Manuel, sweet sixteen

You haven’t been with us for four months. Your absence is a deep pain which breaks my heart. It’s difficult to accept this reality. It’s also difficult not to ask about your situation, where you are, what you are doing, why you went away. I feel sad about it.

Sometimes I remember things and experiences we lived together. I have a lot of memories when you were a little boy. You were always happy, always laughing and making laugh, although from to time to time you started crying when you wanted something and your parents said no.

I think your childhood was happy because you were a cheerful boy, in spite the problems you had with your foot that finally left you a slight limp that only your mother noticed it.

Sport was always important for you. Firstly bicycle, afterwards motocross. Because of sport, you have travelled a lot. You have visited many European countries and almost all Spain. There are many important trophies on the shelf in your room, near a portrait that José Maria, your uncle, painted for you a few years ago.

Little by little, you became an adolescent. Consequently, your relationships changed. Lately it was difficult to see you. Your friends were so important for you! They were above everything else. If I suggested going out for a walk or something like that, nearly always your answer was no, because you had always arranged to meet your friends I feel your death came in a moment you were far to me. This situation has your departure even more difficult if it’s possible.

Now, I hope to see you in the other side, perhaps then, it’ll be possible to understand why sometimes the life is so difficult.

Meanwhile, I can imagine you in the air, jumping with your motorbike, wearing your special clothes, red of course. Your mother always remains me you were happy doing motocross.

Your funny aunt

the wedding

February 15, the wedding

Today I’m going to a civil wedding. The marriage ceremony is taking place in the town-hall of Barcelona. I wait expectantly for it, because it’s the first time I go to a wedding with two grooms.

I remember two years ago I saw an homosexual wedding in a small town. The couple had been leaving together for a long time and everybody knew it. When they arrived at the town-hall perfectly dressed, they looked back before going in, because many people were in the street waiting to see them and to say hello, and they said: “Ja era hora”.

Sunday 17

The wedding’s day the grooms were also perfectly dressed. They looked elegant and the guests too.

Pere Portabella was the master of the ceremony. Two friends read poems. When the ceremony was finished, family and friends invited to the wedding went to a luxury hotel to have dinner. Before dinner, a fantastic appetizer
was offered , and people in general, started drinking champagne.

Inside the dining room there were round tables perfectly decorated with flowers and candles. Everything was marvellous.

When the wedding cake appeared, we listened to Procofief, and the lights were turned off.

During the coffee, “La vie en rose” by Edith Piaf began the dance, and many guests were to dance. every one seemed to be having a good time. The women’s high-heeled shoes started being so annoyed…, but everything was right to the end.

I explained that because today, fortunately, the wedding I went, it’s like the most of the wedding, more or less elegant, more or less kitsch. That minds love is the most important in life and it also minds that in this country, finally “the times are changing”, like B. Dylan said quite a lot of years ago.

Irina Palm: A lesson of dignity

Who is Irina Palm? She’s a woman in her early sixties. She really loves her grand-son, who is ill, and the only possibility for him to get well is in Australia; but the family can’t afford the trip and the clinical care. Consequently, she decides to look for a job to help them.

Finally, she gets the money to pay the expenses.

Her son and her daughter- in -law are really amazed. They would like to know how she has got the money. Her friends are also interested in her job. But she has decided not to say anything, because she imagines a bad reaction from everybody.

What is the job? She works in an erotic club, masturbating men. Indeed. When people know it, they react as she had imagined. First, her son doesn't want the money, her friends decide not to speak to her, and neighbours do not dare look at her face if they find her in the street or in the supermarket.

I’m not going to explain more, because, Irina Palm is a film, and I don’t want to spoil it.

My question is: Why does society hide some economic activities related to sex? What’s wrong about it? Irina Palm, the main character in the film, does her work honestly, and she earns the money to save her grand son because, her love for him is above everything. But society, the same society who uses this kind of services, it condemns women, and also men, although less, who do these jobs. I think this is hypocrisy.

What do you think?

One advice: Go to see the film, and don’t forget to pat attention to the clothes she wears when she is working. The film offers the possibility to practise English, as well.

Strange pair of shoes

Sales have started and many people decide to go shopping, to find some bargains.
Last year, I showed to my brothera pair of shoes that I had seen, and I was sure he would like them. We come into the shop to buy them, but they didn't have his size.

The other day, he phoned me (he lives in Lleida), and he asked about the same shoes we had been seeing the year before. “Try to buy me the shoes, please. I really like them.”, he toll me. Two days later, I went to the shoe shop. The size which my brother needs it was in another shop, but they offered to me to bring them, and I could pick them up the day after.

I came back to the shoe shop, just to pick the shoes up. Many people were into, trying to find bargains. I paid and I got out.

This Saturday, his wife was in Barcelona and she picked the shoes up. When she arrived at home, my brother tried them on and he phoned me saying the shoes were O.K.

On the next Monday afternoon, when I arrived at home, there was one phone call from my brother in my phone, and in my mobile also. I phoned him to ask what happened. The pair of shoes was wrong: one shoe was in his correct size, (it was the one he tried on), but the other was one size and half more than the other. In the first time, he thought his feet were different, but finally, he compared the two shoes and he cheked the difference.

This is a long way for a new pair of shoes. But, the most surprisingly was the shop assistanct's answer when I phoned to the shop, to explain the situation. She said: Many people buy shoes in a different size because their feet are different. If you want a solution, try to find your complement. Since that moment, my brother is looking for it. But, what complement?

Il Komendatore

Il Komendatore

Hello Komendatore: A pleasure to receive your post. I’ve visited your blog, but It seems to be in mourning.
What happens?
Anyway. Perhaps, we can meet in Cinebaix, in the next original version. Why not?

Cinebaix

Cinebaix

I suppose most of the people who are in class, are living in the Baix Llobregat. Perhaps, dear colleagues, you are into cinema. If it is your situation, you need to know Cinemabaix .http://www.cinebaix.com/.

Cinemabaix is in Sant Feliu de Llobregat. Years ago, it was Cine Guinart. It was closed because the owner had financial problems. Time after, some cinema lovers decided to try to reopen it. They managed the town hold paid the rent for the building. It recuperated two jobs: the doorkeeper, Sebastià, a man who recommends the films when you go into the cinema, and the engine driver. But, all the other jobs are doing by volunteers: from choosing the films to cleaning.

The programming is very interesting. It’s possible to see films, one or two weeks after the première in Barcelona. They project films in catalan, they organise cycles, and the first Friday every month, there is a special session with debate. And the most important, from time to time it’s also possible to see original versions. (Very interesting for English students.)

The price is cheaper than Barcelona. It cost 5.5 euros, but if you are member, you only pay 4.5 euros, and you don’t pay for cycles.

I’m very into, but it’s necessary more people go in. People, please, come on!. This kind of initiatives is interesting from itself, and it offers a social service. Do you agree?

I forgot it: If you need to take the car, you can park any time at the rail station.

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