Donald Seger: Castro Brothers

Blog Digest

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:43:50 GMT

Cawker City #1. Okay, so you don't want to know how we got into the US, but once there we pretty much traveled as ourselves, Fidel and Raul. You would be surprised at how many people simply did not believe us. They assumed we were fakes, which I thought was kind of funny, but Raul got a little angry over that. I calmed him down and told him that this was a good thing, that we didn't care if Norteamericanos recognized us or not. That was not important. And I have to tell you that we were treated really well by the citizens of Cawker City. Good people. Even if they weren't quite sure who we were. More on this city and the ball of twine at another time. Go Jayhawks! (You might have to be from Kansas to understand that, but it's fun to say.)

Cawker City #2. First of all, the World's Second Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City Kansas is no longer really a ball. That was a disappointment. It's kind of sagging towards the ground from age and stuff, but I mean no disrespect you know. It still is a remarkable achievement. And they'll let you touch, and even add to it under supervision. We decided not to do that, but the caretakers did let Raul pick up a bit of fluff of some kind from near the ball and add it to his string collection he is now keeping in a pocket with him at all times. It has become important to him.

Cawker City #3. I believe that I may have mentioned that Raul has started his own ball of string project. I can't remember if I said it that way or not. The truth is that my younger brother is collecting bits of string and such for a future day when he will probably roll them all into a ball of string. He is a procrastinator, you see, and that is probably why I became El Presidente, etc., of Cuba and not him. He is smarter than I, of course, but don't tell him that I said so. But he puts a lot of things off, and I didn't want the people to think that he actually had a ball of string that he carried around with him. He does carry the lengths of string, twine, thread, whathaveyou, in a pocket and he is always obsessing about them, comparing lengths, textures, and colors. But he has yet to wind them into a ball.

Off We Go

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:36:16 GMT

Okay, our first long weekend in the US has us in Kansas -- Cawker City to be exact. The home of probably the World's Second Largest Ball of String -- oops, I really mean TWINE. This has got Raul intrigued -- he has already been picking up bits of string and such for a couple weeks now. Yes, his will be a ball of STRING (and thread, etc.), not twine. Watch for my report, and thank you for asking about my health. I am doing okay for now. I am not a young man, you know, but I get around, sometimes with crutches, sometimes with a walker. But I get around.

Kansas, US

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:53:11 GMT

Well, it's pretty much been decided that we're going to take several long weekends in the US this summer and not one lengthy trip. There are many reasons for this. Raul has to keep his eye on things and I must check with my doctors on a regular basis. So, long weekends it is. And Cawker City Kansas* here we come!

*Home of the world's largest ball of string (I mean twine). Not really, because there is a larger one in Minnesota I believe. Still, Cawker City's web site looks so friendly and inviting. Perhaps we will journey to Minnesota another time.

More on our Trip

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:23:49 GMT

So, Raul and I are definitely going to Cawker City, Kansas, to see what is purported to be the world's largest ball of twine (I've been saying "string", but it's really twine.) We're also going to see fine vintage automobiles at a place called Carhenge in Nebraska, Teddy Roosevelt's image at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone Park in Wyoming, Elvis in Las Vegas in Nevada, and also the chocolate factory in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Any other ideas, please forward them on to us. We will have plenty of time to see other sights along the way.

And then there is that place called Mount Rushmore in the state of South Dakota. There I look forward to seeing my personal hero, Teddy Roosevelt. Freeing the Cuban people from Spanish domination many many years ago, his spirit lives on through Raul and me. He is the only American president I admire, and I will tell you why in future postings. For now, be assured that we will absolutely plan a trip to Rushmore and gaze upon his image carved in stone. This trip to America will be a fantastic adventure. I understand that there is a monument nearby to one of your great Indian chiefs (sorry, my advisers tell me that I should say Native American), one called Crazy Horse, and although it is not finished as I understand it, Raul and I will definitely want to see this too.

Some of the people are worried when I say that our trip to America might take a month or so. They say well Fidel how long can your brother be away from his duties as El Presidente of Cuba? Do not worry -- we will have cell phones and internet access along the way. There is nothing that can come up that we I mean he cannot handle from a mobile location. Short of another attack on our country of course by the U.S. They do this sort of thing every forty or fifty years you know.

We must see the city of lights while we are in America. I do worry about this as Raul is a gambler you know. He'll bet on anything and is a big customer of the corner gas station in our neighborhood for the pickle cards. And he doesn't like to lose. So I will have to keep a close eye on him when we visit Las Vegas. I myself wish to see the lounge acts -- I am told that there are many Elvis impersonators there and as I was a big fan this is something I am looking forward to for sure.

It has been suggested that Raul and I visit this place called Carhenge in the state of Nebraska while we are in America. It sounds like a very exciting place with many fine vintage automobiles on display. We will absolutely go there. And, knowing that the entire Castro family loves chocolate, some of my admirers have mentioned a visit to Hershey, Pennsylvania might be in order. Yes! We will very much enjoy a tour of the Hershey Bar factory. Hershey bars are not easy to get in Cuba you know, not even for leaders such as myself and Raul. Please keep the suggestions coming in and I thank you from my heart. I do not know how many trips I have in me at my advanced age and state of health, so every day counts you know.

Oh, I know what you're thinking: how do we get into the country and all? That is taken care of, visas and such and you should not trouble yourselves worrying about that. It is better that you do not know how we are going to do that. I am talking about actual travel within the U.S. -- what appearance should we give the public and all? This is puzzling to me so I ask for help on this also.

Now that we've got at least a bit of our trip planned, we need to figure out some more important details. For example, what disguises should Raul and I wear? I've had many suggestions from my household staff, including one who said why do you need a disguise Comrade Fidel? You know this is not such a bad idea really, unless it would mean trouble with the authorities.

Okay, one of the suggestions for disguises on our trip is to simply go as typical tourists -- I suppose that means bright colored clothes, floppy hats, open toed sandals, a camera around our necks, so on and so forth. That might work. By standing out like that we'll blend in. Does that make any sense?

It has also been suggested that we travel through the U.S. dressed as tradesmen -- plumbers, electricians, that sort of thing. I'm not sure how these people dress but we can find out of course. It's not a bad idea -- I like to be in touch with the common people and this would be one way to do it. I really hate slinking around in disguise though, but I am thinking that is the only way if we want to do this trip.

Of course, I do like the idea of no disguises at all you know. No one would probably believe that we were who we are any way. I think this, but I also worry about the authorities. Maybe they would feel compelled to investigate. Probably I really do not wish to shave my beard; I suppose that I could trim it back just a little, but wait -- I could send a few of my doubles out to the States claiming to me, of course. And then see what the reaction was. I just might want to do this.