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| Peace, Quiet, Stability and Beauty thanks to you. |
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| July 31 2020 |
Every moment
of the day I thank you for having brought us from Mexico City to Vancouver in
1975. I thank you for your financial acumen and telling me that we were going to
move to a big house in Kerrisdale with a corner garden in 1986. I thank you for
pointing out a hosta in the garden of a house that was going to be torn down.
It was my entry into gardening and then you got me into roses and rare
perennials because you were a garden snob (a good garden snob). I thank you for
insisting our daughters learn French and making them graduate with a university
education. I thank you for your love of cats and how now without you the
presence of your female cat Niña is a blessing. She is not you but she is
tender and loving like you.
You would never recognize this city you brought us to. Unless you have a cell phone you cannot park downtown. But then you and I enjoyed that municipal plate. I still have it.
Before we
moved to Kerrisdale we lived in that quiet neighbourhood of Burnaby on Springer
Ave (that was not an avenue). Now when I drive on Lougheed Highway there is a
light at Springer Ave. There is an avenue on the other side and cars cross and
I have no idea where they are going.
The place
you and I used to go for tea on Broadway, Neverland Tea Salon is closing this
Christmas.
When I go in
my daily bike ride on Point Grey Road and see that fabulous view of Vancouver I
think of you and how you provided our family with a stability that has all but disappeared everywhere else.
I look at
all the frame photographs of our family and especially you, and I thank you for
showing me how important it is to include hands in portraits. I made good money
in magazines thanks to you.
I look at
all the matted photographs (at least 1000) and I thank you for not disagreeing
too much at the expense. You quietly promoted my art before I even knew I was
an artist.
I miss those
quiet moments we had on our bed with our two cats. I miss having intellectual
conversation with you and how we often read books by the same author on the
bed. I miss being with you in our tub and doing those delightful things with
our toes.
When you
were on our bed about to die you asked, “Am
I dying?” I was speechless. I should have said, “Rosemary I am here with you and I love you.”
I cannot
understand why or how our family fractured after your parting. That is how
important you were.
You and I
knew we would never see each other again. In what is left of my existence I
will keep you in my constant thoughts. Thank you, my Rosemary, Rosamaría,
Mamuchi, and all those other endearing names I gave you.
Your loving Papuchi