DAY 5
September 18
PART ONE OF TWO.
After only 2 hours of sleep I got up. I tried to put my tiredness aside
and concentrated on waking up. We could not put off seeing, Marian,
Pepe´s cousin, a single day more. Why didn´t I go see her right away?
I needed to spend time with my own. I needed to feel stronger,
because seeing Marian at the hospital would be a hard to handle. I
knew it would make me fall apart.
When we were in the car ready to go, I asked Pepe if we could go see,
Cesar and Ana, dear friends of ours who lived in town and had been
waiting to see me since I arrived. Our sons, Chris and Gaspar, were
best friends while growing up. Oh, those two....the memories we
have of them having fun...
Pepe agreed, and we made a surprise visit. It´s amazing the love
friends have for each other even with years of separation. I felt
that love in their hugs...in their eyes. We feel the same for them.
The bond we made during our 5 years living in Ciempozuelos will last
a lifetime. We chatted, laughed, and made plans to spend more time
together later on during the week.
Now, it was time to go on with our plans. And so, we headed toward
Pozuelo de Alarcon, where Marian was hospitalized. When the elevator
doors open, we immediately saw Marian´s dad, sister, and aunt out in
the hall. My heart sank. The look on their face said she had taken
a turn for the worse. The embraces between us were long and strong,
the kind you say everything you feel without having to say a single
word. The room´s door then opened, and her children, 17 and 10 years
old, came out with their dad and another of Marian´s sister. How sad...
how sad...
When it was time for us to go in, I got myself together. I won´t go
into detail here. All I will say is she recognized me right away, and
we spent a loving moment holding hands....
We left after spending some time with the family. From the hospital
we headed to Villa Nueva de la Cañada, the town were my sister Cary
lives with her daughter Carmen and son Alex.
This is my sister Cary and her daughter Carmen. My American
friends are always surprised at blond, blue eyed Spaniards. When
I show photos of my family, my friends can´t believe we are related.
I alwayshave to explain that Spaniards are Caucasians. Some of
us are olive skinned, brunettes...some of of fair skinned, blonds.
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Villa Nueva is Another town with lots of memories for me. The year
before moving from Spain, we lived in the neighboring, beautiful,
town of Brunete. This town is known for one of the bloodiest battles
during the Spanish Civil lWar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Brunete
Going back to my visit with my sister Cary... she had made for lunch,
"COCIDO", a typical dish from Madrid. It was wonderful to enjoy this
delicious meal with my sister, and my niece, Carmen. I enjoyed it
so much, I realized I needed to blog about this dish before I leave
Spain, since I can´t find some of the ingredients in the States....I am
looking forward to this!
After lunch, we all sat in Cary´s office and enjoyed seeing some of her
latest photographs. She is a television producer, but her passion is
photography. She is such a talented woman...I admire her! I couldn´t
wait for her to feel better and share more time together. We had
told Alberto we would take him and his cousin Ivan, bowling later
that afternoon for the very first time and it was time to head home.
Therefore...from Villa Nueva to Ciempozuelos, and...from Ciempozuelos
to Tres Aguas Mall in Alcorcon, where we would meet with my sister
Maribel, Juanca, and Ivan. Alcorcon....we lived 5 years there. Hectic
town, where I have great friends....I miss the friends, but not the
town. Trying to park your car is a nightmare , traffic is crazy ...lol!!!
END OF PART ONE
