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| Scanned 31 December 2024 |
My Manila-born grandmother, Dolores Reyes de Irureta Goyena, was born in the 19th century and was educated in Valencia, Spain. By some lucky quirk my Abuelita met my wife Rosemary in 1970 before she died.
My Abuelita or Abue as I called her, was ahead of her time and she educated me as my mother was a busy teacher trying to make ends meet in Buenos Aires and then in Mexico City. Abuelita would not say, “Alex, don’t do that.” She would say, “Alex if you do this this is what is going to happen…”
Because of her Spanish education Rosemary and I adopted many of her customs. One of them was a 19th century Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes in the 12 seconds when our mantel clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve.
This year I have decided to keep the custom. But I will eat 24 grapes. The extra 12 are in memory of my Rosemary.
Rosemary and I would go shopping for nice grapes on the 31st. I bought grapes a few days ago and I thought they will do even if they are not of the perfection that would have delighted Rosemary.
Cynics would say that it was far easier to drink a glass of wine. In the scan here there are 24 grapes even if you cannot see them.
