~ Months of the year ~
~ On the Road in 2026 ~
| |||||||||||||||
|
The new year of 2026 began with Zélie jumping in the air for a year! Here she is! That was Thursday and I stayed around the house except for a short walk to see the water in the creek. I went to the CSM gym on January 2 and walked laps in the pool. January 3 began with an odd message from Simon, "Maybe now isn't the time to go to Cuba?!?" What did that mean I asked myself. Then I read the news on my iPad. The U.S. military had pulled off a wonderful intervention. It was front page! A Delta Force had actually sneaked into Caracus, Venezuela, and captured Maduro and his wife. The more I read, the more I understood. The month moved along slowly. I sent notes to Simon, taught a Memoir Class, and marveled at the speed of breaking news: Iran teetering on the edge, ICE protests in Minnesota, and bickering over Greenland. I sat in on a Men's Fraternity Zoom meeting on December 5 and welcolmed Jeremy and Sarah to CPC (old friend from WHC). I got a bit discouraged. Back in October, I had paid Kathy Ide $900 to edit my manuscript of So Great a Cloud of Witnesses. She finally returned to me a critique that rocked my writing. (I was not following the rules of novel writing, she says). She only critiqued 1/2 of story one- 5% of the book. I plan to study her suggestions in Story One, polish some more, and then self-publish. I've been plugging away for 3 years. It's time to put this puppy to sleep. As the month passed, Liz was still in her black boot, hobbling around the house. She was certainly grumpy, but I diagnosed the underlying funk as me going to Cuba and leaving her home. Resentment, abandonment? I spent a Friday night and Saturday night at Prayer Mountain. Pastor Choi (who operates the place) had been asking me to preach on a Sunday morning, and so, on January 18, I did. The message was "How Pyeongyang became a Jerusalem of the East." Maybe I'll preach there again. Of course I stay in contact with my two sons. Simon sent photos of Lolo wearing my old Jesus jean jacket, while Zachary was talking about the massive snow storm in Pittsburg. On January 23, I finally got my tooth implant crowned at Dr. Chan's in San Lorenzo. It took a lot of effort and phone calls, but also I managed to get my visa and health form for Cuba. And now I'm mostly packed and waiting for my flight to Miami for tomorrow at 8:30am.
Miami for two nights Tuesday - I got up before my 5:30 alarm awoke me. Liz was already up. I smelled the coffee wafting up the stairwell. I was 95% packed so I just zipped up the big bag, dressed for the flight, and headed out the door. Jeff was on time at 6:30. No problem getting to the airport. The united fight to Miami was scheduled to depart at 8:30, so I had time to walk a bit and rest. I was up in the air for four and a half hours, listening to the Cuba Audible, snacking, and playing some scrabble. It was cool when I hit the ground in Miami. I put on my wind breaker. I was supposed to catch a hotel shuttle to the Ramada but it never came so I took a taxi for $22. The hotel was adequate, especially for a hobo camper. I walked next door to a McDonald's for a belly-bomb dinner and walked on until I hit my goal of 10000 steps. I didn't stay up long and that was my transit day. Wednesday - Simon contacted me early. He might have made the drive south, but his work was backed up. It would have been a short visit anyway. So, I just frittered away the day that Liz had scheduled as a cushion. I talked via FaceTime with both kids about the icy weather across the country and Simon studying the field of AI. I walked down the street for a Denny's dinner. Thursday - I ate the hotel breakfast, walked down the street, then waited for the shuttle to MIA. It was cold again - under 50 degrees. I had to show my passport 4 times and my Cuban visa/certificate twice. My flight was late and I frittered away a few hours near Gate 42. The flight was short, only 1.5 hours. I watched a movie I had down loaded called Understanding. In some ways it's like my book With Dead Certainty. Cuba is truly a different place - odd bird. Kind of like Africa, but by choice. Choosing to to be so rabidly anti-imperialism it chose to be desperately poor.
I landed at Marti Airport and stood in line to show my airline ticket, my passport, and my health certificate (which included the visa seal). I claimed my bag and, wearing my roads scholar necklace, I gathered with a group of fellow travelers. A chartered bus took us to the hotel Marques de la Torre. Our two guides met us in the lobby- Marlon and Edelso. I checked into my room (1202) on the second floor. I rested for a while and at 6:00 met the group in the lobby. There were 14 of us, 8 having dropped out. We gathered for an orientation session in a classroom on the mezzanine. I took a photo of the group. After that, had supper in main dining hall, my was a pork dish. Finally, we gathered in a classroom and listened to an a capella ensemble of 12 women. I bought a t-shirt for Gia. My day of Road Scholars was done. I was fatigued but not sleepy, so I stayed up a while listening to my Cuba Audible. I let Liz, Zachary, and Si know that I arrived in Havana safely. Friday - I got up early, about 6am. I was able to translate Greek, shower, and check messages before I walked to the lobby for breakfast. The meal was buffet-style with a woman flipping omeletes. I sat and talked with a few fellow Road Scholars. There was a group briefing in a classroom. The weather continued cool, in the low 70's. It was unusual. Our first stop was at a synagogue. The talk was about the story of Jews in Cuba. After that, we drove a distance to what was called a "model farm." It was a fun spot called Finca Marta. We watched a video about the place, then ate a lunch made by local products. It was pretty good. This farm produces the only blueberries in Cuba and we looked at the rows of plants, along with a dozen bee hives. Fernando, the scholar and farmer behind the project, was passionate to show us his rural experiment. After that we stopped off at Revolution square where I took pictures, especially of Che Guevara whose giant likeness adorned the Cuban defense building. I sent a selfie with Che to Simon asking him to use AI to swap faces. It didn't turn out so well. We bused out to eat dinner at 6pm. The food was fine, but was surprised that a musical performance followed the meal. It was long and loud for me, but I endured it. Those eight dancer/singers sure had a lot of energy. I was pooped after a long day of bus riding and shuffling. Saturday - it was another early start - up at 6:15, then breakfast at 7:00. Our kickoff meeting was with a music professor in the mezzanine classroom. His theme was trans-culture and how Spanish, native, African, and American sound melded into one. He played an African based song which I recognized as Saint Louis Blues. I gave the singing professor my American quarter with the picture of Cilia Cruz - an American Afro-Cuban singer. We then loaded into the bus. Our first stop was at a small art/junk shop with pieces of modern art on display. I bought a print of an owl. It then began to rain and storm. We entered a drafty dance studio. I sat in a rocking chair, displacing a kitten. A troupe of dancers performed on a small stage. It was also a school for children learning dance, so kids provided some rhythm. We then moved on to old Havana and the Hotel Ambos Mundos. We view the room that Ernest Hemingway occupied and wrote from. We then went to a restaurant where Hemingway once drank himself into depression. The lunch was big and the band was definitely Cuban. I posed with a likeness of Ernest and Fidel. I rested in the hotel room, then our group of 14 did a walking tour of Havana. We also visited an art shop run by the granddaughter of Hemingway's photographer. Then it was dinner time. Then back to the room. Sunday - After a morning of breakfast and preparation, our group seated in a mezzanine room for a talk on the architecture of Havana. It was interesting. The speaker was one of a dozen who championed the preservation of buildings. It was an impossible task, she said. She disparaged the socialist way of tenant living. The dwellers live at no cost and oversee the state-owned property in common. Of course it's a disaster. She mentioned that on average, 3 buildings collapse per day. She said she's not an optimist or a pessimist, but an activist. We then bused to walk in a few plazas. At the cathedral, I stepped in to see a a hundred people celebrating a mass. (Did that count as attending church on this Sunday?) We walked to a metal shop and wandered a few streets. One woman was asking to exchange 5 dollars' worth of American coins for a 5-dollar bill. I posed with her and she gave me a lipstick smooth on the cheek. I went to a cafe for lunch with 3 other Roads Scholars and ordered a pizza. It was pan fried and not oven baked. With a soft drink, it totaled $11. I took some photos of life on the streets of Havana. At a market, I bought canisters of coffee for Liz and for Simon. I bought myself a new Gym bag with a Havava logo. The highlight of the day was- maybe the visit - was the car ride in a convey of vintage cars. About six brightly colored convertibles for the 50s drove down the streets. It was cold, windy, and a bit rainy, but it was fun. We passed John Lennon Park, but the vintage car didn't stop. (I purloined the photo.) I took some pictures of Havana from the hotel rooftop, then joined the group for a bus ride to the La Habana Vieja restaurant. It was an interesting place with a few dozen wall clocks as decor. The shredded beef was fine and the music which followed was old-fashioned and traditional. I joined in with some slow-step Mambo. I got back to the room about 9:00 pm and soaked in the tub. Earlier I had an enlightening conversation with Marlon - on of the guides. I asked him, "if Cuba were to hold a free and fair election tomorrow, who would win, the communists or an opposition party who would open Cuba to the world?" He said, "Oh, the opposition would win for sure. But we can't have an election until the Americans revoke the Helms Burton law and the embargo ends?" I said "why?" He said, "That's fair, that's bargaining." I asked "is voting in Cuba a concession to America"? He kept on insisting there could be no elections until the embargo lifts. I replied, "Why can't Cuba just hold an election without regard to America? Did Castro consult with Eisenhower before he held a revolution?" The argument grew heated. That, I believe is the crux of the USA/Cuba dispute. Monday - The 14 Road Scholars caught 3 return flights to Miami. My flight was at noon. I put my single suitcase in the lobby at 9am and went for a final Havana stroll down to the capitol building. I boarded the airport bus about 10 and headed out with four others. I passed through passport control, then through security. I accumulated more steps as the flight was delayed until 1pm. The flight was about 90 minutes. I listened to the Cuba audible - about the ruke of Castro.
I was happy to land in Miami. Cuba was such a puzzle. I reclaimed my suitcase, found my way to the tri-rail station, and bought a ticket for $8.75 to Lake Worth. I was hungry and so ate the Pringle-like chips I bought in Havana. The train ride to Lake Worth was about 90 minutes and the wait for Simon another 20. I was happy to see my son pull up in his Tesla and load my luggage into the frunk. It was a long day so I rested while he did a bit more work-from-home. Lorenzo and Gia burst through the door about 5:00. Gia gave me a big hug and said, "Gramps, I forgot you were coming today." The two are teenagers, so our conversations were limited. Each was happy with their birthday present, $300 on their charge card. Simon is a gourmet cook and prepared a great meal of spaghetti. The kids went to Dilia's for the night and I turned in after a long day. I was happy to see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears that my offspring are flourishing. Tuesday - I slept in late since Dilia was caring for Lolo and Gia. I was having issues with my cellular service-ATT. My one-year service contract wouldn't renew. I checked for ATT stores and the nearest was located 5.4 miles south past Lake worth in Lantana. It was a bold move, but I decided to walk the distance. It took me 2 hours but I made it. I encountered a lot of cold-stunned iguanas. I did solve my cellular issue and got a better deal than before at $21 per month. I was set. Simon picked me up and rested on my back for a few hours. In the afternoon, Simon and I headed to Suncoast school to pick up my Grandkids. That drive is about 30 minutes down highway 95. From the school we decided to go to a Chinese-sushi place called Krazy Buffet and grill. I overate, I confess. Lolo liked sushi and Gia pasta. It was Simon's night and we stayed up until 10pm. The kids had school the next day and I stayed up a few hours on podcasts. Wednesday - It's amazing to me how Simon gets up at 6am and prepares a fully cooked breakfast and lunch with fresh cut fruit for Lorenzo and Gia. It's a scramble (especially with Gia) to be out the door by 6:50. On this morning, Lolo took the wheel, I took shotgun, with Simon and Gia in the back. Simon gave his son driving feedback for his next-day driving test. It was a giant day of rest for me. I went back to sleep for a few hours then talked with Simon until his first official call at 10 am. I walked down the shoreline in an occasional drizzle. I rested, lounged, and walked more, talking with Simon between calls. He was showing me his progress working with AI and an agent called Chauncey. He's developing an app called "tide-stride". I finished up a jigsaw puzzle for Gia, then went with Simon to Planet Fitness to pick up Lolo. (It’s a challenge for me to be non-productive - to accomplish nothing.) About dark, Dilia dropped by Gia a a birthday cake. I put happy birthday in Spanish on my iPad. Gia turned 15 today!! I had completed the puzzle all but the last piece. Gia was happy to that piece in. The evening soon passed, once again cold, in the 40's. Thursday - Woke up with Simon making breakfast for the kids. (I never got up this early for school.) Lolo is an easy riser, Gia is not. It was a big day for Lorenzo. He was getting his driver's license. After dropping off Gia at Suncoast, Lolo drove inland to a developing town called New Lake. We went to a window for his 8:15 appointment. He filled out the paperwork for his card, but also signed up for the draft and for voting. The driver's test was ridiculously simple. The Tesla left the parking lot- backing up, turning, braking. He passed! He drove himself back to school, missing his first 2 classes. Simon and I returned home. He had taken the full day off work. After an hour's rest we headed to a plant nursery specializing in bamboo. He bought 5 seven-gallon buckets. I walked the garden like grounds as he did the talking. Si was lucky. A woman landscaper volunteered to truck the items to si's place. That saved the Tesla from a mess. When she arrived at the house, she gave Simon professional advice on his grove of bamboo. He was pleased with the outworking. After some phone calls to USAA, Simon was surprised to learn his insurance premium jumped by $380 per month. Later in the afternoon, we picked up Gia at Suncoast and Lolo at South Olive, honing his soccer skills. The day was good. I'm glad to partake of this slice of Florida life. Friday - This was a work day for Simon and a school day for Gia and Lorenzo. I walked the shoreline and talked with Simon between phone calls. The evening meal was complicated. Lolo liked Raisin' Cain and we three preferred Chilis. We drove through the first to get Lolo chicken nuggets then settled in at the second. Simon had some kind of tiff with Gia and she pouted and cried a bit. I enjoyed my burger. The kids went to their mom's house, and Simon and I stayed up late. We talked about my book With Dead Certainty. How will the world end? Will AI take over?It was past midnight before we turned in. Saturday - My visit was coming to a close. An ATT worker dropped by early at the house to talk with Simon about his 3 unwelcomed telephone poles. (They prevent him from building a swimming pool). My son was encouraged. I loaded my suitcase into the Tesla at 8:45 and Simon drove me to PBI. He had packed me two bagel sandwiches. I panicked at the airport. I had a UA confirmation number, but apparently I had cancelled my United reservation! Did I really do that? There was ten minutes of consternation, but I was able to book the same two flights: PBI to ORD then to SFO. It cost me $600. The flights were okay, I watched random parts of movies, played scrabble, and napped. Jeff met me about 4:00 and soon I was home. My adventure was over! end of Simon Visit I was tired on that Saturday evening, so I washed up, unpacked a bit and turned out the lights. On Sunday morning, Liz and I went to church together, then at three we went out to Roundtable Pizza to watch the first half of the Super Bowl. (It wasn't too super this year). On Monday morning I met with Joshua Parish and Stephen Lim to prepare for my on-line Acts class. I guess I'm ready to pull the trigger on it. -- Boy the situation in Cuba is getting worse. Sad. I'm glad I made it to Castro-land when I did.
|
Back to 2025
forward to 2027 
