As usual, another exceptionally great piece. Well written, sensible in every meaning of the word, and making me feel even more proud of my daughter and how well she writes and her thoughts. Gracias, querida Rosana, Flower Child. Sos la flor de mi vida!!!!
I sometimes feel like an stranger in my own land, such as it is and such as I am. I tend to feel the most comfortable in the company of artists, scientists, agnostics, and those who generally wander (and wonder), yet are not entirely lost. And that's largely what was hard for me to find in my hometown. I moved in the late 80s to San Francisco and discovered it was still a haven for the exile. But even that "island in a country" is now only a memory.
I do think a lot of your feeling out of place comes from being an immigrant. I've never quite felt like I fit in in this country, but also don't feel like I fit in in Argentina or Italy. Strangely, I am more comfortable at times in those other places even though I never lived in either one.
I also agree that San Francisco used to feel like a place for people who didn't fit in anywhere else. Sadly, I think those days are gone. It feels very homogenized now.
True, San Francisco has changed! Oakland still has some of that feeling — for now.
Maybe more of my "foreign" feelings than I was thinking are indeed from being an immigrant. And maybe some of it is just the way I am. As with most complicated things, it's probably a combination. Interesting to hear that you also have that feeling of not fitting in!
A wonderful post, Rosana, and a loving tribute to Flora. As the grown child of a military family, I relate to your comments about feeling foreign. I long ago embraced the fact that I'd live my whole life and one day die feeling foreign in my adopted home. But as you say, there is a value in that too.
Thank you so much, Donna, that means a lot coming from you! I wonder how many of us can relate to feeling foreign or out of place — even if we never moved around at all.
I am glad Rafael had his chance to visit with his mom right before she passed. And I loved the story about the family line “ending” when he was right there! Thank you for sharing it as well the photo of Flora and Rafael.
My mom was also Catholic and yet she accepted that none of her children practiced except the son who drove her to church; to my brother’s credit he started attending with my mother’s friend who gave her weekly communion from a lay person.
I was also dreading the thought of sitting athrough a long Catholic mass but fortunately for me my siblings decided my 94 1/2 mother had outlived almost all her friends and her remaining relatives were too far away to travel. We opted for a few private family gatherings to scatter her ashes. These regional reunions by have been sweet.
I will be in California in November for the next scattering. And I might sneak back for another private scattering in October.
As usual, another exceptionally great piece. Well written, sensible in every meaning of the word, and making me feel even more proud of my daughter and how well she writes and her thoughts. Gracias, querida Rosana, Flower Child. Sos la flor de mi vida!!!!
Muchas gracias!!! XXXOOO
I sometimes feel like an stranger in my own land, such as it is and such as I am. I tend to feel the most comfortable in the company of artists, scientists, agnostics, and those who generally wander (and wonder), yet are not entirely lost. And that's largely what was hard for me to find in my hometown. I moved in the late 80s to San Francisco and discovered it was still a haven for the exile. But even that "island in a country" is now only a memory.
We were lucky to experience San Francisco in the '80s!
I do think a lot of your feeling out of place comes from being an immigrant. I've never quite felt like I fit in in this country, but also don't feel like I fit in in Argentina or Italy. Strangely, I am more comfortable at times in those other places even though I never lived in either one.
I also agree that San Francisco used to feel like a place for people who didn't fit in anywhere else. Sadly, I think those days are gone. It feels very homogenized now.
True, San Francisco has changed! Oakland still has some of that feeling — for now.
Maybe more of my "foreign" feelings than I was thinking are indeed from being an immigrant. And maybe some of it is just the way I am. As with most complicated things, it's probably a combination. Interesting to hear that you also have that feeling of not fitting in!
And thanks for reading!
A wonderful post, Rosana, and a loving tribute to Flora. As the grown child of a military family, I relate to your comments about feeling foreign. I long ago embraced the fact that I'd live my whole life and one day die feeling foreign in my adopted home. But as you say, there is a value in that too.
Thank you so much, Donna, that means a lot coming from you! I wonder how many of us can relate to feeling foreign or out of place — even if we never moved around at all.
Flora was a very sweet lady who exuded kindness. I'm sorry that she had to suffer through a son's
death.
Ben
Thanks, Ben!!
Wonderful piece Rosana. Thank you.
Thank you so much for reading, Antonio!!
I am glad Rafael had his chance to visit with his mom right before she passed. And I loved the story about the family line “ending” when he was right there! Thank you for sharing it as well the photo of Flora and Rafael.
My mom was also Catholic and yet she accepted that none of her children practiced except the son who drove her to church; to my brother’s credit he started attending with my mother’s friend who gave her weekly communion from a lay person.
I was also dreading the thought of sitting athrough a long Catholic mass but fortunately for me my siblings decided my 94 1/2 mother had outlived almost all her friends and her remaining relatives were too far away to travel. We opted for a few private family gatherings to scatter her ashes. These regional reunions by have been sweet.
I will be in California in November for the next scattering. And I might sneak back for another private scattering in October.
Thanks very much, Greg! I'm glad you had some good memorials for your mom. Please let us know when you're coming to town again!