You Know You've Been Raised By Cuban Parents when...

(From an e-mail message I received today)

You smelled like "Agustin Reyes Royal Violets" (violet cologne) as a baby.

You had to wait at least 30 minutes to get into the water after eating to avoid a stroke.

They made a cross on your skin with their finger nails when you got a mosquito bite.

You always had prescription drugs in the house, yet no one ever visited the doctor - it was usually Tetracycline.

Your mom or grandma made you a "cocimiento de manzanilla" (chamomille tea) to make you feel better when you had stomach problems.

You had a least two fruit trees planted in the backyard. One of them was usually a mango tree.

You went to La Carreta, or Sergio's, or the grand daddy of all Cuban restaurants, Versailles, after a "special" event like someone's communion.

You had at least 2 trays of "Bocaditos de Pasta" at your birthday party.

You have someone in the family who you introduce as your "cousin," but he/she is not a blood relative.

And the amazing "heat-seeking CHANCLETAS" (flip flops - sort of).

:)