“Solo los dos sabemos la falta que nos hacemos” - Mario Benedetti

 “Only we two know how we need each other.” My translation

It is a pity that in the Anglo/Central Canada and the United States we have little knowledge of some of the writers and poets south of us.

I have a love for two Uruguayan writers, Mario Benedetti and Eduardo Galeano. What is it about Latin American authors who write about self-evident stuff in a way that when I spotted the above I marvelled at its beauty?

Every day, every moment of my present existence since Rosemary died on December 9, 2020 is one that confirms what Benedetti wrote. Her absent presence is comforting in that I know I need her and somehow she is around because of my thoughts.

Today when I took Niño for his walk around the block (no leash) I thought about what Benedetti wrote and how now Niño, Niña and I feel (they must!) this closeness of needing each other.

For those who might not know about Latin American geography I can reveal that tomorrow is Mexico’s Independence Day. The correct name for the country is Estados Unidos Mexicanos.

Uruguay is not plain Uruguay. They are La República Oriental del Uruguay. Because they are on the Eastern side of the River Plate, oriental is inserted in their name. Argentines are called orientales (we do not capitalize nationalities in Spanish). To me, personally, I can reveal that my first girlfriend in Argentina, Corina Poore was Oriental as she was born in Uruguay.

A Uruguayan politician in the 30s promised that if he were elected he was going to build a highway from the capital city of Montevideo to the seaside town of Colonia that was going to be downhill both ways.

He lost.