Summary: It’s almost Christmas and as much as I love my life in Topanga, California, at this time of year my thoughts invariably drift to my boyhood home in Miami, Florida. While Christmas was not big deal in my parents’ home, Christmas and, in particular Noche Buena (literally “Good Night” and aka Christmas Eve in Latin cultures) was a big opportunity for celebrating for my grandparents. There was always a huge Christmas tree, gifts, cousins, food, drinks and lots of hugs and kisses from lots of very happy adults. As I was growing up during the 1950s my grandparents lived on Ninth Street in downtown Miami. I just took a look at the site on Google Earth and where their and my aunt’s houses were is now pretty much a huge parking lot under the shadow of the Miami Heat’s American Airlines Arena. So, it goes. My grandmother or Abuelita ran a three-story rooming house for Jai alai players and other single men and next door my aunt or Tia did pretty much the same thing. My uncle was an ex-boxer and limo driver and my grandfather or Abuelito made Cuban cigars — using genuine, not yet forbidden by the ridiculous U.S. boycott of Cuba, Cuban tobacco — which leads me into my Christmas story. It’s called Christmas Smoke and it’s my tribute to my grandfather, my family, old Miami, and, of course, Christmas. You can hear it right here. I hope you enjoy it. Julie and I wish you and yours a Very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. God bless us, every one!
