Out and About

 
 
 
 

Yesterday I arrived and after taking my suitcases up to my apartment, I needed to go shopping for groceries, and I don't go any where without my camera. It makes my purse extra heavy but I seem to be ready for a picture anytime something curious, adorable, or beautiful comes my way. Yesterday it was some sunflowers, not in an open field in South Carolina, but in Pueblo Supermarket. Then I noticed those pink wax looking flowers Don Manuel, Q.E.P.D "Que en Paz Descanse" (God rest his soul) used to give me. People have been using that abbreviation Q.E.P.D. way before abbreviations became everyday language in English. Frankly, I always thought that QEPD was so tacky, the abbreviation that is, especially referring to someone who has passed away. Why do you want to abbreviate something that refers to such a delicate event? Something that requires our being sensitive. It is an oxymoron.

I don't want to get sidetracked with all those acronyms, I just don't, because I can't remember all the good ones, and then I don't want to start a debate, on who started what. What I do know and have observed is that languages go with the route of the easiest possible way of saying something to be understood (that sounded confusing, didn't it?). Oral language at least. Written language is a whole different story. That is where stuffiness and pride come in. The holders of a language, the proud representatives of a culture, the people in the know. Well they complicate things.

Anyway, there they were, the pink flowers, that is, well one of them. If I weren't so "pela," (I'm not broke, but I don't want to be by the end of the summer.) I would have bought it, but you just can't buy everything you see, just like you can't have everything you like, even if it breaks your heart. So I left them behind, but I do have the picture. When will I get to paint it is the question?

Today, Mami and I got to go to Old San Juan with Doris and Michelle to drop some things off at the Salvation Army store in Puerta de Tierra. It's cool, we just drove up and they grabbed the bag and we were off. Off for a 15 minute ride through Old San Juan which turned into 2 hours. We had hot dogs a la drive-through, from a street vendor, and then went to a store where they were liquidating cuts of cloths for as little as a dollar a yard. Era La Tijera. Tijera means scissors in Spanish and the store was going out of business. The nicest part was talking to the two gentlemen that were behind the counter who had life stories to share, while Doris circled the block for the fourth time (la pobre). Irritating. Too bad we didn't have more time. Maybe I will be able to sew myself 5 dresses for the next school year with fifteen dollars. I think I need to dress more matronly, so I can keep myself out of trouble. That is my goal this summmer: sew and paint a lot of nice paintings. I hope to show you the finished product before the summer is done.