He wants us to call him Chantes, which I fully understand. Baldomero is quite a handful to use on a regular basis. So everyone calls him Chantes. He is one of the more interesting person we have met recently.
Our old handyman Bill was excellent but when we left in the Spring, we left him with three major tasks left undone. We returned recently to find nothing done but with many text messages promising to come soon to complete the work. For a few days we believed him but Bill seems to have disappeared so we went ahead to try to find another handyman. That person was Chantes, a referral from our mover John and our cleaning lady Elizabeth.
Chantes is from Cuba. He and his family emigrated in 2007. He is 59 and thin as a rail. He arrived in Jackson in 2009. "Most Cubans end up in Miami", said Chantes, "But we prefer the quiet of Jackson." He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Cuba, with an advanced degree from Moscow. When he arrived in the US, he had three tasks: to learn English, to take the exams to obtain papers in his field and to earn a living. Two tasks were accomplished. He went into the construction business, working with a real estate company fixing up houses. And he has his own business working as a handyman. And a good handyman he is. In addition, he is enthusiastic and reliable.
I would love to know what compelled the family to leave Cuba. They have been to Toronto only once, when they changed planes at the airport. One day I might get the story but at the moment, I am delighted that he has installed the pulls in the kitchen cabinets. He has made my life easier so I am grateful for Chantes. I suspect he will not disappear.
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