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| Woodlawn Cemetery |
I had no idea how large Woodlawn Cemetery was! There are two entrances each on the opposite sides of the cemetery. As we were driving to the Bronx we were listening to Latinomix FM which again canceled all programming to cover the events of the day and so I was able to know what was going on at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We heard Victor Manuel’s song at the end and his improvisation to Carnaval.
Latinomix kept us informed of what was happening and then informed us that Pedro Knight was overwhelmed by the response and that because he realizes that his wife is part of the pueblo, he had decided to open the burial to the public. I thought perhaps we had a chance to get there on time.
We parked near the wrong entrance of the cemetery, near the entrance where the cars drive in. We started walking over to the front entrance. Little did we know how far this walk would be. The police officer estimated over a mile. One of my friends estimates it’s about 3 miles. Either way with el aguacero que cayó it could have been two blocks and it would have been too long.
There were a bunch of people also walking and then we saw people walking in the opposite direction and saying to everyone we were going the wrong way. People stopped in disbelief and then u-turned. We were going back to where we were coming from when we saw people again going in the opposite direction and explaining: "No. It's that way. The other way is the entrance for the cars and this way is for the people." Again everyone stopped in disbelief. Some were not sure which way to go now. Well, one by one, everyone decided to make another u–turn.
We must have been walking for about 5 minutes when down this long street passes the Celia Cruz motorcade. Everyone stops and waves good-bye to the fleeting black limousines. There must have been a dozen of them. We were all going in the right direction because the motorcade was going in the opposite direction – towards the entrance for the cars.
A few moments later there is a black cloud threatening to erupt at any second. My husband said, “I don’t think we can go on.” I was devastated. He said, "Why don’t I take the kids back to the car and you go ahead.” I grab my backpack and make sure my camera is in there and I am off to continue the pilgrimage towards Celia Cruz's burial ceremony.
A few minutes later. Torrential rains start falling.
All I had was my backpack and I put that on my head. The woman behind me had a whole rain suit on. But most people didn’t even have anything to cover their head.
Everyone kept walking and walking. It was endless but no one slowed down, walking without missing a beat, through puddles that were forming, over the large cracks that were lifted up in the street, around the larger puddles, on and on. I thought my husband should just come pick me up but I couldn’t call him on the cell in this rain storm- I, and everyone else, was soaking from head to toe.
It was a tropical rain forest in the Bronx. It was the type of rain that you bring out the bar of soap and take a shower in.
I finally reach the other entrance. There is a crowd of people in an L-shape behind barricades, holding up umbrellas. You can see Celia Cruz’ family all dressed in black under a tent praying.
Everyone came together in honor of Celia Cruz and in support of her husband Pedro Knight. But what we got was much more than we could have even imagined. It was a mystical, holy experience, an orchestrated performance between the sun, the clouds and the rain for the legendary Reina de la Salsa.
The clouds came rolling in at the precise moment in which Celia was inside the church and again when she was by the burial site. And the rain did not make an appearance as predicted by the meteorologist during the viewing of her body. The sun and the clouds and the sky were in perfect unison and were part of the overall farewell to a queen- our queen, the Queen of Salsa.
It was like she was smiling down on us. As if God was reminding us of heaven and of the goodness in the world.
Long live La Reina de la Salsa, La Guarachera de Cuba- Celia Cruz!!!
¡Azúcar!
For the incredulous disbelievers, carefully examine these 2 pictures.
This is a picture of the Celia Cruz motorcade driving toward the Cemetery. The people on the left were part of the "pilgrimage" that were taking the long walk towards the other entrance to the cemetery. They just turned around thinking we were going the wrong way. This is obviously moments before Celia Cruz's body is driven into the cemetery. Notice everything is very dry.
This is a picture of the crowd at Woodlawn Cemetery in the Bronx. Celia's family is praying under a tent near the front of the buildings on the upper right hand corner- you can't see anything from this picture. But what you can see is how everyone and everything, including my camera is SOAKED!
Think about it! Compare the 2 pictures and decide:
Coincidence? or Divine Intervention???
Next page --- > Celia’s Lyrics
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