One More Special Day

Written by Josefina, 66 years old retired from Medical work, living in Stirling, Scotland.

Written on August 12th 2010

Got up at 7.30 am, my day with my niños ( my little grandchildren) in Glasgow. One would say that it will be an other day the same as the one last week, but there is not an identical day ever, always some surprise, some different mood. Pedro, my son, is ready to start some chores around their flat as they are planning to sell soon, but we start the day by all of us playing and dancing, “Come on, come on “ Pedro has to start his work, although he is enjoying it. A trip to Queens Park with some with some snacks, it is sunny, white fluffy clouds and a mild wind, quite a beautiful day. .

We could go to a nearer Park, or we could go to the Tramway, round the corner, No, no, Raul wants to go to Queens Park, 20 min. walk. We collect seeds for the birds, we found lots of them under the big trees, by the swings. Nicolas, today, starts taking his few and wobbly first steps, “ I can be a little ape! I can choose 2 or 4 legs “ he may think. He tries to help, but not for our advantage, he eats the seeds, we have to collect faster and distract him too. A little blond, and bouncy girl is very worried when Raul falls and cries, but he is brave, soon he is playing again. Pedro up the ladder, the boys go up the ladder to say hello to dad.

Lunchtime, I am so hungry, I will try not to eat all the cheese wraps. We are all lingering and playing again, but we must leave dad to his work. Do I think that the wall needs an other coat of paint? Yes! Oh, the work will extend to the weekend! We now noticed a big gush in Raul’s arm from his fall.. Back to the Park, we must find the little birds, the pigeons may eat the seeds. A young mother with beautiful long black hair and shiny dark eyes is at the see saw with her little daughter, playing silently, they invite Nicolas with a smile, Raul now sleeping in the pushchair. We are now looking for pieces of bark, lovely reddish colours, we make marks with them, we arrange them in a collage, Nicolas wants to chew them, A round and jaggy piece of glass in his mouth! It looks like a jewel! A handsome young man with his two kids, laughing with them, laughing with us.

How it would be to be young again, still around me. On the way home four Slovakian sisters stop us, all round dark and smiley eyes, dark curls, they know each other, they touch Raul’s face, hands “come and play with us” It is hard to leave them behind, but we must go home now. Raul and I watch “Pingu” we dance like them, we hide, One penguin needs a Doctor, To gain more points with Raul I remind him, “I am a Doctor” He looks amused at me “no! you are abuela (grandmother)” The train home is packed, I found a free sit, a young man removes his bag.Two young girls opposite talking, about friends, boys, “Why do you not reply to him?”“No! we broke, I made a decision for a good reason” Well! I thought, how brave she is, she has no second thoughts,She does not allow those lingering feelings of love that devastates, unresolved Yearnings, if..if.

My son Daniel at home, he is been busy, pottering, then, he went for a cycle run.A friend called earlier “Watch out for the shooting stars at 11pm My son Pabs called, did I see the shooting stars?He is preparing his trip to Greece for tomorrow. He tells me that I have phoned him a few times in the last tree days with advise on his trip,“It is endearing how you are still treating me as a 15 years old “ “No!” I say, “As a 12 year old And my last contact in the day are my very dear friends, Juan and Jaime, Making some excuses so that I am able to phone them at their friends home in London. Now, they sound nearer, they are back from Spain, may because I know they are closer. So many trips every year they make! I wish I had a glass ball to see them more often, Will it work?

I managed to read a few pages of “Ines del alma mia” the story of the conquest of Chile by the Spanish Conquistadores, written by Isabel Allende, blood in their hands in all sides. The mapuche Indians from Chile, lived well passed their 100 years, fighting to the end. Once yearly all the tribes will meet to honour the Earth and the Man of the People, They will consider lack of respect to meet more often and bother the Mother and Father Earth Good night Day