Yeah, Right, Whatever

What do you think of when you think about winning the lottery? Buying lots of toys? A new house? Traveling to exotic locations? New cars? Boats? Luxury?

How about a new life? In 1998, the United States offered a lottery for Cubans who were not officially eligible for refugee or immigration status. Recently, a family, winners of that visa lotto, were finally allowed to come to America. Yesterday was their first 4th of July. Val tells a little of their story, and of the culture shock they must be experiencing.

I cant imagine what thoughts were bouncing around in his head after having just brought his wife and daughter to a new country, one where he knows but what the government of his old country had told him about. I cant imagine what it was like for he and his wife to walk into a Publix supermarket here for the first time. Or what it is to them to be able to sleep with air conditioning every night and always have some stuff in the icebox. Or to swim in a pool owned by a family member and not a hotel.

It was rather appropriate, I thought, that this family that just arrived from Cuba a few days ago was able to join us in celebrating not only Pat's birthday, but Independence Day. And while they knew yesterday was a national holiday, they didnt really know exactly what was being celebrated. I gave them a brief explanation on the significance of the day. Told them about the Declaration of Independence and what it means to this country.

This made me think. We take so much here for granted. It's sad, really. We won the lottery, just by being born here. But often, we don't realize just how rich we are, because we never knew how bad it could be (and is) for so many others. I'm not just talking about material things- that's obvious. We have so many freedoms and so many opportunities... things that would never even enter the minds of people in some nations. It's humbling when you really think about it. We are truly blessed.

I want to wish this family a warm welcome and the best of wishes. Welcome home!

As Val said, - La vida, la libertad y la busqueda de la felicidad. (Do I really need to translate that for everyone?)