing you can ask someone… No, nothing happened to the suit. We had a real blast, and the following week he did get married (still is, 53 years later) and looked great, almost as good as I did (Hmm) in the suit.

A long ago birthday suit story…

Be Well… BE back!!

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