This carved wood humidor belonged to Papito (AKA Papo, Cuco, Louis Robaina) and once held finely made Cuban leaf cigars. The carving on the lid is of El Morro Castle, a beloved iconic symbol of Cuba. (Just ask any of your grandparents.) Papito worked in cigar factories in Tampa/Ybor City for a good portion of his life and achieved the distinguished rank of escogedor or color grader. According to Tobacco: Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce…with an account of its various modes of use, from its first discovery until now (that being 1875 when the book was published): “the general sorting of the tobacco is done by hands of great experience and judgment, who are in the highest consideration in the factories.” Pretty fancy. However this description kind of runs counter to his later reputation for doing “Cuco Robainas,” those blood chilling acts of expedience and innovation by which he sometimes “fixed” things.

You’ve all heard the stories—the clamping of a cigarette-lighter-powered fan onto the dashboard of my Mustang after the air conditioner broke…the staple-gunning of said Mustang’s interior roof lining when it started to sag…the mauve picnic table…the application of cement to a neighbor’s sore tooth…the list goes on and on. There’s no doubt that Papito was a fine craftsman who loved to keep his hands busy, thus the almost complete cementing of Grandma’s and Grandpa’s backyard—believe me when I tell you that this was achieved bit by bit, as if he’d stretched out his ultimate goal so he could enjoy the cement-laden wheelbarrow’s meandering journey across the backyard. That, or he was hoping Grandma wouldn’t notice. He was such a wonderful man and all is forgiven, but not forgotten, now. Thank you, Papito.