By Jeanne Brook
Early on an April morning a group gathered in front of the Ocracoke post office on Irvin Garrish Highway.
They wanted to wave a final good-bye to a cherished community member. Eduardo Chavez Perez was beginning his journey back home to Mexico, where family excitedly awaited his return.
It was an opportunity for members of the Ocracoke community to gather once again to send their best wishes to the man who had fed them with love from the taco truck he started 15 years ago and owned with Karen Rhodes. It closed in the fall but has reopened as El Mariachi under new ownership.
At least 25 folks showed up, some with hand-made signs and some wearing their Eduardo’s merch.
Anne Loughrey ignited the idea of this gathering when she said she was going to wave goodbye to Eduardo on his way to the Hatteras ferry. She used to run out to Irvin Garrish Highway for a final wave to her kids who were leaving the island.
It has been something of a tradition in Ocracoke. Amy Howard said they often used to go to the Swan Quarter ferry to wave goodbye to friends and family as the boat left the dock.
Steve Brook, who was driving Eduardo to South Dock, picked up Eduardo from his home off Lighthouse Road, and Eduardo was videoing as they took the long way around for one last view of Silver Lake and the Back Road.
He slowed down as they neared the post office.
“Eduardo was videoing as we drove by,” Steve said. “He first thought they were kids waiting for the school bus. Then he thought they were protestors, and then he said, ‘Oh my God. Frickin’ gringos.’”
Had they stopped for the group, this surely could have set off another round of tears.
As one sign read, life will be “a little less flavourful” on Ocracoke without Eduardo. But it was with the joy of having known him as he and Steve disappeared from view into the rising sun.
