It
was on the walk back home to Poble Sec when I realized it was the end of the holiday
weekend of St. Joan Bautista with the smell of fireworks filling the air. No
more arsenals of noise pollution until the small hours of the night. Single
people and families, very curiously, with children under the age of ten still strolling
about as the night truly began. We had an interesting evening where our brains
worked overtime contemplating a myriad of life quandaries and potential
solutions; politics, societal norms, different cultural backgrounds and the
element that bound us – Sitges.
Strange
how we’ve found each other and more to the point, how we’ve found a
commonality. The one called humanity. You see, we are not only of different cultural
backgrounds, but of different generations and races. A genuine affection lives
between us and we get together about once a week to discuss life and the
mysteries of the universe...our gatherings are usually impromptu, which
probably makes them all the more enjoyable, as we thoroughly enjoy each others
company.
This
warm evening started with our meeting at the playa San Sebastian sea wall and
how the summer weather and its mosquitoes had eaten Juan Carlos (SQ columnist) alive the previous night.
I noticed her (Gloria Gannaway, SQ assitant
editor) “Obama 2008” button pinned on her blouse, and we were off! At the time,
Obama had recently won the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for president
of the United States this November. Historic, yes; for he is the first
African-American man to advance and be as successful in a presidential race.
Inevitably, President Bush and his administration came to the forefront of the
conversation and how, hopefully he and Vice-President Cheney will be held
accountable for the terrible state of the world; with war still raging in Iraq
and the ever rising price of petrol spiraling out of control. The rippling
effect on everything everywhere was astounding. All of a sudden the price of
flour, in the West Indies increased exponentially and the downsizing of
airlines in America was happening all over again, so soon after the 9/11 series
of U.S. airline bankruptcies that followed and added to the western
devastation. I digress, but this is exactly what happens when we get together.
One thing leads to the next and before you know it, we have to rap things up
and get home and call it “a night”.
Walking
along the Carrer Major, we negotiated the narrow street and made our way to the
seafront to walk along the paseo. The sand sculptures beckoning a lasting gaze
as we passed familiar faces, found in a small place, all on our way for the
obligatory glass of wine and pica-picar before our late Spanish meal...The
focus here was our projects and motivation to devote time and effort to their
cause, and generally our current frame of mind. While verbally being encouraging
and supportive of each and of our said endeavours, I thought, hopefully one day
we’ll look back on this time affectionately and realize, although living
meagerly, how fortunate we were to live in such a place, at such a time. Most
people, I’m sure, pass the time in the moment, never imagining that this moment
will never be given to us again under exactly the same circumstances. Never relishing
the richness of Sitgetan life of: extranjero (foreigner),
Catalan and Español.
Ever mingling to produce the delectable flavours of its blend and how it
permeates all that is here.
 |
| "Blanca Subur" by Ramón Moscardó |
I
get it. It is what has drawn me here. It is what keeps me here. Conversations
such as these inspire appreciation for relocating to this, something special by
the sea. A certain stability makes me feel that all will be fine as I change my
focus for my life. A change in my profession at my “stage of the game” taking
me out of my comfort zone. An underlying unease or stress has lived in me for
the past few weeks. Just keeping my head above ground makes for a particular
way of being. I can’t quite put my finger on it just yet, but hope by speaking
with Gloria and JC, it might give me a different and new perspective.
JC
trying to figure ways in which to establish himself as a respected psychologist
here in Sitges dominates his direction, while Gloria refuses to follow the
western ideology that a woman her age should retire or stay “at home” (with all
that entails). I spoke of a documentary I recently viewed where the featured
artist declared, “retirement is a waste of life”. My conversationalists added,
“I agree”, “Why should we?” and “I don’t want to” and it seems, we never will…
Note:
Ramon Moscardó does friendly paintings with a strong regional flavour of
traditional exteriors, cafés and bars in Barcelona, Cadaqués and so on.
Nostalgia is often found in these spaces and in their still lives.
Since
1990, he has been living in Cadaqués, although he never stops travelling in
search of new impressions to transform them into sensations through his
brushstrokes. Original graphic work has also been part of his creation for many
years. He periodically exhibits in Barcelona and Sant Cugat.
