June 7, 2010
Part I
Saturday on our way to get coffee we ran into the arts festival in Iowa City. Ecuador Manta was playing. There was an Argentinian family that sat behind us in the performance tent. They had two young boys with beautiful blue eyes like Gael Garcia Bernal. Their grandfather sat delighted at the sounds beating the rhythm on his knee. His grandchildren draped across his lap like capes of honey. Hiccuping in song. Their grandmother requested a song singing word for word in delight. Their mother a raven haired waif of a sycamore colored latina woman came over and the grandfather exclaimed, “Julia canta.” His grandson had exclaimed in song some spanish words without hesitancy and his grandfather lit up in excitement at the little boys courage and exuberance. Little oragami cranes and turtles, crowns, fish made of ribbon, the taste of fresh lemonade, the sound of soulful musica, sun showers with intermittent refreshing rain. The little boy asked if the music stopped the rain. And I said, “yes”. He stepped out from under the tent and looked at the sky and smiled.
Part II
Yesterday evening I took my little sisters to the beach. It was warm out side but the water was cold. They were extremely excited. They laughed all over the place. They kicked each other in the back seat and argued. Adriana, the eldest, sat calmly controlling the radio as we made our way.
Everything felt different. We’ve been to the beach a million times but today was different. There was a different feeling in the air. An expectancy like they know that the time they have with me is limited. They didn’t argue near as much as usual or cry. They really enjoyed themselves. I lay in the water motionless my ears beneath the surface my body a part of the body of water; seamless.
Another family splashed and played near us. A mother and father with their two daughters. The family was Muslim the mother wearing a brown hijab. The two daughters wore little kid scuba suits. Their father in khakis splashed with them. Their mother stood with water up to her ankles splashing her daughters. They were lovely. Absolutely beautiful and happy.
Children all over laughing. The blue sky ablaze with the sunset. A cool breeze keeping the water cold. Daniela, the youngest got mad at me when I told her it was time to go. She laughed and threw sand at me. Huge chunks of sand splattered my knees and she laughed exuberantly.
Little morsels of time. I held them for what fleeting second I could. I love them so much. They’ll never know how much they mean to me. Later when we got home. My mom bought my two littlest sisters blackberry’s and strawberry’s. They mixed the berries with blueberries and muskmelon with yogurt. They ate this berry yogurt mixture while watching a movie. They were too cute. Sitting eating. Beautiful. They are just so full of delight, life, curiosity and happiness.
