Just how many times have I gone out, or just passed by, and yet only today I noticed that the almonds are in blossom. For the Canarys, this is a sign that spring is in the air.
Its a sunny and windy day, here in my little Canarian village - Valsequillo. I needed to go out of the house, just for a walk, I needed to relax, clear my head from all the dull everyday routine, discharge the stress that has invaded my body...I needed to walk.
The mountains are beautiful at this time of the year, due to some heavy rains, everything is green and fresh, and it will stay so only until June, as from then on there are no more rainy days and everything sadly returns to yellowish and dusty colours.
Everyone that passes by says Hola or Buenos dias, walking by a small grocery shop the owner comes out to greet me with a smile, reaching out with an orange in his hand, saying its good for me...lots of vitamines. I smiled back and said Gracias.
Next is the hairdresser Jesus. I love this guy, always smiling, seems he knows everything about everyone, he just never stops talking. I stop to say Hola, and there he comes with his smile asking if I wanted to come in. I tell him I'll be around next week for my usual, but he just goes on and on, and I end up having a cup of cofee while listening to his endless stories. Finally with a Gracias and Hastaluego I continue my way through the streets of my village.
Oh boy, and look who comes right at me, my bank manager, and boy am I mad at him...and he knows that very well. He starts talking even before he reached me, about how I shouldn't worry about my tickets, how everything is taken care of...apparently neither the bank nor the airline company had nothing to do with all the mess accured while purchasing my tickets....but its all the fault of the Visa guys (now who the hell are they) and I can relax, because the transfere will be done by Monday. I was speechless for a moment and quckly thought... if I start talking now, he's not going to appreciate my tone or my words...and I'll just end up yelling in the middle of the street.....so ....nah...Lila forget it...I say to myself. I end up saying politely Gracias, veremos que pasa....(thinking to myself "go jump in the bay you sob"....).
I reached the Plazzoleta and sat on a bench. I wondered is it possible to take a walk thru this village and not meet anyone? I didn't need to talk, I just wanted to WALK, for crying out loud.
Some kids were playing at the Plazzoleta and a couple of them asked about my youngest son Georgio. "Donde esta Georgio?" Well, where the hell can he be....IN SCHOOL, damn it!
It was time for me to get back home, at least I had more peace at home than in those streets.
I decided to take a short cut as I heard all the "news" from my hairdresser, I've eaten the orange, and I don't need to see that bank manager again.
Well, wishful thinking...there goes my neighbour in his car and wants to drive me home. I politely say Gracias, but I'd rather walk.....NO NO NO Señora, the delivery from the supermercado is at your door waiting for you......OMG....
To cut the story short, he drove me home, sure there was the delivery guy in his pick-up van waiting and chatting with other neighbours. I apologized for not being home, but I didn't expect him b/4 2 pm......"oh no importa Señora Lila..." , take it easy, the neighbour saw you go out so he went to look for you, at the grocery store they told him you went to the hairdresser, the hairdresser told him you went to the bank and the bank manager told him you were at the Plazzoleta....and the kids playing at the Plazzoleta told him........oh well...........THAT'S MY VILLAGE IN THE CANARY ISLANDS.
Note to myself: Don't ever brag about life in big cities...you wanted to live in a village so SHUT UP.
