Category: Vol. V Living between borders

  • A question of points of view

    A question of points of view

    All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall Pink Floyd, The Wall “My great-grandparents were true collectors of antiques from times buried in the past. Based in Berlin, from there. they intensely traveled the continent. And as they roamed the world, their priceless…

  • A passion for life

    A passion for life

    When he looked back, in retrospective, he felt his life had not been in vain. The young woman was quiet for a spell, pondering the question, while he smiled with a mischievous grin on his face. “I wouldn’t dare say, Sir John. Perhaps, he tired of cleaning them and sold them all off?”, she answered…

  • A shiny collection of antique coins

    A shiny collection of antique coins

    In the comfort of his daily routines, he found the subterfuge to avoid thinking… “During the trip, I had the opportunity to observe the early, morning, before-breakfast rituals… it is no wonder that my grandmother scarcely talked! What can you say to a person like that?” “John Henry, my dearest Alice, inherited a collection of…

  • Grandfather’s great Sunday adventures

    Grandfather’s great Sunday adventures

    Who would be the daring enough to boldly modify his routine, ready to risk all and try something new in their life “Ten minutes after finishing such an extraordinary breakfast, he would go for a stroll, no matter the climate. He walked ten blocks to the North until he reached the train-tracks. Without stopping, he…

  • Two soft-boiled eggs in the mornings

    Two soft-boiled eggs in the mornings

    For him, his routines were the spiritual equivalent of praying in church, and so, he avoided the possibility of novelties, surprises or improvisations penetrating the comfortably absolute emptiness of his life.  “Bearing that in mind, I’ll briefly describe one of his morning routines…  As I mentioned, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, he had two…

  • Corporals, Sargent and Grandmothers

    Corporals, Sargent and Grandmothers

    He liked to have others do his thinking for him, felt secure when obeying orders, how he rejoiced when on parade, as they marched on time, his companions of arms in perfect and synchronized order, never stepping ahead of them, and much less, falling behind, carrying the waving flag on his shoulder with pride…   …

  • Spinning routines

    Spinning routines

    From her vantage point, in a beam of the ceiling high above the room, the spider silently spun her web, while observing the humans that below her, went about their incomprehensible daily routines “There’s not much to be said about my grandmother. Her life was as sparing as her conversations. She spent her days in…

  • Life’s dreams

    Life’s dreams

    Chase your dreams, before they slip away Ruby Tuesday, The Rolling Stones “Of course, when I found out that I would be moving to Rugby and live with my grandparents, I received those happy tidings most cheerfully. It’s not easy to imagine the relief I felt. I would then leave Mary Louise behind and her…

  • Unexpected changes

    Unexpected changes

    How hard it must be… to leave everything behind in the search of a new life “Outside my prison, the world was moving on, yet, at home, everything remained immobile, the shadow of a dying absolute truth with nothing more to add. I was a forgotten prisoner, left behind, living in a static, stagnated universe.…

  • A world without laughter

    A world without laughter

    In her bed, she tossed around, turning over and over, anguished and afraid that somebody might be having a good time… From Foundation, by Issac Asimov “You did not get to know my custodian and thank heavens for that blessing! It is an experience I would never wish for any other unfortunate to experience” he…