Instructiion Danny-Ernie

 

Instructions to follow

November 29, 1973, one day before Danny’s departure for Spokane

Important Note: As you read these indications, mark with a cross in front of each number so that you do not leave out something. I repeat: it is very important for you to follow these instructions!

San Juan – Miami

Very simple. Just don’t forget the importance of “public relations”, especially on this journey of yours.

With a smile from ear to ear, explain your situation to your travel companion, the person sitting next to you in the plane (if you have one) and if not, find someone older who can speak Spanish and tell him or her that it is the first time you travel, etc.  Be sure to tell him or her that you are 13 years old.  The best way to start a conversation is by asking how many hours to fly from San Juan (Puerto Rico) to Miami. From there you reach out and ask him or her what the Miami International Airport is like: if it is big, small, if you will see many people, etc. It’s good for him or her to realize that you’re worried about your first trip.

In Miami

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Miami airport is one of the busiest in the United States: very different from Caracas’ and much different from San Juan de Puerto Rico’s. There was a fear that Danny might get lost at Miami International Airport.

1. Ask the travel companion, where you should get you suitcase once you arrive in Miami. Stick to him or her and DO NOT let him or her go for a second. Remember that he or she also has suitcases to get, so there you will NOT get lost.
2. Already in the plane you must have asked him or her to give you a hand at the Miami airport, for that you asked him or her if the Miami International Airport is large. As he or she will surely have told you that it is, you should have taken the opportunity to tell him or her: “Maybe I get lost in it. Would you give me a hand?” If by chance he or she tells you that it is not so big, ask him or her if it is bigger than that of San Juan’s airport.  Since Miami’s airport is a thousand times larger than Puerto Rico’s airport, he or she will tell you that it is. That way you will have found the answer that will lead you to the other subject, that is: you tell the story that maybe you will get lost, etc. OK? Is that clear? We don’t want you to get lost at any of the airports.  Miami will not be so problematic, because in that airport many people speak Spanish, but as you fly up north toward Spokane, you will hardly find someone who speaks Spanish.
3. After collecting your suitcase, you will go to the Pan American counter and you will give your ticket and Letter No. 1 to the person who attends the counter, who may not speak Spanish. You will give the letter No. 1 to him or her.  It is in English, and it explains to the person in the airline’s counter everything he or she must do to place you at the right gate.
4. The Pan Am dispatch will tell you which exit door (or “GATE”) you should take your plane to Chicago. In this letter I am asking that person if it is possible to take you personally or, if he or she cannot, if he or she can send someone to accompany you.
5. Go straight to the GATE and stay ALL THE TIME IN THAT GATE. Along the way you’ll find plenty of shops full of nice stuff and you’ll want to browse them: don’t do it!Go directly to the GATE and stay there for as long as necessary. Planes are sometimes delayed, and you could sit in the GATE for an hour or more. In Letter No. 1 I gave instructions to the airline to take you into account and in case of a delay, they should not leave you without knowing what is happening. Don’t leave the gate even if you get bored, because you can get lost, especially when you go up to Chicago, one of the most complicated airports in the world.

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In 2018 we took a trip to Tennessee with our grandchildren. It was the first time they had traveled by plane. They went crazy with the shops, and we feared that Danny would fall victim to the madness of consumerism, seeing so many shops full of junk, since in our travels, we also went crazy every time we arrived at a different airport.

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6. If you are not accompanied to the GATE and you find it closed, stay in the surroundings even if you have to sit on the floor, but I repeat: IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU STAY AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO THE GATE!

7. Once inside the gate, stay close to the person in uniform at the entrance of the lounge, who will arrive at the place half an hour or an hour before the departure of your flight. Don’t stop looking at him or her. Don’t lose sight of him or her. Don’t be embarrassed to ask him or her a million times if necessary: “to Chicago?” It is pronounced “TU CHICAGO” and means: “is this plane going to Chicago?” You’ll ask that question every time you want to know if it’s time to board your plane to Chicago. Notice that it may be that, since you have arrived so early, other flights other than to Chicago might leave by this same gate. VERY IMPORTANT: repeat whenever you see a lot of people boarding a plane: “to Chicago?” If when asking the question, the person keeps talking, you interrupt him or her and say, “sorri ay don espic inglish.” Remember that getting lost in a large airport in the United States is not the same as getting lost in the streets of Caracas.

8. In case of an emergency, phone my uncle and explain who you are. He will already know about you and will be aware of your possible call. My uncle knows that you are 13 years old and that possibly, if you call him, it is because you are in trouble. If you have to cry to him: you cry to him! Remember that men don’t cry, but that is in normal times. The man who doesn’t cry when he has to cry is a stupid man. I do not want to tell you by this that you need to panic, because that is the last thing you should do and I do not have to tell you, but tears can get you out of the biggest problem. So, you can cry. Think that the sales of my company have dropped radically and if I do not invoice, I cannot send you money and if I cannot send you money, you would have to return to Venezuela. My uncle’s name is Armando and his phone number in Miami is 443.1429. In the event that my uncle is not at home, talk to my aunt, Maíta: she will be able to help you. There are paid phones everywhere at the airport, but if you don’t know how to use them, ask anyone for help: anyone who gives you confidence. Do whatever you can, even if it is using deaf language… you will be surprised how much it will help you to speak like if you are deaf.

9. If everything went well and you find yourself on the plane to Chicago, get comfortable, thank God for helping you and enjoy your trip to Chicago… you will have three hours of flight. Between Miami and Chicago there will be no stops, but every time your plane lands, ask everyone, “Chicago… Chicago?” They will answer yes or no. Don’t trust one person. Ask at least five people, remember that the one who will get lost will be you in case they give you a bad answer. Good luck and happy trip to Chicago. IMPORTANT: I forgot to tell you to give Letter No. 3 to the flight attendant of the plane that will fly you to Chicago.

In Chicago

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In 2018, Siomi and I stopped at the Chicago airport on our way to Seattle and my memories took me back to 1973, when 13-year-old Danny changed planes at this airport, one of the busiest on planet Earth.

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1. Letter No. 3 you gave to the flight attendant on the plane that flew you from Miami to Chicago, it was for him or her to tell you what to do. If he or she can’t accompany you, he or she has instructions to call someone who can help you. In case they do not help you and you see that you have waited 15 minutes and have not yet been helped, give Letter No. 4 to the first older person who inspires confidence, which is preferably a person in uniformed. No matter the uniform and if he or she is a policeman or a policewoman: much better. Trust the police fully: they will always help you! American cops are NOT like Venezuelan cops: they WILL NOT charge you for helping you!
2. Whomever helps you, you should see that he or she takes you to pick up the suitcase that came on your flight from Miami by Pan American. In the letters No. 3 and No. 4 everything is well explained. Once you’ve picked up your suitcase, you should head to the NorthWest Airlines counter to continue your fly to Spokane, Washington – your final destination! It will be in Washington state where your new life will begin.
3. Once in the NorthWest Airlines’ counter, the airline that will take you to Spokane, you will give Letter No. 5 along with your ticket to the man or woman who attends you, just as I indicated in recommendation No. 2 of Miami.
4. Once you’re ready to go to the GATE (Gate is pronounced “gueit”) and you arrive at the right gate, it is very important that you see the airport clock, as you will have a time difference between Miami and Chicago. Remember that your plane will leave at X hours. Don’t waste time getting to the gate. You only have X minutes of waiting at the Chicago airport. If you miss the plane to Spokane, you will be in a LOT of problems.
5. You must follow the same indications that I pointed out in Miami, just as you did at the Miami airport, in case everything went perfectly at the Miami airport.
6. In the event that something goes wrong in Chicago, you will not have anyone to call, because I ran out of uncles, but in that case, I have letter No. 6 ready, which you will give to the first person who inspires confidence, just as you did in the indication No. 1 of Chicago. See Chicago Indication No. 1.
7. As a last resort, show what Mr. Arenas (our man in Puerto Rico) wrote to you on your belly. Don’t be ashamed. The note that Mr. Arenas drew on your belly when you arrived in Puerto Rico, will attract attention and go a long way.
8. If all went well and you find yourself on the plane to Spokane, thank God once again. Get comfortable and enjoy your flight, which will be long.
9. VERY IMPORTANT. Give Letter No. 7 to the flight attendant of the plane that will take you to Spokane: and have a good trip! You are about to start a life full of hope. A promising future lies ahead of you.

NOTE: Again, I tell you that there should be no stops between Chicago and Spokane, but don’t forget to ask at least FIVE PEOPLE if you have arrived in Spokane (it is pronounced “espokán”), just as you did when you arrived in Chicago, according to Miami indication No. 8. See Miami Indication No. 8.

Spokane

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Spokane Airport has changed a lot from 1973 to date.  So, it was a small airport and there was no way Danny would get lost in it.   

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1. Letter No. 7 you gave the flight attendant as you boarded the plane that took you from Chicago to Spokane, was to help you when you arrived in the latter city: your new city (Spokane)! There you will be safe. You will notice the big difference between this airport and Chicago’s. It’s a very small airport, not like Chicago’s. You won’t get lost in the small Spokane airport.
2. The clothes you will be wearing was made by Mrs. Beverly Losh. She will know who you are by the clothes she made for you. She will have no problem identifying you.
3. In case you get lost at the small Spokane airport, give Letter No. 7 to the first one that inspires confidence. Remember that the letters I have given you are for you to show to the right people, but you must always keep them. Once those people read the contents of those letters, it’s important that you ask for them, because you must keep all of them.
4. From then on, the rest is up to you! Good luck, which in English is said “Good Luck” and pronounced “gud lok“.

‎The first letter sent to Danny‎

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‎Caracas, Friday, December 14, 1973‎

Dear Danny:

‎First of all I want to inform you that Acción Democrática won the elections, so we will have Carlos Andrés Pérez as president for five years. You saved yourself by being in the US, so you won’t have to put up with the presidency of the Democratic Party. ‎

‎Mrs. Beverly tells me that you are very well and that you cooperate a lot. She is very happy to have you in her home. She told me a lot about you. Sharon, Mrs. Beverly’s daughter, told me that you are very happy at school; that you are always smiling and trying to make friends. I was very happy to hear these very favorable comments about you, since my greatest wish is that you show good conduct and improvement, thus raising the name of Venezuela. ‎

‎They love me very much in that town and especially at school and at Beverly’s home. Don’t think that you were lucky by going to Deer Park. If I sent you, it was because I was sure that you would do a good job and that you would keep high the image they have in that town of me and the Venezuelans. I have all the confidence because you are hardworking, intelligent and above all you have a great family education, thanks to your parents who cared about making all of you responsible and honest people. ‎

‎In this first letter we have already noticed all a remarkable advance in you. You can feel happy and with a great sense of humor. We want you to keep it that way, always thriving. ‎

‎Here I send you some spelling corrections of your letter in Spanish. When I left for the United States, I had the spelling much worse than yours. I still make many mistakes, but the correspondence with my parents helped me a lot. I would like you to write 50 times each word that I send you and that when you write me again you send them to me on a paper written 50 times each. If you do it as a homework, you will see that it will not bother you so much. ‎

‎Write often, here I am enclosing letters from everyone so you can have fun reading them. Tell me what classes you are taking at school. ‎

‎I say goodbye to you with great affection, ‎

Robert

‎P.S. – And did you meet Janelle? The little Virgin I gave you, she gave it to me. When she visits you at Beverly’s home, show her the little Virgin I sent you. ‎

‎Corrections ‎

1. ‎My name is spelled Robert, with a T at the end. ‎
2. ‎My secretary’s name is Belkys, with Y not I. ‎
3. ‎My company name is Dust-Tex, with capital letters D and T. ‎
4. ‎”BOY a escribirle una carta..” VOY is with V and never with B, because “BOY” means child in English. That word, BOY, does not exist in Spanish. ‎
5. “Empecé” has an accent on the E. ‎
6. ‎”Estás” has an accent on the A. ‎
7. ‎You tell me the “Beverly family.” Beverly is written with Y at the end and not with I. But Beverly is not the family surname: it is the name of the lady of the house. The family name is LOSH. ‎

‎Write the names of the members of the Losh Family 50 times: ‎

1. ‎The father of the family is called Norman ‎
2. ‎The mother of the family is called Beverly ‎
3. ‎Norman and Beverly’s daughter is named Sharon‎
4. ‎Norman and Beverly’s son is named Mark‎

‎By the way, “e comido” is always written with an H in front. “me voy a comprar la camisa que HE visto en la tienda…”‎

‎This is it.   Send me 50 times the words that are in red: OK?‎

‎The first letter sent by Danny‎

Deer Park, diciembre 4, 1973

Rober

te escribo estas líneas para decirte que estoy muy bien y para saber de todos ustedes: de ti, de Luis, de Belkis… de todos los empleados de dustex y en especial de mi mamá aunque yo le boy a escribir a ella.  Y para decirte que ya empeze a ir a la escuela y que me ha ido muy bien.  Todos los profesores estan atentos a mi y me encuentro muy bien con la familia Beberliy me tratan muy bien.  Mira, no tuve que pensar en tu empresa para llorar por que no tuve ni e tenido que llorar, gracias a dios.

Ya la señora Beberlime a comprado el uniforme y la ropa de trabajo y todo lo que boy a necesitar para la escuela.

Se despide de ustedes,

Vianey Torres

Translation:

I am writing to you to let you know that I am fine and to find out about all of you: you, Luis, Belkis, all of Dust Tex employees and especially about my mother, however I will write to her.  I want to tell you that I started to go to school and that it is fine.  All of my teachers are looking after me and I am very well with the Beberli Family.  They treat me very well.  Look.  I didn’t have to think about your company to cry, since I didn’t have to cry at all, thank God.

Mrs. Beberli bought my uniforms and my working cloths and everything I will be needing for school.

Goodbye to all of you,

Vianey Torres

Flight Itinerary

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As you can see, Danny stayed a few days in Puerto Rico at the home of my partner, Mr. Adolfo Arenas.

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Drawing of what airports look like in the United States, so Danny knows where the airlines’ counters and gates are located.

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I was afraid that Danny might lose his instructions and letters written in English, so I sent the above note to my partner Adolfo to do a (temporary) “tattoo” on Danny’s back and in case of a total emergency, he would take off his shirt and show the “tattoo”.

“Adolfo: The tattoo you will do on Danny’s back must carry the address and phone number of the Losh family, where Danny is going to live.  Also include my address and telephone number in Venezuela.”

By the time Ernie and the other guys on our program traveled to Spokane, we would give then a T-shirt with the written information. I was afraid that their sweat the information would be erased.  Fortunately, they never had to display the “Total Emergency Information”.

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Epilogue

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Similar instructions, though enhanced by experience, were given to Ernie. As he said in the interview, he still keeps them in his files.  There you can take out material if you decide to write your father’s story, although there is more: much more!

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Miami, January 11, 2022

Robert