Getting closer...

No pictures to upload- I can't get the computer to recognize the camera. And, I am thoroughly exhausted. Every time I get on the Palmetto Expressway I feel like I am taking my life into my own hands. I undertook that risk yet again today in search of a world map for my grandfather. I ended up in a WalMart in the NW area of Miami-Dade, but they didn't have any maps. After taking an inordinate amount of time on the phone with Gio to get directions to the nearest Office Depot, I was directed to very near the airport where, to my great frustration, I found no maps either. Very sweaty and very tired, I marched forward to my abuelo's house in Hialeah where I had to drop off a book I'd borrowed anyway, and to ask him to ID some photos that recently arrived from Cuba. What an ordeal! It was supposed to be a 15 minute stop since it was already the kids' nap time but I should have known that would have been an impossibility. Esperanza, my abuelo's wife, chased my children with crackers and fruit juice cocktail while my abuelo walked around his complex, knocking on doors to show his neighbors how "gallant" his father was, how "elegant" his mother, and how studly he looked sitting next to "La Reina de la Carnival" at a society function. (His first reaction to seeing this photo, by the way, was "Crap, I'm old!") I was at a loss. Worst of all, I missed Danny's daily lunch time phone call! Dominic escaped from me before we left and was running up corridors and down stairs. With Noemie on my hip and my geneology notebook in my free hand, I just watched. Menacingly. My grandfather corralled him in the elevator and we eventually made it to our car and back onto the freeway of death.

The pictures I was taking to my grandfather for identification were from a batch that my mother's cousin sent a few days ago. There were pictures of my great grandparents, the first pictures of them I've ever seen, and pictures of aunts, uncles, cousins, and of my grandfather being a pimp. (Not literally... well, I sort of... I mean... nevermind). Gold! (As I like to say anytime I hit a research jackpot). I also recently came across some writings my grandfather made some years ago depicting some aspects of his prison experience. I'd love to interview him more but, as you can see, I need a babysitter. I need a vacation, actually.

Next Wednesday I am going to Tallahassee with Jonny and Hana, give or take a Danny, to move all of my family's belongings in a ridiculously long (24') truck which I will have to drive myself. We have to be out by July 31, which seems impossible. I love my brother in law and sister in law. I do not love moving. And I do not like being rushed. And I definitely hate being in a car for 8 hours and I am not looking forward to next week!