Really, I don't know.
It could be an option, it could happen, but I don't know.
For most of my adult life I have thought about it, but not in specifics, just in vague warm satisfying generalities.
"Yes," I'd say.
"Yes," I'd think.
"Yes, definitely, yes, I'd like to see Cuba. I'd like to see it some day.... " and then the conversation would meander and land where it was headed anyway.
And now, things might be changing.
OK, yes, they are changing, but I'm still standing in the same place, my arms crossed, mercilessly biting the inside of my lip, not exactly sure what to think.
Now that it really might be an option, I'm not sure if I'm ready to visit Cuba.
With my heart? OK, yes, undoubtedly.
In books? definitely.
But to really travel there?
Actual eye contact?
That, I cannot imagine.
Still, people ask me.
Today it came up in casual conversation.
He (a grad student) was excited; he was ready to party in Cuba, speaking only English, of course.
I shook my head, our conversation to brief to bother with a polite white lie like "yes, of course I'd love to go to Cuba... How are your Finals coming?"
No, I spoke the truth.
"I'm not ready. I need a warm up..... Maybe I could start in Santo Domingo.... um, they filmed Havana there, so that's something... and after that, maybe, if I need to, San Juan. And after that, if I STILL had time, I might go to Cienfuegos, or the city of Trinidad. I don't know.....Well, actually, I'm going to see my Abuelo in South Florida, and HE is my Cuba. I mean, if he were in Cuba, I'd go find him there, but he's here -- we're all here - and I'm too thankful to ask for anything beyond how great things are right now. You know? (silence, pause, this always happens when I speak my mind )Anyway, How are your Finals coming? Oh, wait, but the way, I have this GREAT idea for my students to earn a little end of the semester cash...."
