alive he was in Brandon Hos- traditional Cuban pork, which ent that year. That was such pital CCU. He had a heart of course is made with lots and a special night for us. With or attack a couple of days before lots of garlic and sour oranges. without the present, though, Christmas in 1996. We had that along with the I think that night would be His hands were tied to the black beans and white rice and special. I relish every memory bed and it was really sad to see lots of other types of food. of the time I got to spend with himo there. So we decided to Every Noche Buena there my Abuela. take him home for Christmas. is special but one particular Pat and Angie hurriedly put Christmas I remember when Diana Almeida up the Christmas tree and I was a little kid. My grand- One of my favorite Christ- cooked dinner, invited those we mother, in addition to being an mases .was the first year that love and we had a Christmas actress and an opera singer, I worked part time when I was party. Ben was in bed but he she also knew how to sew 16 years old, which happened wasn't tied down and he slept and knit and crochet and she to be a 5 & 10 cent store on peacefully while we partied, bought each of the girls in our Seventh Avenue called H.L. He was so grateful that he family- and therewere quite a Greens. It was formerly Sil- hadn't made us miss our an- number of us with all the cous- vers. nual party and he was glad he ins- each a doll and crocheted On that particular Christ- was home. each doll an outfit comlete mas in the early 1950s we He had open heart surgery with the dress and the bonnet. worked very long hours when on January 2, 1997 and lived until April 1997. Merry Christmas Ben Marilyn Esperante Figueredo My grandmother and great aunt lived in Ybor City at 1623 13th Avenue, where of course now the interstate is located. Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, was a big night for our fam- ily. My grandmother had six daughters incluiding my moth- er Rose. So my parents and we were off fromr school and much to me. I haven't stopped my two brothers and all my Seventh Averiue was open on shopping since. cousins arid I gathered at their Friday night and full of festive- house for Noche Buena. ness and shoppers. Seventh Joe Lala What we used to eat was a Avenue was full of nice stores, I always looked forward to combination of Spanish and like Fernandez & Garcia, Raul the two weeks I got off from Cuban traditions because my Vega and others. For me, school because it gave me the grandparents on my mom's when I got off work this was opportunity to go to work at side were.from Spain and the the first time I was part of the my uncle's grocery store, Cac- tiradition there was to eat Red crowd of shoppers purchas- ciatore and Sons at either 1823 Snapper on Christmas Eve. ing Christmas presents with or 1825 Seventh Avenue; right So they would usually .have my own money. I bought my next to Agliano's Fish Market. Agliano's Seafood Market on father some socks, my mother My uncle and grandfather Seventh Avenue prepare the a Christmas apron and my would pick me up at 5:30 in 20-pound Red Snapper and it younger sister a special toy the morning and we'd go to the was usually stuffed with some- she wanted. Having the op- produce market and go have thing like crab meat. But also portunity to work hard and some caf con leche before we because the ofCuban influence buy presents myself mneant so (Continued on page 6) WIS HING.G YOUT A :: :::PPY : M : SEASON 1910 Orient Road, Tampa, Florida 33619 Ph. (813) 623-5042 Friday, December 22, 2006/Page 5 Section B