I left my cell somewhere, that's why I am not calling you immediately. I hope your Dad is doing fine, and that your Mom is doing ok too.
Let me know.

Your dad will be in my prayers. Call me if I can do anything.

Le voy a prender una velita al viejo San lazaro. He will be in my prayers. Espero que todo salga bien.

That is some scary shit. Godspeed to your father, mother, and family.

Your dad will be in my prayers.

Lilli (Amanda's Friend)

Your father will be in my prayers. I know that he must doing alright for you to have the strength to blog this. I read this and met Amanda in the bathroom at work in tears... I consider you all family, even if Amanda's dad has introduced himself to me 3 times now... lol... smile. It's over and he'll be just fine... have faith.

Ay pobresito!!! espero que todo este bien~que locura...

Hey, un amigo de mi papá trabaja (o trabajaba) haciendo rejas en Miami ... pero es mas joven...el trabajaba con mi papa en Cuba (tambien en asuntos de estructura de metales y soldadura)

Anyways - oajla todo pase pronto y puedan tener unas felices navidades :)

I'm so glad he's ok. We need to get him one of those kill switches like they have for boats. Those moments on the phone, the horror, I hate that feeling.

Dios estaba velando a tu padre, Val - el mejor regalo de Navidad que vas a recibir este año! Thank God he's safe - here's to a speedy and complete recovery; and let's be careful out there.

And yes, if you are blessed to have your folks around, talk to them often and use the "L" word liberally. We don't realize what we've got until we lose it.

Val, rezare por tu Papa.

Hey Val, I'm sure your Dad will be fine. What a wonderful storyteller you are, I can relate to your feelings so well, the panic, the not breathing, and then the release and the tears. How wonderful to see such love between you and your parents. Que se mejore pronto!

I had a health scare with my Dad last May, this brings it all back. We were both fortunate that the actual was far less serious than the initial impression -- but it catches your heart to think about the "what if". Your Dad is in my prayers for a speedy recovery and continued good heath.

I too will pray for you Dad, thank G_d he was not seriously injuried.

Glad he is ok. Man that had to be a scary feeling.

Glad your dad wasn't seriously hurt, Val.

I, too, will pray for a speedy recovery for him.

They say that a child is God's greatest gift but for many it is loving parents. Thankfully your dad will be okay. Merry Christmas to all at Babalu Blog!

Ay, Jes'us!!!
(pun fully intended)
Val, first and foremost, let us give thanks to God that this incident wasn't any worse.
Man, every time I think *my problems* are overwhelming, that no one understands what I'm trying to cope with right now, YOU, Valent'in, drop something out of the blue like this post.
And it makes me realize that life is good, that my own problems are nothing.
Yes, I *know* you went through as very harrowing experience with your dad today --I had a very similar experience many years ago, when I was helping my dad (now long gone) trim a banyan tree with a power saw and he fell off a ladder and the damned saw, *still roaring away* fell on top of him. But mercifully, other than the initial bang (on his ass, of all places!) it wasn't any worse. I remember that moment as if it happened just a minute ago.
So let us be thankful that Don Jesus is no worse.
At Nochebuena, he, and your mom, and you, and everyone else, WILL all be laughing at the incident. Wish I could be there...
And, taking a more clinical and detached (or as the mainstream media might say, objective) approach, congratulations, Val, on a *fantastic* report. I felt as if I had been riding right next to you through every step of the way.
Please give my best personal regards to Don Jesus. He, your mom and the rest of the family are in my prayers.
Julio

Val-
I was quite upset as I started to read your post. My stomach was in knots until the end, when the relief came. It's unfortunate that it usually takes an incident such as this before we evaluate and realize what is most important in life. I'm very envious that your parents live close enough that you could be with them this morning. Please send my regards to the padres.
Para mi Papa, Julio Cesar Zangroniz, Te quiero mucho.
~Ana

Incidentally, folks, I had the priviledge of meeting Don Jesus Prieto and his lovely bride earlier this year, at CubaNostalgia 2005.
By some lucky happenstance, I had my camera with me... :)
So now, anyone who wants to see what the elder Prietos look like, can simply log onto either one of the following:
http://www.zphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/563927/4/25828097
or: http://www.zphotos.smugmug.com/gallery/563927/3/23899216
I must tell you that these folks are "the salt of the Earth" type of people. Wonderful human beings, and I consider myself honored by their friendship.
I only got to know one of my four grandparents, because all of them but one passed away during my infancy --but the elder Prietos made me feel like I had grandparents again. I will be forever grateful to them for that.
May God bless them and keep them in good health.
Julio

Wow-----------Gracias a Dios that all turned out OK for your Dad and you guys. God bless you all

Val,
Lots of prayers being sent up for your dad. It was very courageous of him to chase down that truck. Noche Buena will no doubt be even more special this year.

I'm glad to hear that things actually seemed worse then they were. Isn't that horrible though, when those sorts of things happen to those we love and we feel so out of control. Anyway, take some deep breaths, relax and spend some time with your family. If it were me, then it would be time for some all-purpose comfort food, homade chicharones and cold, cold beer. ha ha.

Val, glad to hear that it wasn't as bad as you first thought.
That must have been really scary.
Hope everything turns out fine and that you and your family can enjoy a wonderful Nochebuena.

I'm so glad everything is okay.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

Hmm. I see whre you got your Hard Headedness, Val. :)

I'm still sending prayers and loving light for your sweet papa. And for you and your mama, too.

Glad he's ok....and your mom too. May God bless them both.

Glad to hear your Dad is ok.

Praying for healing for him and patience for your Mom.

Val.
This will be a special Nochebuena for you and your family..sometimes we take our parents for granted, we never imagine them gone, or something happening to them....after all,they have always been there for us, and that is how it is...Then suddenly, something like this happens and you see how fragile life is, how important those old people are to us, and how much it means to have them around, how nice it would be if there were with us FOREVER!!
Your dad had an angel on his shoulder today!!
Carmen

I'll keep your father in my prayers for a swift and pain-free recovery, hon. I'm so relieved that things turned out OK, aside from some scrapes and a LOT of adrenaline...

And Merry Christmas to y'all across the Gulf! :-)

--TwoDragons

I'm sorry to post so late, but I've been in study groups all day....thanks for the updates, and I'm so glad your Dad is doing well and giving the hospital a hard time, as only a Cuban can!

Oh and Val, don't be humbled....don't you know we love you? You share your life with us everyday, we are family. You are the Dad, we are the kids.

Just read the post, sorry to hear about your Dad's accident, but even more glad to hear that he's going to be OK.

Best get well soon wishes to Sr. Prieto.

Sign the cast for me:

Get well soon from Aries37

So glad you're Dad will be ok, but will you? I can't imagine the panic you (and your Mom) went through. Thank God he is alright. Will be thinking of him and you. Tell him next time to let the truck GO...it'll be easier on your gray hair and his knees.

You're a good son, Val.

Give 'em hell, Val's Dad!

Val,

Glad to hear that your father is fine! our prayers are with your family! Remember, 30 people from my family comming over for noche buena!(just kidding, thought you would need a little laugh today!)

So happy to hear he is ok. Your father is like my father. Oy. God bless him.

Prayers for your dad, Val. Just got back from visiting Daniel in Yaracuy, have not seen blogs for 3 days.

You are a great writer, Val.

Val, "Que tremendo susto", we found out kinda right away because your mom called Aida then she called Adriana. From the scuttlebutt I suppose he is OK, Asturiano duro, what else!

We are going down to Pepe's next Thursday to roast a Lechoncito. We overcame the women's protest as they wanted a "piernita" and little work. Jorge is also coming down. Emilio Jose is living in "sunny" North Carolina but cant make it down, too much work.

See you all, God willing and tell Coso to get well.

See ya, Emilio

PS: Jorge said Emilio Jose poured antifreeze on his iced up windshield, what a mess. Adriana told Emilio Jose to call Nuria and get some "tips" on how to survive in the ccooold winters!!