two more memories

i was sick at home yesterday. an incessant and evil sore throat, coupled with a headache that pounded my head like a jack-hammer, was enough to keep me bed-ridden. i think it is something that is circulating throughout the BWC. kent was sick, khat just got sick and is at home (luckily her hami is there to take care of her), virginia (anjali) wasn't feeling well a couple of days ago. and then during last evening lucia insisted up on coming over :). she made me lentil soup with onion and garlic, and we curled up under a blanket to watch S1mOne - a brilliant film starring al pacino - till around 10 when she left, and i went back to my toasty room. i laid awake for a bit, and then slowly drifted off to sleep.

it was at that moment when i remembered another memory from my trip to mexico when i was 11. we were in some city, it may have been mexico city, walking through a mercado. the kind that is filled and overflowing with people, spices, vegetables, cowboy hats, guitars, muñecas and puppets.

we all walked in and out of the rows, of course stopping periodically to try on hats, or pick up the puppets to walk them around. at one point, i became so engrossed with something in particular (i think it was a guitar), that i became completely oblivious to everyone around me. when i was finally finished, i set whatever i was looking at back on its rack and turned to ask my mom if she thought we could buy it. when i turned and looked up, expecting to see my family, i realized that i was surrounded by complete strangers (a fact particularly highlighted by the hair color of my fellow guitar veiwers - yes, i was the only blonde)

completely alone and anxious, i panicked and began to run through each row - past peppers and chess boards, dresses and guayaberas, until i came to an old man selling fruit. unable to think of what i could do next, i called upon my reservoir of spanish in the hope that i could communicate my need:

"donde estan..."

"where are they..." was all i was able to get out. the man looked down at my for one second, looked to the right and slowly lifted one wrinkly arm pointing down his aisle. i had no choice but to trust the man and i quickly sprinted down to where he had directed me. sure enough, after i had run no more than 20 paces, blonde hair exploded out of nowhere and i saw my family. not wanting to alarm them, i slowed down, and quietly stepped in line and we resumed our day in the market.


final note...i feel a bit like a curmudgeon today.