Letter From Mark Jordan

My last correspondence to you about "family", detailed the bond of love that many families share here in Cuba. This time of year, after just having celebrated Valentine's Day, it dictates further discussion on the topic of love. I guess it's not a secret to think that Cubans have something to say on this subject. I remember an argument I had last year at this same time with my Cuban friend. Normally, being single, I would bury my head in the sand at this time of year, enjoy a period of depression and funk, refuse to listen or watch anything romantic, and pray for the day to end. Being Cuban and full of life, my friend couldn't imagine that I wouldn't want to celebrate this day, with or without a "special someone". Cubans do not see this as a celebration for lovers, but as a celebration of love in any form that it takes. It has two names, Day of Lovers and Day of Friends. So you celebrate your love for your "special someone", your love for parents and siblings, for friends, neighbors, and just life in general. Everyone is greeted with "felicidades" (English - congratulations, as if this is everyone's special day. No one is left out on Valentine's Day) At the church, Flor Juarez organized a special lunch for the office staff and her missionary friend visiting from Venezuela. I stopped to purchase a bottle of wine for the occasion and the shop clerk greeted everyone with "felicidades" and to every lady, a complement on how lovely she was, regardless of the reality. Even on the street, the greeting was "felicidades" instead of "good morning" or "good afternoon". My landlady's husband took a picture of the two together and had a card made at a photoshop that made it appear that her face had come out of a rose. He said it symbolized that he had picked her out of a rose, and was accompanied by a script that said he'd rather spend one day with her than a lifetime without her. The card, with a picture frame came to less than three dollars.the look on my landlady's face.priceless! I took a group of friends out to dinner, something most Cubans very rarely can afford to do, and just celebrated our friendship. The evening was not a complete success because the only couple present, almost broke up because we guys were clowning around at the table, and my buddy did not heed the first, second, nor third warning! Hehehehe I did make sure that by the end of the night, the couple were happily reunited. Someone gifted me with a DVD of two famous Italian singers, singing in Spanish and a laptop case (A very unexpected surprise, indeed!) This year turned out to be a very joyous and upbeat celebration of life. What a contrast to times past. FRIENDSHIP, FAMILY, COMMUNION. Following Jesus' Way Mark A. Jordan