You turn the page of TIME magazine and are not prepared to see what your eyes see. Two adult men, in the same manner, holding Elian at two different times in his so young life. The first man is his father in Cuba, back in time when all three of them were together; mother, son and father. The other, Granduncle Lararo holds him with both arms holding him to chest. Two different men, two different times and two different boys. The contrast is outrageous! Mother-son cloused mouth and not looking happy, yet they appear to be outside with sodas in hand. The eyes of the father look right at you and you feel yourself begin to go on alert inside. Glance back at the mother and you think; "Yeah, I can see the why now. She is not a happy woman and the boy has the same face. Glance quickly then to the next page and there is Alian all smiles and delight glowing from his eyes.

Unsure? Turn the page and there this boy is again. This time alone, with a new bike, and he's pushing it along with the greatest open mouth smile you ever saw. This after watching one adult after another disappear beneath sea while he was lashed atop an inner tube in heavy seas. One of the last was his mother and then he was alone. What terrible images for so young a boy to have in his mind.

Now to see him and it's not just TIME pictures. He's been in the news alot and everything indicates that he is thrilled with his surroundings now. The bounce in his walk going into school. That quick smile of his. What a kid!

What a great Granduncle that man must be. Seeming to know just what to do with this child. First up, no matter what, Disney World. What better way to soften those images while they are still so fresh and fearsome? Then there had to be love and armfuls of it. The transformation has been wonderful to see and if others have not been effected by it, then we are in very big trouble.
Where should this boy be? Elian is showing us.

Diane