My Dos Abuelitos

Panni's more special than special Zoltan...and Pepi's Federico--"mas viejo que los siglos":

MY DOS ABUELITOS

BY GEORGINA MARRERO

Zoltan y Federico:
My dos abuelitos.
One, from Hungary – el otro, de Cuba.
One, a postal worker – el otro, un campesino.
The two have contribuido a quien soy.

Zoltan loved his family very much:
He sacrificed for his ten brothers and sisters.
His brilliance shone,
In spite of the fact that he worked for the post office.
Who cares, right?
Nobody really did.
Neither his fellow Jews, nor even the Jesuits.
On the contrary, they loved him so much
They hid him, during the War.
After all, where else would they find a layperson
Who spoke Latin as well as they?

Zoltan loved Panni very much.
He sold his gold Omega pocket watch, one year,
So she could return to school.
He taught her well:
Be careful how you present yourself to the world,
I can imagine him saying to her on more than one occasion.
If not via words, then via deeds.
Teach by example:
Have I learned his lesson well, I wonder?

He was also funny. He was good… and funny.
Are these the gifts I have inherited from him?
I certainly hope so!

Federico era un hombre humilde.
Era cojo, con una pata mas larga que la otra.
El gran Albarran le dijo a mi bisabuela,
“Tiene que vivir en el campo –
necesita vivir al aire fresco.”
Asi que paso mas tiempo en la finca.




MY DOS ABUELITOS – PAGE TWO

No fue un hombre educado, pero crio a siete hijos.
Uno de ellos – claro – fue mi Papi.
A todos los muchachos les dio el nombre de “Federico”:
Que confusion existiera en esa casa, de vez en cuando!

Este Viejo isleno, mas viejo que los siglos,
Creia en el espiritismo.
Nadie le prestaba atencion…
Hasta que llego Panni a Cuba.
“Le daba cuerda,” ella me decia.
“Nadie mas lo escuchaba.”
Posiblemente fue asi que Mami se preparo –
Inconscientemente – para su futura
Carrera?

Ni modo. Yo soy creyente, a mi manera.
When I think about Zoltan – y, a veces, en Federico,
I get goosebumps.
Me dan escalofrios.
I’m not scared, any more,
Of los regalos de
My dos abuelitos.

Saturday, October 25, 2003

Feliz Cumpleanos, Papi!