Prologue
Many Moons Ago…
My mother wanted to leave her native Caribbean island and come to NYC in search of a better life. She was also running away from the country’s ruling dictator who would target all beautiful women.
While she was at the U.S. Embassy getting her visa, she was asked why she wanted to come to NY. Her response was: “I love to watch the Yankees and would like to see Mickey Mantle play.” Her visa was granted with parting well-wishes to come and see the Yankees play.
When she arrived, she was living in NYC. She first settled in Manhattan, then after many years of hardship there, she moved to Brooklyn. Mom never did make it to the Bronx to see a Yankees game. Instead of seeing Mickey Mantle play, she met my dad.
It wasn’t until August 13, 1995, that I found out about this part of my mom’s history as I saw her quietly weep in front of the TV, hearing of Mantle’s passing.
This, my friend, explains why I will forever be a Yankee fan. Lucky me!
Growing Pains
Back in the day, expectant women were allowed to travel by plane even if they were far along in their pregnancy. My mom was seven months pregnant with me when she took a flight back to New York from her native island. At one point during the flight, they encountered a significant amount of turbulence. According to her, I was almost born on that plane! Now, this makes me wonder if that is the reason I love to travel?
My mom decided to move back to her native country when I was 8 years old. Growing up there not only allowed me to have a great childhood running around in a tropical country and receive an excellent education but also see how the world lives outside of the U.S. The poverty and lack of resources in that island nation made it extremely difficult to do basic things that we take for granted here in the United States. To see a child my own age walking barefoot, scrounging for food in the garbage container and not being able to go to school struck me to my innermost being.
Even More Growing Pains
I was inconsolable, and I kept asking my mom: “why was he doing that? Didn’t he have a mom?”
I didn’t understand why it was that way, but I did know that something was wrong with this picture. At a very young age, my worldview was being molded, and to this day it hasn’t changed.
In fact, this narrative has repeated throughout my life as I’ve traveled: I see a starving child looking for food in a trash can when he should be in a classroom, it moves me to tears.
The last time that this happened I was at a restaurant! A gentleman at another table across from me came to comfort me and tell me not to worry about it, that he was used to living that way.
I was baffled… How could I? How could I become indifferent to the need of another human being, a child nonetheless? He was the same age as my precious little niece, and I could never picture her living the way he was living!
I tried to do the right thing at that moment, but I knew in my heart that it was not enough…
The Birth of Tav the Duck
The Journey Begins
Serendipity brought me the name Tav for my Brooklyn duck. It so happens that Tav is the Hebrew letter ‘T’ and it means “to make a mark.”
Going back to my childhood experiences, I understood that everything that I have gone through has a purpose and it needed to be used to make “a mark” in this world. I began with “the end” in mind. How do I wish to be remembered after I take my last breath? This became my “Ethos.”
A lot of research, reading, trials, and errors have occurred during this journey. I’ve shed lots of sweat, blood, and tears because it has been a challenging process along the way, but it has been well worth it. I can tell you that I am not the same person that began the journey.
Conclusion
How would you like your story to end as you begin a journey with Tav the Duck in his adventures?
Will you dare to try some exotic new food that goes beyond the comfort of mac and cheese?
Or would you take a few weeks off volunteering in the reconstruction of a community devasted by a natural disaster?
There are so many things that we are planning, and we are excited to see who will partner with us on this grand adventure!
Are you up for the challenge and are you ready to do the right thing?
Do you have what it takes to be a Tavster?
Come on, don’t be afraid! Be Different. Be Tav!