This 1947 photo was taken during Carnival festivities on Paseo del Prado in la Habana. The car is a Buick convertible owned by Grandpa’s friend Armando. The man in the mask is another friend, Porfirio, and Tio Pepe is wearing the striped pullover.
I LOVE this photo of Grandpa. It captures a moment, an era, and most importantly, a state of mind. He is devastatingly handsome, young, happy—in short very much alive and in the moment. The crowd in the background is almost inanimate. They are observers and not participants in the moment.
Note Grandpa’s display of bravura with his raised finger proclaiming a number one to the sky. The man wearing the white mask next to him raises his arms in a personal offering—“take all of me” his gesture proclaims (clearly, it is the mask talking.) And Tio Pepe hangs on to the back of the car looking like a cool cat who just jumped into the picture for the hell of it.
This picture is a reminder that you MUST be an active and decisive character in the story of your life. Don’t just watch from the safety of that metaphorical crowd which makes us passive and un-present. I have regrets, but they are mostly about big things I did not do (move from Miami, travel more…) But it’s the little treasured deeds that can spread a warm glow over your mind, body, and spirit when remembered. Never pass on the opportunity for cold champagne or crispy French fries (preferably paired together). Never, ever miss the chance to swim naked—in good company and open to what happens next. Or singing out loud the songs that made you want to love love or live forever or die happy. Or hanging out of an open-top automobile and owning the world with your smile.
Final note: The image above was cleaned up by a co-worker, Kevin Corrales (thank you). The image below is a scan of a photocopy of the original and is as worn out as the memory of that day, but this too tells a story of how it survived so we could still marvel at the magic of a long lost moment in time.
the things i have chosen 