It must be remembered that at this time in world history, the Cold War between the Democratic West and Soviet Communism was in full swing, with no end in sight. The Soviets and their satellite nations such as Cuba were deeply engaged in wars of expansion, for example the many guerrilla wars to spread communism all over the world, and even in a direct invasion (by the USSR itself) of Afghanistan just a few months earlier. Families that had escaped communist nations, and who had left family members behind would spend many years before it would be possible to visit and see their relatives again. So this was very much in the minds of all the adults as the last good-byes were being said.
Then came time to leave. We were not carrying any luggage, …show more content…
The car pulled up to the curve right in front of Grandmother Hortensia’ s house, and so it was time for everyone to give those last hugs and kisses. We got Leo into the car first, for the conditions of his legs were really bad, then the rest of us got in it. The family friend was going to take us to one of the places where the government had set up pickup/rally points, which were set up in different parts of the city. There, we would turn over all documents like I.Ds, ration cards, etc. to the government. Following that we would board government buses, which would then take us to Mariel harbor, approximately 60 Kilometers (about 38 miles) west of La Habana. As I got in the car in the back seat I looked one last time out the windows at my Grandmother and the other family members that were gathered to say good-bye, not knowing that it would be the last time I would ever see her alive. And as the car begun to pull away from our home, all of a sudden I remember having a deep feeling of sadness engulfed me. Little did I know what lay ahead of
Then came time to leave. We were not carrying any luggage, …show more content…
The car pulled up to the curve right in front of Grandmother Hortensia’ s house, and so it was time for everyone to give those last hugs and kisses. We got Leo into the car first, for the conditions of his legs were really bad, then the rest of us got in it. The family friend was going to take us to one of the places where the government had set up pickup/rally points, which were set up in different parts of the city. There, we would turn over all documents like I.Ds, ration cards, etc. to the government. Following that we would board government buses, which would then take us to Mariel harbor, approximately 60 Kilometers (about 38 miles) west of La Habana. As I got in the car in the back seat I looked one last time out the windows at my Grandmother and the other family members that were gathered to say good-bye, not knowing that it would be the last time I would ever see her alive. And as the car begun to pull away from our home, all of a sudden I remember having a deep feeling of sadness engulfed me. Little did I know what lay ahead of