Puffin' On A Cuban
04 November 2012 | Manjack Cay, Abaco, Bahamas
Vicki - 3 kn NE
There is an ancient Chinese myth about the red thread of fate. It says that the Gods have tied a red thread around every one of our ankles and have attached it to all of the people whose lives we are destined to touch. A few months ago when Maynard and I were sitting in the back of a taxi on our way to pick up my sister from the Rockland, Maine Airport on a cold wet day, I placed my handbag on the back seat and noticed someone had left a small 2” stuffed toy puffin on a keychain in the taxi. It was cute but old and dirty and I thought I could probably find a new one in one of the shops in Rockland. As we’d just returned on Vanish from a trip out to the remote craggy Matinicus Rock to see the nesting site of the puffins, I really wanted to find a puffin souvenir. Jude and I visited every tourist shop in Rockland and Bar Harbor trying to find the exact same puffin keychain but no one had seen anything like it so I put it in a drawer and forgot about it.
Maynard and I had never met Cubans before but our neighbours, ‘A’ and ‘R’ had been through many hurricanes in Havana and had spent 15 years working in a marina looking after all kinds of vessels. ‘A’ assured us that we would be fine and we both vowed to help each other if it was needed. In fact, later, he said it was the “best hurricane he’d ever been through”. We helped them with a number of issues on the yacht which they weren’t aware of so that the yacht would be as secure as possible and a good relationship had already begun. Last week after Hurricane Sandy had passed only 50 miles from us in the Bahamas, Vanish had a small get together with our marina friends. During the get together, they began telling us an amazing story.
For 7 years, these two friends had been saving their money in order to escape Cuba and all the hardships they’d endured. They’d sold everything; their cars, their computers, furniture and anything they could not take with them. They had a few clothes, some money, enormous bravery, a lot of trepidation and nothing else and they were about to embark on a plan to enter the US. This was it. They were now Cuban refugees. This was the culmination of 7 years of planning for the hope of a richer, hopeful, happy new life. What a wild and crazy idea. We couldn’t believe our ears.
They were both very emotional about leaving their wives, children, homes, and friends to embark on such a journey as they didn’t know if they would make it or see their families again. If ever we’ve met two people who deserved a better life, then these men were it. They are intelligent, hard-working, family orientated, caring individuals and these are the great qualities on which the US is founded. Maynard and I both felt a profound connection to the men as we both admire people who have dreams and are willing to take calculated risks to improve themselves. In 1995, President Clinton defined the immigration policy by expediting the naturalisation process. Over the years, many Cubans have made the long and dangerous ocean crossing by various methods in a desperate attempt to enter the US. Many lives have been lost over the years. We had no idea what their plan was going to be. If they were caught in the water (known as a “wet foot”), they would be immediately deported. However, if they made it to land (known as a “dry foot”), they would be allowed citizenship.
The owner of the yacht and his wife flew into Freeport a few days after the hurricane and we observed that neither of them knew anything about sailing, and I mean nothing. We didn’t know what their intentions were as we didn’t speak to them but we prayed they would look after these men. The owner was heavily intoxicated most of the time but apparently had a good heart and the intention of taking the men somewhere. The afternoon of their departure arrived and I beckoned ‘A’ to come aboard to say goodbye. I wanted to give him something special, perhaps a good luck charm to carry with him. I’d looked everywhere before laying my eyes on the puffin keychain. I didn’t know why I wanted to give him this puffin keychain as it was the only one I had but it wasn’t really mine anyway. I quickly Googled “puffin migration” and was astounded to see that it is still a mystery where they migrate to in winter. This was the tiny thread that linked our Cuban friends to us and the puffins. As the yacht pulled away from the dock, ‘A’ and ‘R’ both grabbed me and with tremendous emotion, said thank you and goodbye. The owner slurred,, “There’s still love in the world” as he tried leaving the berth without turning on his engine and then turned the wrong way out of the marina before realising his mistake. A 180 deg u-turn ensued and pointing the yacht towards the channel entrance, ‘A’ pulled the puffin out of his pocket, clutched it as if it was a gold bar, thumped his heart with his fist and yelled, “I will keep this forever” and with huge smiles and tears they were gone.
Four anxious days passed with no word from the boys. Today, we heard they are now in Miami, Florida, USA after being granted permission to stay. This trip has been full of odd experiences and special encounters. It’s not about the places we travel to; it’s all about the people we meet. Certainly, puffin on a Cuban is good for the soul.