My Dos Abuelitos

My maternal grandfather, Zoltan Raab, on his wedding day in 1912.

In the midst of my pre-move organization, I took a picture break today. I inherited great shots of my Raab grandparents, Zoltan and Ileana (Ilonka), taken on their wedding day in 1912. The kind--slightly distracted, but kind--owner of Miami Photo did the absolute best he could restoring Zoltan's picture (see above)--half of his face was all but missing. In tails and all: what a shot! What a poet! What a kind--good--very bright--and funny man. Panni adored him.

Several years ago I wrote the following about My Dos Abuelitos. I wish I had a picture to share with you of Federico, who named all his sons after himself...and who was, as I like to say, "mas viejo que los siglos." Islenos--Canary Islanders--are creatures onto themselves. No wonder Ninina refers to them as the "E.T.'s" (and, yes, they're considered to have come from Atlantis)!

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.

A postal worker?

Did anybody really care?

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 más larga que la otra.

El gran Albarran le dijo a mi bisabuela,

“Tiene que vivir en el campo –

necesita vivir al aire fresco.”

Así que paso mas tiempo en la finca.

MY DOS ABUELITOS – PAGE TWO

No fue un hombre educado, pero crió a siete hijos.

Uno de ellos – claro – fue mi Papi.

A todos los muchachos les dio el nombre de “Federico”:

Que confusión existiera en esa casa, de vez en cuando!

Este Viejo isleño, mas viejo que los siglos,

Creía en el espiritismo.

Nadie le prestaba atención…

Hasta que llego Panni a Cuba.

“Le daba cuerda,” ella me decía.

“Nadie mas lo escuchaba.”

Posiblemente fue así 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 escalofríos.

I’m not scared, any more,

Of los regalos de

My dos abuelitos.

Saturday, October 25, 2003

Revised Tuesday, December 16, 2003

August 25, 2004:

Changed font.

Why?

Things – life – is

Crisper – clearer… all the time.

Gracias, Zoltan y Federico.