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| Filomena de Irureta Goyena & her baroque pearls |
When I was a
little boy around 8 in Buenos Aires, I remember one day that we were eating
chicken. I picked up a leg to eat it. My father instantly hit me on the head
with the flat of his knife. To this day when I eat chicken with my hands, my
nose itches and I have to wipe my fingers with a serviette.
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| George Waterhouse Hayward |
Today I felt lazy about doing my usual one hour and 15 minute bike ride to Jericho Beach. It did not take me long before I had my grandmother telling me in Spanish, “Ante pereza diligencia,” or “face laziness with diligence.”
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| Dolores Reyes de Irureta Goyena |
On my
kitchen island I have some baroque pearls that were my mother. I am waiting for
my granddaughter to come and pose for me and I will have her wear them. I
remember that my mother told me that if pearls were not worn they lost their
luster.
In the
morning after having had my breakfast in bed I have Rosemary telling me in my
memory, “Make the bed neat for the cats.”
When I go to my bathroom I make sure the kitty litter does not smell. Rosemary
would tell me to change it.
Also today
when I opened my kitchen cupboard to take out my tea mug I noticed two blue
gloves. Because my male cat Niño had lymphatic cancer of the intestines I had
to give him a human cancer pill every other day. I was told I could not touch
the little pink pill. I used the gloves. These gloves are almost the last
tangible items related to Niño. Do I throw them away? We associate conversations and objects
with the people (or cats) that are no longer with us.
For me it is magical to remember and associate.
