Final Post

Vale'.  

It's Good Friday here, I leave fairly early on Easter Sunday, and as I have decided tomorrow (Saturday) will be a day unsullied by anything other than pure enjoyment of my last full day (at least for now),  there will be no more missives from me on this trip. As such, I have decided to list a few of the experiences that have had a real impact over the last three months - mostly for my enjoyment - but hope you get a little fun from them as well. Thanks for coming along with me...

• The piercing Mediterranean sun, and the cloudless blue sky that often accompanies it.
• Seeing the little ninas and ninos in strollers, pulled up to the cafe table surrounded by family and friends who chatter away over tapas.  The babies are always a part of the chatter, and they know it.  They are mostly quiet, content, with eyes wide open, learning that they are truly a part of the gathering.  They're learning peace.  They rarely cry or fuss.  They relish the little bite of patatas bravas from the nearest adult.  They seem so very happy.
• The mothers with daughters, the fathers with sons, the teen girls and yes, even the teen boys, together, walking arm in arm or hand in hand, down the alley, the street, the avenue.  The casual intimacy is extraordinary.
• The server who nods and smiles warmly when I say "The sandwich is very well," instead of "The sandwich is very tasty."
• Stepping outside in the morning and saying to myself, "You live here now," and knowing that in some small way, I've earned the right to say that, to feel that way.
• Oh, los perros!  The doggies!  Big ones, little ones, medium ones.  They are everywhere and Valencianos love their perros!  Unbelievably well behaved in spite of the fact that they get fairly short walks and live in fairly small apartments.  But just like their humans, they are tranquilo.
• The jolt of often seeing Mr. Spoon, or as close as one can get to seeing our dear departed friend, approaching me on the sidewalk with the beard, the shuffle and the twinkly eye... but, speaking Spanish.
• The exquisite pleasure of reading Hemingway's "The Sun Also Rises" at 2 pm, outside, with that sun also shining on me, for heaven's sake.  (Thanks, Kevin.)
• The green grocer down the street, the vendor at Mercado Central, the barber next door, all of whom recognize me, offering me a warm greeting.
• The deep sigh of relief, when you're linguistically flummoxed, and you ask "Hablas Ingles?" and the response is "Si, un poco." 
• The sheer joy of calling Valencia home for these three months.

Mi corazon esta aqui...