Felipe

Felipe, a photo by Rey Cuba on Flickr.

Felipe tiene 73, a estas alturas ya no va aprender kung fu o pilotear un avion, tampoco no viajará¡ al gran cañon o visitar las piramides de Egipto.

Felipe ha vivido en Quivican toda su vida, nunca se ha mudado y el único cambio que ostenta hoy su vivienda es un techo de tejas sustituyendo el techo de guano que un ciclón se llevo.

Habla orgulloso de su familia, su hijo mayor con otro matrimonio, ya es un hombre y los nietos de su hija mas pequeña lo acompañan a solo unos metros de su vivienda.

Felipe tiene miedo caminar lejos pues hace una semana se perdio camino al pueblo de Quivican, lo encontro un amigo de su hija a 10 km del pueblos.

Hoy su vaca soltó las amarras y se encamino en medio de la maleza, Felipe salió tras ella y cuando se dio cuenta que se podia perder nuevamente, regreso y como guía para no perderse continuó su paso a lo largo de las vias ferreas que pasan frente a su casa.

Estas vias ferreas que un dia fueron su sostén y el de su familia mientras trabajaba en una cuadrilla que las reparaba para los ferrocarriles y se precia de ser de los pocos que puede montar en el tren especial viajando de la Habana a Santiago si lo necesita, sin pagar el pasaje.

Felipe tiene una sonrisa amplia, un paso lento por los años y al terminar nuetras conversación se encamino a casa de Rosa, su hija que tiene su casita cruzando las vias.

Felipe le cuenta las nuevas y Rosa lo hace pasar al interior de su pequeña casa donde le espera un jugo de mango recien preparado.

Felipe se sienta en el interior, pone su machete al lado del sillon y continua narrando sus historias.

Felipe has 73, at this point will no longer learn kung fu or piloting a plane, nor will not travel to the Grand Canyon or visit the pyramids of Egypt.

Felipe has lived all his life in Quivican, it has never moved, and the only change that today holds its housing is a shingle roof replacing the roof of guano as a cyclone took away.

Speaking proudly of their family, his son from another marriage, now is a grown man and his daughter grandchildren most small accompany him only metres from his place.

Felipe is afraid to walk far because a week ago is lost on the way to the village of Quivican, it was found by a friend of her daughter 10 km away from the town.

Today his cow dropped the mooring ropes and step into the middle of the undergrowth, Felipe came out after her and soon he realized that he could be lose again, so he started the return and not to be missed continued its path to routes along railways passing outside his home.

This pathways railway that day were his support and his family while working repairing them for railways and prides itself on being of the few that can be mounted on the special train traveling from Havana to Santiago if needed, without paying the ticket.

Felipe has a wide smile, a slow step for years and after we end our conversation, he walked away to Rosa´s place, his daughter living across the railroad lines.

Felipe tells her the news and Rosa invited him to their little house where a mango juice prepared recently awaits.

Felipe sits inside, puts his machete beside the Chair and continues telling his stories.