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.
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| 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.
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| ...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.
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| 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
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| 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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